Awam Amkpa is a Nigerian-American interdisciplinary artist, practitioner-director, playwright, actor, filmmaker and global curator of visual and performing arts and film festivals. He is Vice Provost for the Arts, and Dean of Arts and Humanities at New York University Abu Dhabi."

Background

He received his B.A. in Dramatic Arts from

Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal university in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, which w ...

, Ile-Ife,

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

where he studied under the tutelage of Wole Soyinka, his M.A. in Drama from

Ahmadu Bello University The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a public research university located in Zaria, Nigeria, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. The university has four colleges, three schools, 18 faculties, ...

, Zaria, Nigeria, and his Ph.D. from

University of Bristol The University of Bristol is a public university, public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Br ...

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

Career

He has directed and written over 100 plays and numerous films, most recently, The Man Died (2024), inspired by Wole Soyinka’s memoir. It has won numerous awards, namely, Best Director at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2025; Best Screenplay Award at the Carthage Film Festival, Tunis and African International Film Festival, Lagos; Best Audience Choice Award at Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival; Best Film That Tackles an Important African Issue’ at the Luxor African Film Festival. He has curated art exhibits globally namely, ReSignifications; Africa: See You, See Me. He is Vice Provost for the Arts, and Dean of Arts and Humanities at New York University Abu Dhabi.

Interviews

"Awam Amkpa: And So On," in

Guernica Magazine ''Guernica / A Magazine of Art and Politics'' is an American digital magazine known for publishing fiction, poetry, essays, reportage, art, and interviews that focus primarily on global perspectives and the intersection between art and politics. ...

, May 2025 "Awam Amkpa: What’s Missing Will be Found," in

, October 2024

Books

''ReSignifications: European Blackamoors, Africana Readings.'' Edited catalogue published by Postcart, Rome, Italy. 2016 ''Africa: See You, See Me.'' Edited catalogue, Africa.Cont, Lisboa. 2013

Filmography

'' Truly, Madly, Deeply'', 1991 - a ghost Director/Editor, ‘Accra: A Pan-African Rupture’ 75 mins Director/Editor, ‘A Very Very Short Story of Nollywood’ 15 mins Produced by Manthia Diawara. 2008 Director, ‘Women of Agbogloshi’ 12 mins- short documentary on Muslim women in Accra. 2007 Director, ‘Voices Against Aids’ 5 mins ‘Hip-Life’ music video shot and broadcast in Ghana for the West African Aids Federation. 2007 Assistant Director, Conakry Kas, directed by Manthia Diawara 2006 Assistant Director, Bamako Sigi-Kan, directed by Manthia Diawara. 2005 Director, Editor, Wazobia! Feature film written and produced by Tess Onwueme. 2005 Director, The Man Died, Feature Film inspired by the prison memoir of Wole Soyinka, 2024. "Awam Amkpa: What’s Missing Will be Found," in

, October 2024

Curatorial Practices

'Africa: Significaciones' at Centro Provincial de artes Plasticas y Diseño, Havana, Cuba. 2017 'ReSignifications: European Blackamoors, Africana Readings.' at Museo Bardini, Villa La Pietra and Galleria Biagiotti, Florence, Italy. 2015 'Africa: See You, See Me' in Beijing and Macau China; Rome and Florence, Italy, Dakar, Senegal and Lagos, Nigeria. 2011-2013 Annual Highlife Music Festival, Accra, Ghana. 2006-2009 Kofi Ghanaba Audi-Visual Archives, Medie-Accra, Ghana 2007-2010

References

External links

* Nigerian dramatists and playwrights Nigerian male film actors Mount Holyoke College faculty New York University faculty Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Ahmadu Bello University alumni {{nigeria-writer-stub