We caught up with the brilliant and insightful JA’DAKU Akabue a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
JA’DAKU, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In 2014, I lay in the hospital bed with waking pneumonia in my right lung. The doctor walked and announced that they discovered a large hole in my lung about 13 percent missing. I was devastated. I couldn’t breathe and they sent me home on some meds to clear the pneumonia. I went home and depression sank in. I started to write to cope and discovered songs of unsaid thoughts. I then began creating beats and concepts as I was bedridden. Who knew that would be the start of my musical solo career. I lost everything and was homeless for several months due to not working for the next 7 months and was training my body to perform. I knew that I was going to use what I been through to heal others. I Am JA’DAKU.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Biography:
JA’DAKU is a Nigerian- American World/Afro-R&B Recording Artist, Singer- Songwriter, SAG/AFTRA e & AEA Actor, Writer and Choreographer from Dallas, Texas. She now resides in Atlanta ,GA. JA’DAKU is an advocate for Mental illness and Social Injustice.
She is signed with The Clutts Agency and Gravity Hill Agency.
She plays a supporting role, Nicole, in the new film “Heavy” by Tiara Stax Jones directed by DeMarcus Bailey with Jamal Woolard (Biggie) from the film “Notorious”.
JA’DAKU made her Tour Debut in the 2016 Broadway Dreamgirls Japan Tour, headlined at the Main stage of House of Blues Dallas, performed at The Bomb Factory, TBN, BET, The Potter’s House, Eisemann Center and headlined at Louie Louie’s Piano Bar in her residency.
She was an Actor in many National Ad Commercials such as JC Penney, Golden Chick, Makers Mark and Dart to name a few. She is also a featured actor in the Emmy-Nominated show “Washed” streaming on Amazon Prime.
She was an actress in the winner of Sundance Film Festival, “Mother of George” Starring Danai Gurira ( Black Panther), Yaya DaCosta ( Our Kind of People) and Isaach de Bankolé ( Black Panther).
JA’DAKU performed, wrote and choreographed in The 1st Gen project Starring Yvonne Orji from HBO “Insecure” produced by Emmy award winner Erin Cherry. She performed as lead in All American girls on Off-Broadway and “Supreme Tartuffe” Off-Broadway with the Tony award winner Andre’ De Shields and “Love Boat” Ted Lange in New York,
She has performed for Solange, Rema, 2 Face Idibia, Kelis, Rachel Ray Show and Jennifer Holiday. JA’DAKU was named a “Household name” on 97.9 The Beat radio station with Jazze and was featured in The Dallas Observer as a “New Badass artist”.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I was a high school Substitute teacher, Waitress, server for catering companies, bartender, dance teacher and vocal teacher. I have sold clothing, furniture and jewelry for my dream to pay for studio time , dance class, and vocal lessons. It has been a hard journey but worth every minute.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I had an agent when I first started but I’m grateful that I was booking in New York in the. start of my career.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iamjadaku.com
- Instagram: iamjadaku
- Facebook: iamjadaku
- Twitter: iamjadaku
- Youtube: iamjadaku
- Other: linktr.ee/iamjadaku
Image Credits
Stacey Oluchi Photography Kira Purnell