We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angelfaith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Angelfaith, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

My journey toward pursuing an artistic career goes way back to when I was just five years old. I remember sitting with my grandmother, watching Mexican telenovelas and Filipino movies , those where the shows that would be show in our local channels. Even at that age, something in me clicked. I didn’t know the how, but I knew the what: I wanted to be an actress.

Growing up in Tanzania, that dream didn’t feel tangible. I didn’t have a physical example of someone who looked like me and had done it, until much later. At 15, I found myself at a crossroads. I had two passions: politics and acting. I was also that student who always did “too much,” especially in an all-girls Catholic school and I got suspended more than once. After one of those suspensions, I came home, and my brother Kennedy noticed all the posters I had on my wall politicians on one side, actresses on the other. He sat me down and said, “I see what you’re trying to do here, but maybe you should think about which path you want to fully commit to.” He wasn’t pressuring me just planting a seed.

He recommended I watch Suits and gave me a Harvey Specter quote that stuck with me: “Life is here, but always want here.” In other words, whatever you choose, aim to do it at the highest level. I loved Suits, and it made me think: if I become an actress, I get the best of both worlds. I can be many people in one career!

But I’ve always believed that your dreams should serve others, not just yourself. Where I come from, acting isn’t seen as a “serious” career. People often associate it with negativity. Then, I saw Lupita Nyong’o win an Oscar. That was my lightbulb moment, she became a physical manifestation of what I had always dreamed of.If she was able to do it the its possible for me too, and i knew the paths aren’t going to be the same but at least I had a map on where to start. She was from East Africa, too. She made it real.

I started researching her path and discovered she went to acting school. I didn’t even know that was a thing! because we don’t have professional acting schools in my country. From that moment, I promised myself I would do everything in my power to go to an acting school in America. Meaning I had to work exceptional hard to get good grades so I could get a scholarship to get into acting school, because coming from where I am from and I needed more than talent.

When I told people my dream, many thought I was crazy. I had a teacher once say, “Africans don’t have dreams like that they’re not realistic if you live in Africa.” Especially not coming from a rich family ,or a family that could afford taking their girl to America.But he was wrong. I may not be “there” yet, but I brought myself all the way from Tanzania to New York City. That’s not nothing.

One day, I want to return home and help transform the film and theater industry in Tanzania. I want to help create spaces where young aspiring artists can believe their dreams are possible because they are. I want to be that light Lupita was for me.

Angelfaith, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Angelfaith, and I was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and raised in Tanzania. Today, I’m proud to call New York City my artistic home, where I work as a professional theater and film actress. But the journey to this point has been one of faith, resilience, and a deep calling to use storytelling as a tool for transformation.

I’ve always known I wanted to be an actress. Even as a child growing up in Tanzania, I would watch American movies and TV shows and feel this unshakable pull,I knew I was meant to be on that screen, telling stories that moved people. But in Tanzania, the film and theater industry is still developing, and opportunities to pursue acting professionally were limited. Still, I didn’t let that stop me.

Everything changed when I saw Lupita Nyong’o, a fellow African woman, win an Oscar. Seeing her succeed on the world’s biggest stage showed me that it was possible that someone who looked like me, who came from a similar background, could make it. I started researching her journey and learned that she had studied at Yale School of Drama. That moment became my turning point. I decided then and there that I would do everything in my power to follow in her footsteps and pursue acting in the U.S.

I worked tirelessly to earn excellent grades, aiming for the full scholarships that are sometimes offered to exceptional African students. By the grace of God and through a combination of merit-based, need-based, and honorary scholarships, I was accepted into The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, one of the most respected acting conservatories in the world. I graduated last year and that training transformed not only my skills but also my vision for what is possible.

Since then, I’ve had the honor of performing in Off-Broadway productions, including roles with The African Theater, a company that celebrates stories from the African diaspora. These experiences have helped me bring African narratives to the New York stage and it’s just the beginning.

What I Offer
Through my craft, I offer more than just acting. I bring representation, culture, and hope. I create and perform in pieces that celebrate African heritage, speak to African struggles, and showcase African beauty stories that are too often left untold. My goal is to bridge the gap between African and Western theater by creating authentic African stories that connect deeply with global audiences.

I’m currently working on developing original African plays that reflect the complexity, depth, and spirit of my roots. Through this work, I aim to shine a light on African talent and create space for more artists like myself to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

What Sets Me Apart
What sets me apart is my journey the courage it took to move across the world to chase a dream, the optimism that carried me through uncertainty, and the faith that grounded me through every step. I am not just an actress; I am a cultural ambassador, a dreamer, and a fighter for representation.

