A trillion words are not enough to spell out the boundless achievements by our Nigerian born Africa icon, lead actor and producer, Hakeem Kae Kazim. @hakeemkaekazim - INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER
World-renowned actor, Hakeem Kae Kazim is best known for his work in the Black Sails series and Hotel Rwanda.
Growing up in London. his initial interest in acting was ignited in early years as his passion in school plays and the National Youth Theatre sparked off.
After graduating from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, he joined The Royal Shakespeare Company and continued classical training.
Hakeem successfully progressed with several appearances in British television, The Bill, Trial & Retribution and Grange Hill, a popular BBC series.
He relocated to South Africa, where he initially became known for the infamous Fresca commercial and several television and film roles. After his portrayal of Georges Rutaganda in Hotel Rwanda, an Oscar-nominated, critically acclaimed film, he rooted into international attention.
This is when Hakeem followed a range of opportunities streaming his way and relocated to Los Angeles.
He appeared in Slipstream along with Sean Astin, The Front Line and starred as Captain Jocard, in the huge success, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
This followed X-Men Origins: Wolverine, another blockbuster.
- Lost
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Criminal Minds.
- Colonel Iké Dubaku in Fox television series 24 and the tie-in movie
- Gotham and Dominion,
- Starz series – Black Sails
- The Fourth Kind
- Roots: chronicles the life and times of an African slave sold To America
His latest role is in Dynasty, a critically acclaimed soapie that premiered in 1981, playing Cesil Colby in the show.
He also starred as Ade in Man on Ground, an Akin Omotoso film. This was reuniting with Akin after initial collaboration with the feature film God is African that highlighted xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
He pledges his support for a brighter for the motherland of Africa
“It is time for African story to set stage from the African perspective on the world stage of cinema”
Hakeem Kae Kazim
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Welcome! Meet #CreatePreneurAfrica – Hakeem Kae Kazim
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
My family and my work drive me
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
My passion is my work as an actor/ producer.
I found my passion or first hints of it when I did my first play at school when I was 11. And really truly knew it was my passion after my first year in the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain aged 15.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
Everything about my passion appeals to me.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
Nothing, as I do my passion and am lucky enough to get paid for it.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
My first job after drama school at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon in the U.K.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
Never thought about giving up
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
I am motivated by the love of my work and the happiness of my family.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
Don’t really think about the people who doubted me as they never told me to my face so I don’t know who they are or would be and wouldn’t want to.
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
To all those aspiring creatives I say live your passion, for then you will never work a day in your life!!!
