Why I Created Irojim: A Home for Healing Through Storytelling
Before I was a performer, a creative, or even a brand — I was just Mijori, a kid learning how to feel safe in her own skin. And the first place I ever felt that safety was in my Auntie Kaki’s house.
She gave me what I didn’t get at home: space to laugh, cry, be loud, be quiet, be messy, be real. We cooked together, danced together, sang at the top of our lungs. She reminded me that I mattered — that I didn’t have to perform to be loved.
One day, she taught my siblings and me how to use the computer. “Right-click with your middle finger. Left-click with your index. Hold the side with your thumb.” Then she said:
“Okay! Good job! You got it! Now, let’s type our names backwards!”
That’s when I first met Irojim Niwdoog — my name, reversed. And though I didn’t realize it then, that flipped version of me would become a lifelong compass.
Remembering the Moment I Was Free
As I moved through the world — through music, art, storytelling — I eventually forgot that moment. But the feeling stayed. I gravitated toward anything that felt like home, like truth. I became obsessed with stories, not just telling my own, but hearing others too. I wanted to create spaces where people didn’t just perform — they belonged.
In 2018, during college, I started building what would become Irojim. I was already performing, sharing original music, getting accepted into Sofar Sounds, performing for the United Nations, joining fellowships — but something was shifting. I wasn’t just an artist anymore. I was building a container for healing.
One of my early performances was a short work-in-progress called Kintsugi — based on the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. To me, it meant “finding the beauty in the cracks of the human experience.” I poured my heart out vocally and visually, pairing songs with childhood photos and stories.
Afterward, a woman rushed into the green room, grabbed my hands, eyes full of tears, and said:
“You gave me permission to be myself.”
We hugged and cried — strangers linked in healing. That moment changed me.
Irojim Is My Offering
Irojim is my promise: to always show up as myself, and create spaces where others can do the same. It’s rooted in healing through storytelling, in creative mental health events, and in building intentional spaces for Black, Brown, Queer, and otherwise unseen voices.
It’s for the kids who needed an Auntie Kaki.
It’s for the artists who don’t want to wear a mask just to be seen.
It’s for anyone who's ever typed their name backwards and found a deeper part of themselves staring back.
What's Next
Irojim is evolving. We host immersive healing events, music experiences, workshops, and more through our five core pillars:
Irojim Voice (vocal healing & expression)
Irojim Story (storytelling & writing)
Irojim Sound (music & audio production)
Irojim Strategy (consulting & thought partnership)
Irojim Events (gatherings, performances & ceremonies)
Each pillar holds a piece of my heart — and maybe yours, too.
Join the Movement
🌿 Sign up for the mailing list to stay in the loop on creative wellness events, stories, and opportunities.
🤝 Partner or collaborate if your work aligns with radical healing, storytelling, and community care.
👉🏾 Follow us on socials to join the conversation.
📣 Tell your story — and let it remind someone else they’re not alone.
