Today we’d like to introduce you to Ekeoma Nwakanma.
Ekeoma “Ekay” Nwakanma is an up and coming actress, singer and entertainer. Despite growing up in a strict Nigerian-American household that stressed the importance of education, Ekeoma was very creative and would sing, dance, paint, and draw around the house. She would grab the microphone and sing during her father’s DJ gigs. Throughout her education, Ekay continued to improve her skills by participating in showcases and competitions. Today, she is hoping to be crowned Miss Black America Atlanta in the upcoming pageant and will be performing in the RepYourAct competition.
As a child her parents put her and her sisters dance performances where they performed in front of the Nigerian community. In secondary School, Ekay participated in concert and marching band, theater, and track and field.
Ekeoma is inspired by an eclectic array of influences from music (Opera, R&B, international music) to politics (women’s right, BLM, social justice) to languages (Igbo, Spanish, and Korean. In undergrad, Ekay majored in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Theatre and concentration in Pre-law and International Business at the University of West Georgia. She was president of the UWG Young Democrats, vice president of the anime club AOI, reactivated the NAACP college chapter at UWG and a member of NAACP Georgia, an intern of the League of Women Voters in Carrollton-Carroll County, and maintained a part-time job. She managed to maintain a 3.0 GPA, studied abroad in China, and interned at the State Capitol following graduation in December 2014.
While Ekeoma was getting her Masters in Public Administration at the University of Georgia, she took time off from running student organizations and worked for UGA Transit, worked on her artistic chops, and traveled. She participated in the ARTS International talent showcase with the goal of landing a talent agency where she attended acting classes, commercial and tactical weapons training, and performed a monologue and song on stage. As a result, she was signed by Denise Carol Models in Florida. She graduated from UGA in December 2017. Ekeoma traveled to a total of six countries and 22 states throughout her life and was able to teach in South Korea in summer 2018. Since August of 2018, Ekeoma has been working three jobs as a full-time Data Entry Clerk, part-time film extra, and Uber driver. She was able to sing with Neyo in Step Up Highwater season 2, sing in BET Tales Ex factor, and dance in BET Tales Brothers.
Currently, Ekeoma just completed an acting class with Next Generation Entertainment, is performing is in an indie film called Too Dark To See Tomorrow as Azure, and is a delegate of the Miss Black America Atlanta Pageant as Miss Black Creativity in October.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When it came to pursuing an artistic career, her parents were not very supportive. “In a Nigerian household, parents want their child to pursue a medical or law career. Although I am interested in law, my true passion is performing and singing on stage. Growing up, it was hard to talk to my parents about my dreams or get some advice because they did not understand. Since I was a child, I wanted to be a singer and would sing every chance I got. But when it came to band concerts, performances or track meets my parents, specifically my dad, was not there. I am a strong-willed person but sometimes it’s hard and very frustrating doing everything myself. “Ekeoma finances all of her expenses including her normal bills as well as her acting classes, workshops, and pageant fees. She designed her website, t-shirts, stationary, and clothes herself.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I was blessed with the opportunity to be involved in the Miss Black America Atlanta Pageant as Miss Black Creativity. I have been trying to break out of my shell and this experience, so far, has been exactly what I needed. However, there are many fees and financial obligations to get there including hotel accommodations, dresses, and pageant fees. I am seeking sponsors and donations to help me along the way.
Why pageantry?
The Miss Black America Atlanta Pageant gives young black girls and women an opportunity to see themselves rise to their full potential. I never considered pageantry in the past because I did not think someone that looked like myself would be respected, would win, or could be afforded the opportunity to compete. When I read about the Miss Black America pageant, it gave me the courage to compete.
What is my platform?
I want to inspire and bring awareness to creatives that may not have the strength or courage to
push themselves to reach their dreams. My academic background is in political science, economics, and public administration, and my creative background is in theater/film, music, and painting. I am very passionate about how Black people must navigate in a world where black people are villainized, mocked yet imitated, murdered on the streets and unprotected, and treated like second-class citizens despite being highly educated. Through this platform, I intend to become a better community leader and give a voice to other creatives like me.
What will you do?
With my platform, I want to affect change. I have marched, rallied, volunteered, and campaigned for social justice issues such as police brutality, improvements in education, gender wage gap, and a livable wage. It is time that I put myself in the forefront, instead of the background and be a better community leader. I want to do more in the community than only being able to bring awareness. I want to fight for our rights whether it be through telling stories through art, registering communities to vote, empowering black businesses, and/or donating my time to educate the younger generation.
Sponsoring Individual Delegates
Each delegate is required to provide for her own makeup, food, jewelry, clothes, hair and makeup stylist, travel, and costumes/props for the pageant, in addition to making appearances in her community and raising money. The delegate fees ($545) only cover a small portion of costs. The average cost for a pageant runs upwards of $6,000. Each delegate is required to offset her cost through sponsorships and donations. Please see my personal sponsorship packages below. (Donations range from $10 – $1000.)
Cost Breakdown for Miss Black Creativity Ekeoma Nwakanma (costs are an estimate and the remaining balance after the end of the pageant will be donated to charity).
Travel/Food: $2000
Clothes: $800
Performance: $500
Makeup/Beauty: $500
Hair: $200
Estimated total: $4,000
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the near future, I am working on a movie as the head love interests and I am really nervous and excited about it. I hope I can nail this part. I am also preparing for the pageant and RepYourAct. Their pageant is taking up a lot of my time in preparation because I am making my evening gown and have a talent portion to prepare. For RepYourAct, I have a monologue prepared and I am confident about it.
Pricing:
- Donations $1-$100 Donors under $30 will receive a thank you card. $30 – $100 donations will receive a T-shirt along with thank you card. You can donate gofundme or purchase your t-shirt directly (preferred) at www.ekeomanwakanma.com/shop
- Bronze: $100 – $300 Bronze donors include any in-kind donations or money donations worth $100 – $300. Donors will receive a customized Thank you letter, T-shirt of your choice, and inclusion on the list of donors advertisement on the program.
- Silver: $300+ Silver donors will receive everything in the bronze package and a complimentary custom designed T-shirt with your choice of design (valued at $25) and promotion of your business on the Miss Black Creativity Instagram.
- Gold:$500+ Gold donors will receive everything in the silver package plus a 2 tickets to the Miss Black America Atlanta Pageant and negotiable in-person volunteer service at your local business. (ex: cashier for a day, mascot, web commercial, etc.)
- Platinum:$1000+ Platinum donors will receive everything is the gold package plus a paid 5 day social media advertisement of your company via Instagram and Facebook
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ekeomanwakanma.com
- Phone: 14044168460
- Email: EkeomaNwakanma@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/MissBlackCreativity/ www.instagram.com/ekaytenshi/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/EkayTheArtist/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz–_6Y5ZZ_JuNraNCXNyyw
Image Credit:
Snapped360Photos, Alan Dixon, Tashiana Thurmond, Miranda Childers, Pure Moments by Chrissy
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
