Today we’d like to introduce you to Kwame Wiafe.
Hi Kwame, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story starts in Chapel Hill, Takoradi, Ghana (West Africa). I was a young energetic kid, often playing outside with friends, scraping my knee, and finding joy in the simple things. We didn’t have much, but we had life, and that was enough for a kid like me at the time who saw this great big giant world in front of him waiting to be explored. I’m thankful for my story starting right there, in the Motherland, because it infused me with an experience not many will get to have in their life. When I was five, I moved to Newark, New Jersey, which became sort of like my American hometown of sorts. It was a great big culture shock for me, even at that age. First of all, nobody tells you just how difficult it is as an immigrant in a whole different country, especially one like America where the immigration system is extremely and purposely difficult and busted, and what they don’t tell you is that it may take you years upon years after your arrival before you’re actually accepted into this country as a permanent resident and citizen. That is one of the biggest struggles for immigrants and those not native to this country. It’s one thing to emigrate as an adult just looking for an opportunity for a better life, but to do so as a child with limited knowledge of the changes that are rapidly happening around you is a crazy experience to experience. Because you literally do not know any better. And your life that you knew has now been uprooted completely to a whole new land. So that’s the first challenge. And if you’re able to survive that and continue on, you may find a new challenge: feeling like an outsider. I started seeing people who did not look anything like me. Pale skin etc. Where was I? Are these aliens or? But for the ones that did look like me, it brought me back a sense of familiarity. Of belonging. But kids at that age and at that time, even if they looked like you, could be cruel if you were even the slightest bit different. Being an African kid, I definitely heard the jokes which I didn’t even fully understand at the time. African booty scratcher. Feed the children etc. Kids, yo. They really do say the darndest things.
As I grew and got older and began to understand life a little more, there was something I was always drawn to. The arts. I would watch movies and shows and become so entranced in what the people were doing. At the time, I didn’t have the word for it or knew what to call them quite yet, but I just knew I wanted to do what they were doing. So fast forward to high school, where I get involved in drama club and theatre. I had a ton of fun and the stage felt like where I had belonged all this time. Things became more tricky as I got to university because I was working full time and in a million organizations, so theatre had to take the backseat. I missed it dearly and even I could feel that something was now missing in my life. Mind you, my parents had now moved us to the Midwest (Columbus, OH) and I just knew after I graduated university that I couldn’t stay. That I would either move back east to Jersey (or New York, since I had plenty of family there) or do something different.
As I was pondering on what to do post-graduation, my brother and I and his then fiancé attended a wedding in California for a mutual friend of ours. Prior to this, I had been applying to jobs and internships all over the country, and it just so happened that while we were in Southern California, one of the places I had applied to called me to see if I could interview for an internship. While I was in town. Talk about a coincidence. So I told my brother about it and I said why not? I went to the interview and then went back to where we were staying. A couple of days later (while we are still in town), the company reaches out to me to offer me the internship. I’m shocked. I had been praying for a sign and for God to show me where to go next. This was unbelievable. I talked to my brother and his fiancé about it and they said why not? So I went for it. A trip that was originally to attend a wedding in LA ended up with me having an internship so I stayed. I couldn’t believe it. I told myself that I would couch surf and figure out all that later and this is an opportunity that I would just have to take. Boy was I in for a rude awakening. There was one huge detail I missed. The internship was unpaid. Oh Lord, have mercy. How am I supposed to survive on an unpaid internship in a big city like Los Angeles? That first year I was in LA was filled with a lot of grinds, hustle, prayers and faith. I didn’t know how I was going to do it. But I had faith. I said to myself, “God got me” and in between it all, the many ups and downs, dealing with serious depression and wanting to quit many times and just overall feeling extremely heavy, someone I survived.
After the internship, I really took advantage of being in the city where it all happens for film and television. Auditions etc. But that soon had to be paused all in the name of survival until I could find my footing. But eventually, I was able to figure it out in a better way. To be honest, I’m still figuring it out today, almost ten years later. But I’m further along than when I first started. I’ve gotten into classes. I’ve been putting in the work. I’ve been networking and making connections. Finding my tribe (which is extremely hard to do in LA because as the stereotype goes, LA can be very Hollywood) so you need to really pray to find the right type of people who are grounded so y’all can elevate each other in all areas. Every day I’m one step closer to my goals and aspirations and I just know with persistence, faith and determination, I’ll get there eventually. It’s all about God’s timing for me, so I’m not pressed. I see you Denzel. I see you Viola. I see you Jamie. I see you Angela. I got next.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I first got my internship out here, I soon found out it was unpaid. So essentially, I didn’t know how I would afford to live in LA or eat. No car. No place. No food. No nothing. There was nothing I could’ve really done to save myself in that situation. It was legit God. Man, the way I prayed so hard. And He came through for me. When I DID find somewhere to stay, the depression and mental health struggles were insane. There were days where I had to really get myself out of bed. I knew I felt heavy but it was like, “You gon be depressed or you gon be homeless? Pick one.” And I said well damn, I guess there ain’t no time to be down and depressed, huh? So I was up and about, filling out applications, networking, doing whatever I could to get by and get opportunities to better myself. To this day, it doesn’t make sense but I survived. My story is really crazy if I go into specific details, but everything that happened to me, I was absolutely covered by God. And that’s why I’m still here today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an actor and writer. Currently, I’m finishing up a feature script that focuses on Afro-futurism and seeing Black people in the diaspora in roles we aren’t traditionally seen in. Hollywood may see us as a current trend or fad but listen, our histories, stories and cultures have always been rich. We’ve just needed the chance and opportunity to be able to tell our own stories through our lens and through our voice. And that is why I do what I do. To be able to help tell the stories of Black people in the diaspora and change the image of us through various mediums, such as film, television and so forth. As far as acting, I believe I have a wide range and can do anything. Doctor. Lawyer. Serial Killer. Accents. Action hero. Villain. You name it, I will put in the work and make sure to give you the best version of that role I can possibly give. Always.
Black people can be wizards and ninjas and vampires and angels and all of that too. And in the nonfiction realm, we can be as simple as farmers or goat herders and as extravagant as kings and queens. They are both worthy of having their stories told.
What I’m working on currently as far as finishing up a feature script, my team and I already have the short script, pitch deck and proof of concept finished. I want to say it is my greatest work to date and I can’t wait to see it all come to fruition when it’s all said and done. I don’t want to give away too much but I will say my team and I will be dropping a campaign to get our project made real soon, so everyone please be on the lookout for that and have your purses, wallets, zelles and venmo’s ready!
What sets me apart from others? I’m a survivor. My stories will be told regardless because I have faith and I’m always going to find a way. Period.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor has been one of my biggest challenges in this space. It’s one thing to find a mentor to begin with, but to find one in your industry especially when it is the film and entertainment industry can cause quite the headache. But to be honest, like any Black mother would say, “A closed mouth don’t get fed.” You have to speak up, ask around, approach people who are doing what you would like to do and see if they are down to take on a mentee and to help guide you and show you the ropes. Being shy won’t get you anywhere. But also, you have to really pray about the networking spaces you may end up in as far as networking goes. There are plenty of those events but not all of them are of substance. Some are a waste of time but I guess you won’t truly know until you go and find out for yourself, right?
What has worked for me is looking at people in my field and finding ways to get in contact with them to see if I can observe and shadow them or if we can get a date down and meet for lunch. You have to try to get a chance to sit with certain people in person because everyone is so busy. But once you do and y’all get to talking, especially over a meal? That’s a great way to lock in.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/wisdomnchocolate
