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Naomi Campbell says she’s passionate about Africa because it’s still overlooked and ignored

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Charley Gallay/Getty Images WSJ. MagazineNaomi Campbell is extremely passionate about Africa.

In an interview i-D, the supermodel, who’s been making frequent trips to the continent, says her hope is to create awareness about Africa’s people, culture and advancements.

“I realized it’s been overlooked and ignored on so many levels. That has to change. The narrative has to change. People’s perceptions have to change,” Campbell told the magazine. ” That’s what my work is about.”

“And I mean that across the board — fashion, music, tech, art, sports…I just feel like when I’m in Nigeria there’s so much creativity coming out of there,” she continued. “In Senegal, there is so much energy in terms of sports. I want the world to know. I don’t want it to be looked at as the ‘Third World.’ I want it to be given the same opportunities in education and skills as anywhere else in the world.”

In fact, Campbell says it’s her dream to “go to all 54 countries” in Africa, adding that she’s “been all over,” including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Rwanda. Not surprisingly, it’s in some of those locations that she happened to meet some of her famous friends, who have also helped to inspire her vision.

“I have many friends who are artists. Everyone knows I am close to WizKid,” Campbell said. “I know DavidoFela Kuti. What he stood for was so ahead of his time. I’ve been blessed to learn about the African continent through the late South African President Nelson Mandela, who I called grandad.”

“That’s who brought Africa to my heart in the 90s. It remains in my heart,” Naomi adds.

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