MEET KAFUI PRAISE; GHANA’S BUDDING QUEEN OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Our guest post for today is hot with model-like beauty. She is a budding Ghanaian photographer. She has love, passion and flair for photography and is none other than Matilda Kafui Dogbatsey popularly known as Kafui Praise.

AMOAFOWAA: You are welcome to amoafowaa.com

KAFUI: Thanks Amoafowaa

AMOAFOWAA: Please who is Kafui Praise?

KAFUI: Kafui Praise is my brand name and Matilda Dogbatsey is my Birth name. I’m a young Lady of  26yrs from Akatsi in the Volta region of Ghana, and I live in Tema.

AMOAFOWAA: Tell us about growing up

KAFUI: Growing up was not easy at all. I recall days when I had to send bread and water to school because mummy didn’t have money to give me to go to school. A a child, I didn’t understand. I would cry as if mummy didn’t want to give me any money to school, but today having grown up, I do understand and feel so bad for those days. Growing up I had serious low self-esteem. I didn’t feel I was worth anything, I always looked down on myself and thought I would amount to nothing. Partly because I didn’t know Christ then so I thought I needed the love and approval of people to feel I’m worth something. I placed my confidence and worth in the house we were living in. Due to a Court Case that’s still pending, we were thrown out of our own house because my mum didn’t have enough money to fight the case in court. Now the house in which I placed my confidence is all gone. I felt broken inside out. The enemy filled my mind with suicidal thoughts because it broke my heart to see my mum cry. I would pretend to look all strong and okay so they can also be okay. I would cry myself to sleep, had to move from one place to the other, live with friends, live with a family member whose wife threw my kid Sister and I out because she had a problem with her 3 year old son giving more attention and always wanting to hang around my kid Sister than herself, lived with Church members…etc etc. . I attempted suicide like 4 times back then, just to end the pain and heart ache. Thank God I didn’t Succeed. God kept me. The enemy filled my mind with the thought that Suicide was the only way to end all the pain and brokenness and shame I was feeling emotionally and physically.  But Thanks be to God for Keeping and sustaining my life.

AMOAFOWAA: Any hobbies?

KAFUI: l love singing and surfing the internet

AMOAFOWAA: A girl can do anything. Why photography?

KAFUI: This is a question I get a lot, even from my family members. (Lol) Honestly, I don’t have an answer other than Photography just comes naturally to me. Though I’m still learning because there is always something new to learn, I find so much joy doing it.

AMOAFOWAA: What are the works you’ve captured so far?

KAFUI: In these 11 months that I started this photography journey, I can boast of covering about 15 weddings and for concerts and other events. l’ve lost count. I’ve covered a Sod Cutting ceremony that gave me the platform to meet the 2^nd Lady, H.E Mrs. Matilda Amissah- Arthur and the Former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Vice Admiral Mathew Quarshie

AMOAFOWAA: Cool. Any role models?

KAFUI: I love, follow and admire the works of many Photographers but that of Steve Ababio and Emmanuel Bobbie really inspire me.

AMOAFOWAA: Who can gain your respect?

KAFUI: One who is driven by passion to do whatever he or she likes.

AMOAFOWAA: Do you think it pays to be a photographer in Ghana? I ask this because you know passions alone cannot put food on the table.

KAFUI: hahaha, on point, We don’t take passion to the market. I would dare to say it pays. It all depends on you being the best you can be and showing your client that you are worth what you charge.

AMOAFOWAA: Let’s talk about photography. What type of photographer are you?

KAFUI:  Weddings, Documentaries, Portraits and Events have been fields in Photography I really enjoy doing. Especially Wedding and Documentaries.

AMOAFOWAA: Who or what event do you dream of capturing and why?

KAFUI: l love traveling to capture and tell my own version of a story so I would say I  just want to travel the world and capture it through my lens.

AMOAFOWAA: Married, single or complicated?

KAFUI: I’m in a relationship with the Love of my life Jayne Aruna Noah. I must say I’m blessed to have a man who understands, support and pushes me to be the best I can be.

