Meet Kwame Wiafe | Actor, Writer & Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kwame Wiafe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kwame, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Everything I’ve ever been interested from as long as I can remember has dealt with some sort of creativity. Studio art. Theatre and Acting. Drawing. Painting. Ceramics. Writing. There has never been a time when I have not been either involved or interested in any of these. Storytelling is the one that has always called out to me in a way that I just couldn’t ignore it. I knew I would be going against the norm based off of the culture I’m from (with Ghanaian parents who typically respect secure jobs like doctor, lawyer, engineer etc) instead of jobs where there are no guarantees how successful you’ll be. But for me, I had to follow what was true, authentic and genuine to me, and that was an artistic/creative career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an actor and a storyteller. The thing is, there are so many people out there who are telling stories, but there are not enough people that look like me that get to tell stories involving other people that look like me and beyond. And it has been placed in my heart from time to make sure that I’m not only being able to tell these stories but also creating a platform for others to be heard. At the end of the day, we all have a story to tell. I want mine to be heard and told as accurately and as genuinely as possible. Currently I’m excited about The Order, a project that I wrote with my team and have shot a proof of concept for to be pitched as a feature film. It’s unlike anything we have on our screens now, and I can say that confidently. But getting to this point, as an actor and storyteller has not been easy. There have been countless days, weeks and even months of depression, anxiety, feeling like giving up and just forgetting about it all. But I had to remember that God put this in my heart to complete, so He would provide a way for me to be able to complete it as well. My mother has made countless sacrifices for my brothers and I, and it would be sad if I allowed myself to actually completely give up instead of finishing what I started. For me, it’s the possibility that keeps me going, not the guarantee. I want the world to know that my story is one of many, but this is uniquely my story and if it can reach others and inspire others to not give up and to go after their dreams, then that means I did something right.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to the beach, for sure. A cleaner one (so either out towards Malibu or further south towards Orange County). We would go to Natalee Thai’s and grab some delicious Thai food, followed by stopping at a boba shop to introduce my friend to taro boba smoothies made with oat milk. We would go catch a film somewhere in Century City or Howard Hughes Center and then visit The Broad or the Museum of Contemporary Art and look at some amazing art pieces. Then we would do hiking, but probably not the touristy ones like Runyon Canyon but a different trail just so we could be in nature and breathe in the fresh air and take in the sun.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to everyone who has ever believed in me. Honestly I come from a community made up of people who have all played a part in me getting to where I am today, but my mother has had my back for as long as I’ve been alive. So I would like to dedicate my shoutout to her. Love you, ma! Also, I just want to thank God (He’s default) but honestly, I wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for Him.

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