Eli Africa

What are your passions outside of work?

• Graphic design, illustration, photography, and film making (awarded Best Foreign Short Documentary at ’04 NY International Independent Film & Video Festival)
• Driving – especially manual transmissions
• I love being by the water – it fosters relaxation and creativity.

Do you have a family?

• I have two children – a 4-year-old daughter Alika and a 6-month-old son Liam – and wife Tina.

What are your inspirations?

• Other people – their stories help me understand my work and place in the world
• My motto: Work like you don’t need the money, dance like no one is watching, and love like you haven’t been hurt.

What is your favorite thing about the Museum?

• I love the interactions with people – playing music with/for them, and “playing” plain and simple with the children.

What is your life dream?

• I dream of becoming a Master Storyteller using multiple mediums – photography, music, film, dance, and performance.

What should people know about you that they may not initially get the chance to know?

• My scary, gruff look is a façade; I’m really a big cry baby.
• I’m Pilipino – most people don’t guess this.
• I’m extremely adaptive to environments – put me in Brooklyn and I’d be slinging a heavy NY accent in no time at all.

What are your favorite films?

• The Color Purple and Raiders of the Lost Ark

Is there something you look forward to learning?

• I’d like to learn to speak Japanese and Spanish – languages intrigue me.

Where would you like to travel?

• Europe and then to Africa – with my family, of course.

What values do you hope to instill in your children?

• Pride in education
• Curiosity and respect for travel and culture
• Don’t try to repay people, but rather apply what they have taught you .

What would you be in another life?

• A priest, a General in the military, and a spy – not all at the same time, but rather if I had three more lives to live.