Nigerian born, Angela is the first immigrant and person of color to be elected to the Bangor City Council.  Angela is also an immigration lawyer, international market owner, clothing designer, hair stylist, Bangor city councilwoman, and columnist for Amjambo Maine.

When she first moved to Maine as a Nigerian lawyer, she worked as a dishwasher. Maine’s protocol for sitting for the bar exam is prohibitive so she took the New York bar exam which allows her to take on federal law cases such as immigration and social security. She passed on her first try.

While starting her practice, she noticed other opportunities within the community. Angela’s store, Tropical Tastes and Styles, offers African food, clothing and accessories and is home to her braiding salon and law office. It is a place where immigrants go not only for goods and service but also connection. It’s this connection that is important to welcoming and retaining immigrants to the city. Her regular customers tell her it helps them feel less out of place and brings a sense of home. Angela strives to include everyone in the community in the store. A recent Facebook post on the store’s page stated:

“Oftentimes the focus of support is on people of color. We most times forget the struggles of white parents of children of color. We seek not just your money but also your well being.

Having interacted with quite a number of them who feel overwhelmed from time to time not sure of what works best from hair to feeling out of place to shutting down on their poor frustrated white parents to wanting to have their kids have and interact more with other kids of color.

We see and feel you. You are not alone in your struggles. We see and understand your struggles.

We have done this but only towards those at the end of their ropes.

Please feel free to stop by anytime we are open if you need to talk, vent or need any help or ideas concerning your child of color.

It takes a village to raise a child remains true. We don’t judge you because we all wear different sizes and colors of same shoes. We may not be able to be of absolute ‘help’ but we can,  together at least, find easier ways to manage the situation and avoid you getting to those ends of ropes especially alone.

We are not therapists but we live most of those struggles.”

As a city councilwoman, Angela draws on her diverse background to represent immigrants, business owners, and families. Her knowledge of the law helps here to navigate and understand the local systems in place.

There is a saying in Nigeria, “There are two options: succeed and succeed.” This busy woman clearly lives by this mantra. She is the recipient of the Maine Biz Women to Watch 2020, Maine Women’s Fund Call to Action Leadership, and 2018 Empower the Immigrant Woman Trail Blazer awards.