We recently connected with Prince Bajon Bihai IV and have shared our conversation below.
Prince Bajon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I have had such a long rewarding journey with the craft of acting. Many actors start when they are very young children. However, I was not exposed to acting until I was in college, well acting as an academic pursuit that is. I always knew that I wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t think that there was much of a skill set required to be a successful actor. I thought that people just walked onto a stage with confidence and good looks, and BAMM, they were able to tell great stories. Boy oh boy was I wrong, getting cast in the main stage production (20/02) at Towson University genuinely changed my life. I was in a dark place, because I had just recently stopped playing basketball, and that was truly the love of my life. I didn’t feel like I had much direction nor guidance in my life , praying, and asking God what was there for me to do, I felt led to pursue acting as an academic discipline. This was also prompted, by learning about the backgrounds of all my favorite/best actors in the industry. I was shocked to realize just how many of them had BFA if not MFA degrees. I thought to myself “I’ll never be in a play. I’ll just take these classes so that I can learn whatever it is that makes Viola Davis and Denzel Washington so captivating on that dang screen!” there was no way I could’ve been prepared for the journey I was about to embark on. I often describe the beautiful process which is known as acting in this way: “ say your body, your mind, your soul… your very spirit all that is you(you get the point)… is a house. Do not be mistaken, just because you were born with the deed to this house, you are not the owner of this house, in fact the house very well may own you and in many cases, such is more probable. It is the byproduct of a tremendous amount of work, discipline and learning, that allows you to truly become the owner of said home. Furthermore every single room, every single corner, every single inch of this house is entrenched in darkness, and I do mean this literally. But what one must do, along the journey of learning to wield their instrument for storytelling, is to learn themselves. They must not only study themselves(although many of the more pretentious actors in the world do… and it shows), but also all that is around them, all who is around them. They must learn to question, they must have the curiosity and inquisitive nature of a child. Furthermore, they must be willing to play, to explore like a child. And it is only through this journey of exploration, and, and learning, does the light begin to illuminate the dark corners of this home. It starts as just a flicker, taking up no more than just a corner of a room. And that baby flicker, grows, as it is cultivated and one day becomes a flame.The craft of acting, also gives you the keys to unlock the very doors of this home. again, do not be mistaken just because you were born with the deed to this home, all of the doors remain locked. As one begins to know thy self, one by one they begin to unlock the doors in their home. traversing from the first floor, to upstairs, and then one day, hopefully to the basement(and so on and so forth).I believe it is important to note, that although this is the beauty of this lifestyle (because acting is not a profession, it is not something you turn on/off, it is a complete immersion. It is a lifestyle) here lies a great danger. When a door is locked we have no way to know what lies behind it. It often causes great pain to over come what lies beyond the doors, deeper within the home. However there also lies great beauty and strength. My father (and by father I mean Denzel Washington, I do not know my biological father all to well) used to often say “to get somewhere you have never been, you must become someone you have never been.” When acting, you never know what room you need to occupy to play what role. But the skilled technician, has the ability to step from room to room when necessary, floor to floor, when the job requires, and even at a very high level of mastery, they obtain the ability to remain present on various floors and various rooms simultaneously.
Prince Bajon, 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?
