Anniwaa, Producer and Actor

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be an actress… a creator from the beginning of time. I truly was an escapist, my imagination was my safe haven.  I am the youngest out of four, and constantly was bothering my brothers and my sister with my singing and dancing and making up stories about my teddy bears.  I am sure it was annoying for them, but for me. I was happiest creating and entertaining. I’m glad that I followed through and stayed true to myself. I am what I wanted to be and more!    

What do you want most in the future? 

I would like there to be a platform where black women, particularly dark skinned black women are seen and heard. I feel that we are often in societal situations where we are expected to either - mute ourselves or put other people’s needs before our own. We experience an intersectionality, which focuses on our counterparts and allows their voices to be heard and their faces to be seen. For example, when one talks about race - there is an immediate thought of the black man’s experience. We know of the brutality black men experience in this world.  However there are high rates of black women experiencing verbal and physical racial attacks … we just don’t hear about it in the mainstream media, it’s not a story that is highlighted. The same with female related issues…. Concerning misogyny, feminism… the #MeToo movement was started by a black woman… but yet the stories being heard and pushed to the spot light are white female stories. Not to say that their voices do not matter… it does, but so does mine. And I hope that in the future, that I am trying to create, I would like my voice, my sister's voices to be heard and acknowledged, independently as not a black experience, or a female experience but specifically as a black female experience. Acknowledging similarities is just as important as learning about differences, through this we can understand how to respect one another. 

What’s been your biggest achievement to date? 

That’s a tricky question to answer…… and I think this may be quite a basic answer…. But I would say the biggest achievement to date is staying true to myself. I think in the entertainment industry, it’s so easy to mold and change yourself to what other people want you to be, and to a certain extent that goes with the job, as creative..as a performer. But if you have no solid foundation with yourself, how can you possibly portray another person’s life.. another person's story. It's an achievement that despite being scrutinised for every aspect of who I am, I continue to remain true to myself and consistent. I have not given that power to any one else, and never will. So yeah, that’s my biggest achievement.  

What’s your advice to other women/girls?  

I know a respectable lady, who once said to me: “NO is a vitamin to me.” It’s a quirky comment. But I live by that. 

People will always try to put a stereotype on you or project their insecurities on to you. They will tell you, you can’t do this, you can’t do that…. But as long as you know you can, that’s all that matters. The only person you need to prove yourself to, is yourself. I always encourage people to MOVE IN SILENCE. You don’t always need to update your every move, leave an air of mystique…. you need to keep a little secret for yourself, a secret that makes you smile.  

What does it mean being a black woman in your industry?

I have to be a pioneer, an innovator, a role model, a leader. The industry is now “diverse” but front facing. In the entertainment industry, we are SEEING people of the global majority on screen, or as writers and directors… but there is still a low percentage of global majority crew members, commissioners, executive producers. Knowing this means I have to be a pioneer, an innovator, a role model, a leader and find ways to create new avenues for black women to be at the forefront of my industry.   

What school did you go to?  

I went to a standard Secondary school, with the motto “Committed to excellence.” You know schooling is an interesting topic of discussion. I have been in rooms with some people that went to the best boarding schools, universities…. And they lack common sense, and have a very basic level of intelligence. On the other hand I have been in rooms with some people that left school at 16 or even earlier and their IQ’s are simply phenomenal. The difference: Those who went to the best boarding schools and universities, have access to a rolodex of contacts very early on in their live, but don’t know what to do with them, except just floss Instagram that they know this wealthy person and that famous person. Those that left school at 16, discovered their ambition, and understood how to utilise their contacts in a way that they can access opportunities that have longevity and high impact. So in terms of my schooling… I think my school did its job, I am and have always been “committed to excellence”  and I continue to learn. 

What is the most important thing in the world to you? 

My SANITY! The most important thing! I’m going to be real with you. Growing up in South London, I have seen my fair share of professional people deteriorate, and stand outside the Brixton Tube station begging for money. Many say, oh it’s the drugs etc. I beg to differ.  
 

When someone loses their sanity, they have lost their ability to trust their decision making skills and  this can lead you to a dark place. A very dark place.  

Our society is infiltrated with online presence such as Instagram, Tik tok etc. The amount of times I have had people call me up, because they went from an emotional high straight to a low within 2 minutes because they saw something on instagram.  

Therefore I have to protect my sanity at all costs, because without it, I can not function, I can not be the person I meant to be.  

Your soul is the engine of your body, your sanity is the driving wheel…. If you keep the engine running  but you have no steering wheel, at some point you will crash.  

So I keep my mind refreshed, and vibrant, and sometimes, that means simply taking a step back from the millions of messages I receive via whats app, email, phone call, Instagram, twitter etc. 
 

 AND JUST BREATHE…BREATHE…… BREATHE.