I didn’t come from privilege. I came from a place of passion, purpose, and perseverance. Every role I play, every story I tell, carries with it the heart of my home the hopes of the young girl I once was in Tanzania and the dreams of those who still wait for the chance to be seen.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m most proud of my determination and faith. I’m proud that I listened to my inner voice, took risks, and carved out a path for myself in a foreign land. But most of all, I’m proud to be a symbol of possibility for people in my home country. My dream is not just for myself.I dream of building acting schools back home, creating platforms for Tanzanian talent, and using my voice to uplift others.

To my future clients, collaborators, followers, and fellow dreamers: Know that everything I do comes from the heart. I am here to tell truthful, powerful, and transformative stories. Whether I’m on stage, in front of the camera, or behind the scenes creating original work, I am committed to using my gift to inspire, empower, and represent.

I’m Angelfaith, and my journey has only just begun.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes my mission is deeply rooted in a desire to contribute to the growth and global recognition of the Tanzanian and African film and theater industry. Coming from Tanzania, I saw firsthand how talented people often go unnoticed because there is little access to formal training, professional resources, or international exposure. Unlike in other parts of the world, we don’t have a strong infrastructure to support actors, filmmakers, or storytellers. And that’s exactly what I want to change.

I believe Africa is going through a powerful creative revolution, especially in this decade. We’re seeing it in music, in tech, and now it’s time for the film and theater world to rise too. I want to be part of that movement—one of the early voices helping build a foundation for future generations.

My goal is to use my training, experience, and platform to: (Present and future plans).

Build performing arts schools in Tanzania and other parts of Africa in the future.

Offer classes and mentorship to emerging African talent,when I move back to Tanzania

Create projects and productions that speak to African stories, voices, and heritage

Develop original African plays and films that reflect the richness of our culture and history

Be a creative force an industry mogul who helps put African cinema and theater on the global map

I am one of the first few people from my country to receive formal acting training in the U.S., and I carry that responsibility with pride and purpose. I didn’t come here just for myself.I came for my people, for the future of African storytelling. Every role I take on, every story I write and will write or produce, is part of a larger vision to elevate and empower African voices.

Africa is full of untold stories, unmatched beauty, and deep cultural heritage. The world deserves to see that, and our own people deserve to see themselves reflected truthfully on stage and screen. My mission is to do whatever I can with my skills, my platform, and my heart to help grow and shape that future.

This isn’t just a career it’s a calling. And I’m here to be part of the revolution.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

As someone who came from a country where the creative industry is still growing, and who had to fight for access to training and opportunity, I truly believe that society plays a huge role in shaping whether artists thrive or struggle.

First and foremost, society needs to value art not just as entertainment, but as a vital part of culture, healing, and identity. Artists are truth-tellers, dreamers, builders of imagination. Without us, the world loses its soul. But in many places, especially where I’m from, the arts are not taken seriously. People don’t always see them as a “real” career. That mindset needs to change.

To truly support creatives, education and infrastructure must come first. Where I come from in Tanzania, we don’t have many acting schools or professional training programs. People with talent are everywhere, but most of them never get the chance to develop their gifts. That’s why I’m so passionate about building arts schools, offering training, and creating projects back home to give other young people the access I had to fight so hard for.

Society should invest in platforms and spaces for creatives to grow and be seen. That means:

Funding local theaters, film festivals, art collectives

Creating grants, scholarships, and residencies for young talent

Promoting original, culturally-rooted stories in media

Offering mentorship and resources for artists, especially from underserved communities .

We also need policies and leaders who understand the value of the arts, and who support it with real action not just talk. The government and private sector should work together to create a sustainable creative economy where artists can not only express themselves but also make a living.

And lastly, I think we as a community audiences, fans, families can do so much just by showing up. Go to the local theater, share a friend’s short film, buy the book your cousin wrote. Artists need support at every level.

I truly believe that Africa is rising. We’re in a time where technology, music, and culture are blooming. If we nurture our artists especially in film and theater ,we will see African stories take their rightful place on the world stage. That’s part of my mission: to be a bridge between what is and what’s possible.

Supporting artists isn’t just about helping individuals. it’s about preserving culture, inspiring change, and building a future where creativity is celebrated, not sidelined. If society can understand that, and act on it, we’ll see a whole new world bloom.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: amanyara_nalitolela
• Linkedin: Angelfaith Nalitolela
• Twitter: amanyaranali