OK Naledi Shares "DON'T" Accompanied by Graphic Novel Illustrated by Ukrainian Artist

OK Naledi today shares the single “DON’T”. OK Naledi is an Afro House music project created by Queer, Motswana Ottawa musician Kimberly Naledi Sunstrum. The single is accompanied by a graphic comic that will start to drop one panel at a time from today, May 31st. Follow OK Naledi on socials to see the beautiful story unfold. OK Naledi worked with Ukrainian illustrator, Liza Yurchenko, who is currently living and working in Ukraine, for the single artwork and the graphic comic.

Listen/Share: OK Naledi “DON'T

“DON'T try to change yourself to please other people.”

That's what this song is about,” says OK Naledi, “It's taken me way too long to learn how important self- love is. I'm weird, quirky, gay, biracial, a total goof sometimes and all of that is 100% OK.”

“Self-love for Black womn is often seen as selfish or narcissistic. Society has been conditioning us to work hard, be quiet and stay humble but now it's time to learn how to be proud of who we are and how we got here. That's exactly what DON'T is about. “

Speaking on their decision to work with Ukrainian illustrator, Liza Yurchenko, OK Naledi explains, “It was pretty easy to see that Liza was the illustrator I wanted to work with. First, she’s incredibly talented, kind and just super cool. It was also a way for me to show support to a Ukrainian artist living, existing and creating during this daunting time in Ukraine. Being creative has always been a coping mechanism for me.”

Traditional sub-Saharan clean guitar lines, classic deep bass, movement-inspiring beats and that iconic, driving Afro House tempo - these are the pieces that define OK Naledi. There is a lot of complexity when it comes to being a visibly Queer, biracial, womxn, artist who grew up predominantly in Botswana, but began creating music after moving to Canada - a Western demographic. This pandemic exacerbated the importance of nurturing identity and infusing it in the music of OK Naledi proudly, powerfully and consistently.

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