Essence Festival: A Dream Come True For Toyosi Etim-Effiong As She Transitions From Spectator To Panelist

Toyosi Etim-Effiong, CEO of That Good Media, is reaping the benefits of her hard work and consistency. In a recent post, she shared how she went from being an audience member to a panelist at the Essence Festival of Culture

She discussed how she transitioned from an attendee of the Essence Festival of Culture over the years to being invited to participate in a panel discussion at the newly created Essence Flim Festival within the larger Essence Festival of Culture which will take place from July 1 to 3 at the New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

She shared the invite, see below: 

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A post shared by Toyosi Etim-Effiong ✨ (@the_toyosi)

Then captioned it:

Not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth but of GOD that sheweth mercy.

6 years ago, I wrote an article for @genevievemagazine titled, I saw Oprah… Live!!! I had attended the Essence Festival in New Orleans and “Mom” 👀 was the keynote speaker.

I remember where I sat, I remember how I felt; making it to @essencefest was a dream come true and seeing @Oprah live on stage, as a budding TV girl, was indescribable.

The following year, I would attend Essence Fest again, this time in Durban, South Africa where I got to see and hear @iamsteveharveytv speak with great wisdom. He was there with his STUNNING wife (skin like milk!) @marjorie_harvey and I couldn’t stop staring, but I never forgot my first Essence Fest experience in New Orleans.

I never forgot seeing Oprah in her maroon dress telling us she was living the life of her dreams and daring us to live ours. I never forgot the electrifying effect she had on the thousands of black women listening to her with rapt attention.

6 years later, I’m being invited to participate in a panel discussion at the same Essence Fest!! I’m being invited to hold a conversation in the same space, probably the same stage as Oprah did- not as an African living in the United States but as an African living in Africa. My invite came to meet me where I was… (there’s so much to unpack here…)

But GOD is indeed good and kind to me and this is indeed the year✨

Congratulations to her!🎉