We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zane Paully-umeh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zane, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
At Zikki Nwanne Entertainment, our mission is rooted in creating a platform that empowers, enriches, and educates through the art of entertainment. But beyond the events and experiences we curate, what drives us is the deeper purpose of celebrating culture, community, and connection.
The mission stems from a desire to provide a voice and space for the African diaspora and global cultures to shine. It’s meaningful to us because we see entertainment as more than just a party; it’s a means to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and uplift underrepresented communities. We believe in the power of music, art, and culture to heal, inspire, and unite, and we want our events to leave a lasting impact on everyone involved, from our artists to our audience.
This mission is personal to our team, as many of us come from diverse cultural backgrounds and have experienced firsthand the need for spaces that honor our stories and talents. We’re not just building a business, we’re creating a movement that celebrates identity, inclusion, and empowerment, and we’re committed to making sure that every event is a reflection of that purpose.
Our mission matters because it’s not just about entertainment—it’s about representation, growth, and meaningful change.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Zane Paully-Umeh, a Professional Emcee also known as “Zane Da HypeHuncho” and I am the founder and CEO of Zikki Nwanne Entertainment. My journey into the entertainment industry has always been fueled by a passion for creating unforgettable experiences and bringing people together. I started out as an emcee for local events, which opened my eyes to the profound impact that music and culture can have on a community.
Recognizing the need for a platform that celebrates diversity and uplifts voices within the African diaspora, I founded Zikki Nwanne Entertainment. The name itself represents family, unity, and belonging—core values that guide our mission.
What Zikki Nwanne Entertainment Provides:
At Zikki Nwanne Entertainment, we specialize in but not limited to:
– Event Curation: From Afrobeat brunches to cultural festivals, we create experiences that celebrate the richness of global culture, especially within the African community.
– Talent Management: We represent and manage both emerging and established artists, securing bookings, negotiating contracts, and developing strategic career paths.
– Creative Direction: Our team oversees all creative aspects of our projects, ensuring authenticity and impact in every event we produce.
In collaboration with “All Hands In Order nonprofit organisation,” we also host charity events and educational workshops to empower and uplift our community.
What Problems We Solve for Our Clients:
One of the main challenges we address is the need for meaningful and memorable events that resonate with diverse audiences. Today’s attendees seek more than entertainment; they crave cultural relevance and authenticity. Our approach ensures that we not only meet but exceed these expectations.
For artists, we navigate the complexities of the entertainment industry, helping them build their brand and connect with their audience in meaningful ways.
What Sets Us Apart:
What truly differentiates Zikki Nwanne Entertainment is our commitment to cultural celebration and community impact. We believe in creating experiences that reflect people’s identities and stories. Our team is deeply passionate about music, art, and culture, and we take a tailored approach to each event, ensuring it is unique and impactful.
Our strong connection to the communities we serve enables us to create authentic events that promote inclusivity and understanding.
What We’re Most Proud Of:
I take immense pride in the community we’ve built at Zikki Nwanne Entertainment. Whether it’s watching an artist we’ve managed perform at a significant event or hosting a sold-out gathering, each success feels deeply personal.
I am also proud of our mission-driven approach. Through initiatives like charity events and workshops, we focus on empowering, enriching, and educating our community, providing resources to help young creatives and raising awareness for important causes.
Main Things to Know About Zikki Nwanne Entertainment:
– We create authentic, culturally relevant experiences that leave a lasting impact.
– Our focus is on event curation, talent management, and fostering cultural understanding.
– We are driven by a mission to empower, enrich, and educate through entertainment.
– Whether you are attending our events or collaborating with us as a talent, you’ll find a commitment to excellence, creativity, and inclusivity.
– Our core values of family, unity, and purpose guide everything we do.
At Zikki Nwanne Entertainment, we believe in the transformative power of entertainment, and we are dedicated to creating experiences that inspire and uplift our community.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One story that stands out from my journey is finding the courage to execute our very first “Professional Rooftop Mixer”. I was filled with doubt, wondering if people would actually attend or if I was truly capable of pulling off an event of this scale. I worried about the turnout, questioned whether the idea was strong enough, and doubted my ability to make it happen.
Despite these fears, what kept me encouraged was my belief in my purpose and my work ethic. I reminded myself why I started Zikki Nwanne Entertainment: to bring people together, to celebrate culture, and to create memorable experiences that empower, enrich, and educate. I trusted the process and pushed forward, focusing on every detail to ensure the event’s success.
Fast forward, that resilience paid off. The event was a success, and that single leap of faith led us to now throwing “monthly events”. Today, we’ve expanded to hosting our “weekly Afrobeats Brunch and Bubbles” every Sunday, with even more events on the horizon. This journey has been a powerful reminder that resilience and self-belief are essential to overcoming doubt and growing into new opportunities.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that “perfection equals success”. Early in my journey, I believed that everything had to be flawless before I could execute an event or make a move. I thought that if something wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t ready, and that mindset held me back from seizing opportunities.
The backstory involves one of the early events I planned. I spent so much time overanalyzing every small detail—trying to make sure everything from the flyer design to the DJ lineup was absolutely perfect—that I almost missed important deadlines. I was so focused on making sure every element was flawless that I didn’t realize I was overcomplicating the process.
It wasn’t until I decided to step back and focus on “progress over perfection” that things started to shift. I realized that chasing perfection can often delay progress and that some of the most memorable and successful events came from being adaptable and letting things flow naturally. Once I let go of the idea that everything had to be flawless, I was able to move forward, take risks, and grow the brand faster.
Now, I embrace the mindset that it’s okay to learn as you go. “Execution is more important than perfection”, and that lesson has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zikkinwanneent.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zikkinwanneent/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61560874291885
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zane-paully-umeh/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ZikkiNwanneEnt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zikkinwanneent
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/zikorazane_pu/
https://www.instagram.com/allhandsinorder/
https://www/allhandsinorder.org@zikkinwanneent
https://posh.vip/g/zikkinwanneent
https://youtube.com/@AllHandsInOrder
https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-hands-in-order/
