Page 38 - Winter/Spring 2015 Issue

NIGERIAN TV & FILM PRODUCER EXTRAORDINAIRE
...there is absolutely no mistaking this man’s awesome work!
MICHAEL AJAKWE JR. (WRITER-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER)
Since 1993, Ajakwe has worked in the theatre with renowned performers like Hil Harper, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Ted Lange, Phil Morris, Robert Ri’chard, Tommy Hicks, Tracee Ellis Ross, Art Evans, Gary Sturgis, James Pickens, Tatyana Ali, Marc Coppage, Estelle Harris, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lee Garlington, Robert Pine, Shayla Rivera, Candace Parker, Gary Anthony Williams, Ralph Carter, Deniece Williams, Obba Babbatunde, Tony winner Charles Dutton, Emmy winners Glynn Turman and Niecy Nash, Golden Globe winner Debbie Allen, and Oscar winner Mo’Nique.
As a tv and film writer/producer, he’s worked with Martin Lawrence, Greg Kinear, Sherman Hemsley, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Reggie Hayes, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, Kelly Rowland, Charles Barkley, Marc Curry, Tracey Morgan, Tia & Tamera Mowry, Mary Hart, Kelita Smith, Leeza Gibbons, Brandy, Diondre Whitfield, Ali Landry, Kelly Perine, Tim Reid, Tommy Davidson, Ernest Thomas, Richard Lawson, John Tesh, Steve Harvey, Steve Trevino, Valery Ortiz, Dorien Wilson, Jason George, Judy Pace, Eve, Emmy winners Jackee and Paul Winfield, and 3-time Oscar nominee Djimon Honsou. As a tv segment and documentary writer/producer, he’s personally booked and interviewed Quincy Jones (twice), Clive Davis (twice), Sly Stone (twice), Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn, David Foster, Johnny Mathis, Ray Parker Jr., Deniece Williams, Cheryl Lynn, Tevin Campbell, Will Downing, Rosie Grier, Eddie Holland, Bill Withers, Kadeem Hardisson, Verdine White, Phillip Bailey, Toto co-founder David Paich, and the late great George Duke, Tina Allen and Robin Harris.
As a live events show writer, he’s written for Anthony Anderson, Kimberly Elise, Jo Marie Payton, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, ex-L.A. Police Chief Bernard Parks, NAACP National President Benjamin Todd Jealous, Kevin Ross, Jason Alexander, Ben Stiller, and the NAACP Theater Awards (’04-’06, ‘08). He’s also developed TV and/or film projects for Russell Simmons, Dr. Dre, Bret Ratner, Kim Fields, Reuben Cannon, Norman Howard (nephew of The Three Stooges), Beverly Todd, Vidal Sassoon, ex-
Ajakwe has written & directed 9 plays and produced 16 that have been nominated for 29 NAACP Theater Awards, winning 5. He’s a two-time NAACP Image Award-winning Producer (Unsung, 2011&12), an NAACP Theatre Award-winning Playwright (Company Policy, 1994), an NAACP Theater Award-winning Producer (Ted Lange’s Four Queens, No Trump!, 1997), two- time NAACP Theatre Award Nominated Director (If You Don’t Believe: A Love Story-- featuring the songs of Deniece Williams, 2005; Body Language-- featuring the songs of Patti LaBelle, 2006), an Emmy Award-winning TV producer (E!’s Talk Soup, 1995), an award-winning filmmaker (Happy Anniversary, Punk!), a web series creator (Who... on Ajakwetv.com & Ajakwetv.com/ mobile), and a historic festival founder (Los Angeles Web Series Festival – the first all-web series festival in the world-- www.Lawebfest.com).
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ajakwe graduated from Inglewood’s Morningside High, receiving the Outstanding Service Award. He attended the University of Redlands on an academic scholarship, earned Bachelor’s degrees in both English and Political Science, and was named Most Outstanding Senior of his graduating class. While still in college, he worked as a public relations writer for Redland’s Magazine, wrote freelance exposes for the Redlands Daily Facts, and for two years worked as a weekend sportswriter for the Riverside Press Enterprise.

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NBA great Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Grammy- winner Natalie Cole.