I heavily addressed some of these topics in Question 1, however I will be much obliged to provide more context. I am Prince Bajon Bihai IV, a first generation Cameroonian-American. I was raised in Frederick MD, by my single mother (Evelyn Bah), her sister/my aunt (Dominica Ngante),alongside my 3 siblings Princess, Lenzy and Binwi (listed in order of age… not partiality, that would be an entirely different order). Being raised by two strong, beautiful black women, I came to adore all things womanhood. I developed a deep respect, and admiration for womanhood after seeing all my mom(s) endured, to give us all the best possible opportunities this life can offer. Growing up without a father is difficult, it comes with a plethora of unique challenges. But I believe film/television largely served as what I liked to call my “Stand-In” father. Being born in 2001, I grew up on what I believe is inarguably the best Television Era. I was schooled by the Legendary Philip Banks, scolded by the charismatic Carl Winslow, and molded by the likes of Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith and heck the whole entire Wayans family (Keenan, Shawn,Marlon, and Damon Wayans!). I learned a lot from the men of Television. It was not just them though, they do say it takes a village does it not? I was adopted by Denzel Washington, which made Taye Diggs my uncle! I had dreams of being a Morris Chestnut, or maybe a Terrence Howard, or even a Boris Kojo. The men of the film Industry were my role models. They picked me up when I was down, and if all else failed, if nobody had my back, I knew I could count on them to be ‘around! These men showed me the complexities of being a Black Man in America. They showed me it was okay to cry, that it was okay to be different and most importantly they held up a mirror and they showed me myself. Validating who I was, and creating an image for who I could strive to be. And don’t get me started on what the women in the industry have done, and continue to do for me. From Angela Basset, Viola Davis and Phylicia Rashad(my personal confidant and the dean of my college), to Brandy, Queen Latifah, The Mowry Sisters, Kim Fields and Tracee Ellis Ross. The Woman of TV/Film have gifted me life. Words cannot describe what they mean to both myself and the world at large. Without these women (and many more that were not listed for the sake of time) there is no Prince Bajon. Scratch that, without these women, there is nothing. Because woman have served(and will continue to do so)as the very blueprint, since the beginning of time. That was a necessary preface in order for one to understand my mind, and my paradigm at large about my work. None of the work I do is in search of fame, money, praise or any other worldly possession. I genuinely do this work because I desire to be used by God to touch the lives of the people. Much like the aforementioned names did for me. Entertainment is often looked at as menial. But another question I pose to people quite often. Typically right after they say something along the lines of “are you sure you want to major in acting? Isn’t there like no money in that? What if you don’t make it?” I say “ How often do you see your doctor?… Once maybe twice a year…
How often do you see your dentist?… about the same, I don’t know? Like twice a year….
Okay last question for you, how often do you see a lawyer…
I have never had use for a lwayer, so never I guess. …”
But people believe all of these professions are respectable, safe and will likely result in a “successful” career. I find that strange because when I circle it back around ask “How often do you see an actor/performer? And I do not just mean TV/Movies, I mean ads, commercials, social media, all of it?” The answer has ALWAYS been EVERYDAY several times a day. Almost everyone I ask that series of questions undergoes a visible instant paradigm shift. And this is not me saying that an actor is more important than any other profession. Rather, I stake the claim that all profession are necessary and individuals should pursue their purpose. Where they feel called to be, because where there is purpose, I believe God will insert provision! I believe the main thing that makes Prince Bajon, Prince Bajon, is the very fact that I am walking in my purpose. I do not walk by sight alone, I walk by faith.I am doing what I was made to do. And God creates us with extraordinary amount of uniqueness. Your purpose is YOUR purpose. No one can take the destiny that has been layed out for you and there is an immense amount of peace, and an overflow of love from the individual who understands that truth. It is our duty to live out our intended callings. And if there is only one thing people can take away form an interaction with me. It is to chase your dreams. Dare to dream, and to dream big. As my father would often say (a film persona, can you guess who?) don’t be afraid to fail, if your gonna fall, fall forward! That way you can see what your gonna hit, and you can get up and keep moving forward!”
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I think that is a great question, thank you for asking! I. Believe what society can best do to support artist is create more visibility around marginalized voices, and expression. Too often there is a cultural standard which has such a heavy influence on what is commercial acceptable, and/or produced. Since we live in the world, people do need financial provision to create. And a like of visibility, and resources kills the less accepted art/artist. And historically these are often the voice we need to hear the most.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, I believe in a world where people from all different creoles, colors and creeds can live harmoniously. I think the lack of representation, or at least an accurate representation within the art world, and specifically the entertainment sector can create contention between groups of people that do not have much exposure to one another. I also believe In the same vein, art has the power to educate, to liberate and create bridges that connect these communities. Art is a universal language,we all speak it. That’s why “Beyoncé’s” music is heralded and streamed across cultures, across continents! Because art transcends any barriers, especially some of the Ludacris ones we erect within our own minds and social structures.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/princebajon
Image Credits
@cthroughmylenz Abdulai Hallowell @Imagesprocessing Dontrell Jones