Check Out Adimu “WolfHawkJaguar” Madyun’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adimu “WolfHawkJaguar” Madyun.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Blessings on Blessings
I’m Adimu Madyun, also known as WolfHawkJaguar. I’m an Oakland-based musician, filmmaker, actor, cultural artist and the founder of 393films.

My creative journey began with hip-hop. Music gave me a way to speak honestly about what I was experiencing and what I saw happening around me. Over time, that expression grew into theater, filmmaking and cultural storytelling.

My art and community work have always been connected., I grew up a fatherless child, now Im called on to heal Black men and young people through my music, movies, mouth and mind. Conversations about manhood, trauma, identity, relationships , joy, pain and belonging often find their way into my music and films. I don’t create from a distance. I create from the community I am part of.

My spiritual journey as Ogunlade, a priest of Ogun in the Ifa tradition, has carried me around the world. led me beyond Oakland to create work in South Africa, Nigeria, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico and Tanzania. The connection to African spirituality and ancestral memory is prominent in my art and healing work.

Through 393films, I have created more than 20 projects, including Sango: The Story of a King, Beyond Time, Protection Shields, Tent City and Goldfish: An Oakland Love Story. Each project is different, but they are all connected by the same purpose: to explore Black identity, spirituality, healing, liberation and transformation.

My path has not been straight or easy, but I kept creating. I’m a full time single father of five. Through the blessings of my ancestors and the support of my community, I continued moving forward. Today, I see my work as a bridge—between Oakland and Africa, the present and the ancestors, struggle and healing. I want my art to inspire action, transform thought and remind people that their stories matter.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges has been building as an independent Black artist without the financial backing, industry connections or resources that many larger productions have. There have been times when I had the vision but not the budget, so I had to find creative ways to move the work forward.

My work also does not fit neatly into one category. I combine hip-hop, film, theater, African spirituality, community work and cultural storytelling. That has sometimes made it difficult for the industry to understand where to place me, but I eventually realized that I was not supposed to fit into somebody else’s box. I was creating my own lane.

Balancing everything has been another challenge. I am a single father of five, I have worked full-time jobs, served my community and continued creating music and films. There have been periods when family responsibilities, work, financial pressure and personal struggles forced me to slow down. However, I never completely stopped creating.

I have also experienced the disappointment of putting my heart into projects that did not immediately receive the recognition, funding or distribution I believed they deserved. Independent artists often spend years creating important work before the larger world notices. I had to learn that recognition could not be the only reason I created.

What kept me moving was my faith, my ancestors, my children and the people in my community. The obstacles helped me understand my purpose more clearly. They taught me patience, discipline and how to create with whatever I had available. Most importantly, they reminded me that success is not only about fame. It is also about whether the work touches people, preserves our stories and leaves something meaningful behind

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am WolfHawkJaguar, 3 animals 1 name. A musician, filmmaker, writer, director, producer, actor and cultural artist. I am the founder of 393films, an independent Oakland-based film and media company.

My work combines spirit, music, film, theater, African Diasporic culture, community & storytelling. I specialize in telling stories about Black identity, manhood, spirituality, healing, liberation and transformation.

I am proud that spirit chose a man like me to work through. I am proud of my creativity, my healing hand, my strength vulnerability and courage.

What sets me apart is that my work comes from lived experience. My goal is not only to entertain. I want my work to inspire action, transform thought, preserve our stories and create space for hope & healing. I make films and music that connect the present to the ancestors while showing the beauty, pain and possibilities within our communities.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Believe in you.

Enjoy learning.

Love & be loved.

Blessings R Now.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfhawkjaguar/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@393films
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/393films/