Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Eme, Kalaria Obasi, Tanina Obasi, Jada Obasi
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We’re four first-generation Nigerian American women, and cousins at that, with a mission to amplify the voices of first-gen millennials worldwide. Our roots are the heart of The First Gems—inspired by our trips back home to Nigeria and the desire to showcase the beauty, depth, and sometimes the hilarity of navigating our cultural duality. In 2020, we launched our podcast and brand to bring these stories to life, hoping to inspire first-gens to embrace every part of who they are, give back, and unapologetically pursue their dreams.
Today, we’re incredibly grateful to be partnered with REVOLT TV, a highly regarded network that attracts over 50 million millennials and Gen-Z audiences through their authentic material across all platforms. We’re here to share stories that feel like conversations with old friends while bringing a fresh, intentional lens to first-gen experiences around the world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our journey has been a mix of learning, adjusting, and growing—it’s been worth it, but definitely not smooth! Working with family has a special dynamic. Before The First Gems, we were used to gathering at sleepovers, birthday parties, and now as adults, taking trips together to catch up, laugh together, and make memories. Shifting to a professional space has had its challenges, especially as we navigate different working styles and visions for the brand. The trick has been balancing each of our unique voices while keeping true to our mission, which is something we’re proud to be learning.
Through all the adjustments, we’ve discovered our individual strengths and have become closer as a family, knowing there’s a piece of each of us in The First Gems. It’s been a reminder that success is a blend of compromise, growth, accountability, and holding onto the values that brought us together in the first place.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The First Gems is more than a podcast; it’s a platform where four ‘cousins-turned-cohosts’ bring together the highs, lows, and lessons of the first-gen experience. We’re proud to have created a space that not only entertains but also uplifts and connects with our audience. We immediately stand out as a family-first team—a business of cousins bound by love, loyalty and shared history. You don’t often see family working together like this, and it’s our collective bond that gives us something special.
What sets us apart is our focus. You might hear first-gen stories scattered across different places, but The First Gems brings that unique perspective together in one space. We’re here to cover it all—whether it’s the push and pull of cultural expectations, finding community abroad, trailblazing new career paths and passionate pursuits, or celebrating the nuances that make each first-gen story unique.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up together in Los Angeles, CA was an adventure—always. From day one, we had this vibe and connection that felt like destiny, and everywhere we went, people resonated with our energy and high spirits. Funny enough, before we were The First Gems, we were ‘Trademark ENT’—our own crew inspired by the LA jerking music era in 2009 — making up raps, dances, and little comedy skits that showed our personalities and experiences being raised in blended African and American households. Of course, our favorite movie was The Cheetah Girls, but we were also brought up to honor our shared Nigerian heritage, so Nollywood movies, Afrobeats music, and everything else were just as prominent for us. Then of course, living in an international city like Los Angeles, we each were exposed to so many cultures through our friends, museum trips, and so much more. We were always building and blending worlds together, creating, performing, and getting a good laugh from all of the fun. Calling ourselves ‘Trademark’ was like manifesting that one day we’d create something big, and now here we are with a whole brand together. The First Gems feels like the ultimate full-circle moment for us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefirstgems.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefirstgems/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thefirstgems/?locale=ml_IN
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@thefirstgems/videos
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ew8KSHnLv9Hp9YQeWoQm8
Image Credits
The First Gems, LLC
Kezia Obasi