AMOAFOWAA: Congratulations.  If you were not into photography, what would you be doing?

KAFUI: I would still be working 8-6pm  in someone’s company and be dying slowly inside trying to find a purpose to my life.

AMOAFOWAA: What is your view on men being made demi-gods by the society?

KAFUI: I won’t say men are Demi gods. They just humans who are also trying to find a purpose to life. They thrive on respect, respect is given where it’s due. Trying to fight them as women is never advisable, just let them be and focus on your life. It’s as easy as that.

AMOAFOWAA: Loud and clear. Any political views?

KAFUI: None

AMOAFOWAA: Photographers are mostly lost behind the scenes. To me, their lives are used to capture lives of others. Do you think you can live your life behind the scenes forever?

KAFUI: J As much as I love being behind the scene to tell beautiful stories through my lens, the model in me makes it a point to show itself once in a while through personal photo-shoots..lol…l love taking pictures of myself.

AMOAFOWAA: Fancy. So you are in front and behind. Cool idea. Do you take criticisms very well?

KAFUI: I’m always ready to learn and better my craft so those who know me can testify to my willingness to take constructive criticisms; one that comes with a solution to be the best I can be.

AMOAFOWAA: Who is your favourite musician and why?

KAFUI: Rev. Tom Bright-Davies. Anytime he gets on stage the whole atmosphere changes. He is my Mentor, Spiritual Father and Pastor. I just love him.

AMOAFOWAA: What has been your greatest challenge in life and why?

KAFUI: Hmmm, when the family member who housed me asked me to move out because I Chose Photography over managing his business. That to me was not new, having already gone through the experience of my family and I being thrown out of our own house and not having a place to call home for years, having to live with friends, family members and watch my whole family scattered was tough but it strengthened me. I pretended to look okay and all strong for my sibling and mum so they could also be strong. But every night I cried myself to sleep. One thing I could never stand was to watch or hear my mum cry, which really broke me down. Suicidal attempts filled my mind as I earlier intimated. Until I met my Spiritual Father Rev. Tom Bright-Davies, that was where my life turned around.

AMOAFOWAA: How were you able to face your challenges?

KAFUI: I turned to God with the help of my Mentor and Spiritual Father. His mentorship led me to find a purpose to life and God has always proved himself to be faithful. Everything I went through he used for my good to write a beautiful story out of my life.  Indeed, He makes all things Beautiful in His own time.

AMOAFOWAA: How has religion impacted your life?

KAFUI: I’m a Christian, Daughter of the Most High God.  Everything I am, have and can do is because God is the Pillar and foundation that holds my life together, without Him, I’m NOTHING.

AMOAFOWAA: Sell yourself to the world through your thoughts

KAFUI: I capture moments with passion as I pay attention to details. I tell stories through my lens a way you can understand if you were or were not there. Kafui Praise Photography on Instagram, www.facebook.com/kafuipraisephotography on facebook.

AMOAFOWAA: Any advice for people who are passionate about photography?

KAFUI: God First , study, get a mentor, let passion take the lead and money will follow. Show your works out there, let people see what you love doing.

AMOAFOWAA: You toured the northern region. Why?

KAFUI: I love the North, it is traffic free, peaceful  and has so many attraction sites to visit, its people are welcoming and loving. For me, it is home away from Home. I feel fresh anytime I return from the North.

AMOAFOWAA: Your final words on amoafowaa.com

KAFUI: Keep doing what you love Sis. We are blessed to have you.

AMOAFOWAA: And I love you for what you do. Thank you for your time on amoafowaa.com

KAFUI: Thanks for your time and patience. Blessings and much love.

MOMENTS OF PASSION

I have met gods of images

Who make and preserve all in exact state

I have met goddesses with images

Never one with passion behind the cameras

Until I met her

With all that she needs to be in front

Like a picture

But willing with passion to be unique

To be the first black goddess

Who wishes for her world to see

That she is a goddess with passion than gods

To preserve images with love

Passion and flair

The Kafui way

Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © 2016