Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kinnawa AfricanThunder Kaitibi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Kinnawa AfricanThunder, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
The most significant risk I have ever taken and continue to take is putting my money into myself and my ideas. I say this because it’s easy to repeat something you’ve seen before from other people, but it’s harder to come up with an original idea, believe in your vision, and then invest in your vision, not knowing if it will even give you a return on investment. I have done this a few times–starting with my business while attending school, then again with my production studio, then a short film, then a recording studio, and so on. I failed the first time starting my production company, thinking I could work my way up to buying equipment while building clientele, traveling, and paying bills. I doubted how I could make everything work and did not take the time to figure out my plan of action. I had to realize that the dream was not the problem. The execution was the problem. The idea was perfect, but I did not have a plan initially. Years later, I have experience executing my ideas consistently, efficiently, and without a doubt. I make money from my ideas, but most of all I take pride in this risk each and every time. I am willing to bet on my vision each time.
Kinnawa AfricanThunder, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For those who do not know me, my name is Kinnawa the AfricanThunder. I am the owner of a media production company named AfricanThunder Inc. and the co-owner of entertainment company Nomar Syndicate and the upcoming recording studio Syndicate Studios. Over the years, I have focused on being a one-stop shop for cinematography, photography, DJing, strategic marketing, and celebrity interviews, including Young Dolph, Duke Deuce, Erica Banks, KentheMan, David Banner, and more. I have since narrowed my focus to more exclusively working on cinematography projects for short films & youtube series, as well as artist development & marketing. This change in direction came from my previous success in focusing on the items I love to do especially after winning Semi-Finalist in the Indie X International Film Festival in LA in 2021 for my first short film. I used to be caught up in the notion of being a “jack of all trades” and decided to become a “master of few. ” The difference between my company and others is that I continue to progress with each project, and also 100% believe in each project I take on. This is important because I do not do it for the money; I work on these goals because of my love for them. That love of providing the best quality item that I can has opened a lot of doors for me. 1501 Certified’s Business manager, Onyx, once told me, “If you love what you do and know how to do it, then do it. It’ll pay off, and you’ll feel great about it.” It was so small, but it made much more sense in everything I was doing. My brand is based on making visions I believe in come to life, which is the blessing I plan to continue doing.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Ooooo, this is a good question! The lesson I for sure had to unlearn was that to make your dreams come true; you have to work on them 24/7. This led me to fail the first time I started my business. When you are building (especially in this day and time), you can’t put all of your energy into your dreams all day, every day. Dreams are just like babies; you nurture them, feed them, and allow space for them to grow. I had to learn that taking a break from working is okay. I need that time to refresh my ideas and gain a different perspective on these things. I also learned that having a career during the day and working on your dreams at night is okay. I can still grow professionally, fund my dreams, and get a healthy break from the pressures of building my company. I love my day job; I work in Public Relations as a Senior Account Executive for KQ Communications, a full-service PR and marketing agency based in Memphis, TN, and Atlanta, GA, that services clients across the U.S. I never feel like I’m working because I love what I do at work. Then I focus on what I love to create for myself afterward. I did not have balance when I first started my business, but now I do, and it’s a healthy one that allows me to create, work, and still show up refreshed every day.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I feel like non-creatives struggle to understand interacting with our schedules or work ethic. Some people have told me, “I don’t want to hit you up because I know you are busy,” or “I see you working; I know you are doing fine because I saw your social media post.” I feel like those are terrible reasons not to check on your friends. Yes, I am always busy, but believe me, I make time for what I want and what is important. I can firmly speak for the creative community by saying we are always one phone call away. Assuming I’m fine just because you saw my post on social media when that is the primary way to market my business is wild. Non-creatives should understand that creatives are just like them. We have different focuses, but we still have the same needs. Check on your creative friends just like you would your other ones—-just maybe leave a voicemail if we are working (haha)
Contact Info:
- Website: ohitskinnawa.com
- Instagram: @OhItsKinnawa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhItsKinnawa/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinnawa-kaitibi-00959569
- Twitter: @ohitskinnawa
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/africanthunderinc
- Other: nomarsyndicate.com (label page)
Image Credits
M.D. Whit Productions, Aristoshots Photography, No. 89 Photography, Money Rich Media, TGreen Studios, Ryan Long Photography