Meet Kinnawa ‘AfricanThunder’ Kaitibi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kinnawa ‘AfricanThunder’ Kaitibi.

Hi Kinnawa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
AfricanThunder Inc. blossomed into a dream come true for me. It started back in 2013 as a hobby of creating videos and taking pictures as well as producing marketing materials. I was not sure exactly what direction I wanted to go in. I just knew I wanted to use my skills to make an impact on the world around me by telling the stories through my work.

As time went on, I realized I could increase my reach if I took my skill set more seriously, so I did. I started to invest more in myself by buying newer equipment and making the necessary sacrifices in order to get to where I am. “Dreams don’t work unless you do!” So, I worked. I have traveled the U.S. interviewing and working with various artists, including Young Dolph, David Banner, Erica Banks, Def Jam Recordings, as well as winning semi-finalist in the international IndieX Film Festival. I realized back in 2018 that if I bet on myself and believe in myself, I will always win. Ever since my mentality changed, I have gotten my business incorporated and attained a studio space, Thunder Studios, and have gotten my name floating in international media circles.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I learned the hard way about how to do and what to say in contracts with bigger companies when I am doing work with/for them. I have gained a lot of money over the years, but I have also lost a lot of money from mistakes that could have been avoided. I initially tried to go full-time with my business back in 2016 and fell flat on my face because I did not completely understand the ins and outs of proper business protocol. I lost out on huge monetary compensation that I depended on to live because I failed to include cancellation clauses and then did not have enough money or the knowledge to have a lawyer on retainer. Last year, I missed out a contract because I did not have studio space. These were all learning experiences that I needed in order to get here. I do not regret the lessons. I just wish I could have learned the lessons before they happened to me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in videography, photography, and strategic marketing/communication. My company also specializes in the entertainment field as a DJ, Host/MC, and event coordinator. I am most known for my various interviews in LA, Houston, ATL, and Chattanooga. The interviews with David Banner, Young Dolph, Erica Banks, and Def Jam Recordings’ Promotion Coordinator (Michael “MJ” Jackson) were the ones that opened the doors for me to gain exposure within the field. I am most proud of my semi-finalist placement in the International IndieX Film Festival in Los Angeles, California for my first short film, Special Agent Thunder: The Fall, this past spring. This was a great accomplishment for me because I was able to step out on faith and do something I loved on a higher scale for the first time and receive recognition for it. I have been invited to participated in dozens festivals around the world because of this.

What sets me apart from others is my strong sense of the betterment of culture that is integrated into my work. I do not just focus on the drama or sexual antics that others do in their work, I focus on the story, the solutions, and the betterment of the people who watch or participate in my work. I use my skills to provide a message because as I have always said people do not pay attention to issues until they see it in a video. I have also entered into partnerships with local non-profit groups such as Dynamo Studios, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping inner-city youth develop skills within the media. They train the kids and I support initiatives to give them professional work experience and the opportunity to get compensated for their skills. I have also entered into a partnership with SUSPIRE, a mental health organization dedicated to providing tools for mental clarity and emotional stability. My work is more than just developing content for fun, it’s about bettering the community that views it as well. Philanthropy is heavily incorporated into my business.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was always the funny geek that was the center of attention. I was smart, wild, talented, and was about my business. I grew up doing professional theatre in Memphis at Playhouse on the Square, community theatre at Harrell Theatre, and also various choirs, including All-Southwest Honor Choir. I have always been involved with the arts as well as psychological factors that affect the people we interact with everyday. I was a fun and happy kid that was very intuitive for my age and wondered how I could help others who were dealing with trauma through my entertainment. I felt that if I could make people smile through my jokes or performances, then I was helping them. I would not have guessed I would be running a business. I always told my family that I just wanted to be famous and have fun doing it when I grow up.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: AfricanThunderInc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohitskinnawa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhItsKinnawa/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohitskinnawa/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/AfricanThunderInc

Image Credits
Photo credits to: In Orbit Productions, LLC -No.89 Photography -Money Rich Media -TGreen Studios -Aristoshots Photography