Today we’d like to introduce you to Fortune.
Hi Fortune, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story really starts with finding my voice.
Growing up in a Nigerian household, I had certain expectations for what success was supposed to look like. Becoming an artist wasn’t necessarily the traditional path laid out for me. On top of that, I grew up with a lisp, so for a long time, the very thing that would eventually become one of my greatest gifts, my voice, was something I had to learn to become confident in.
Speech and debate changed that for me.
It gave me a place to speak, perform, compete, and discover that my voice had power. That journey eventually took me to Wiley University,(formerly known as Wiley College) as I became not only a member of the Theta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated but also a member of the Melvin B Tolson /Denzel Washington Great Debaters forensics, team. There I continued developing not only as a performer, but as a leader, poet, vocalist, and storyteller. Over time, I realized that I didn’t have to choose just one part of myself. I could be an educator and an artist. I could be an actor and a poet. I could honor where I came from while creating something completely my own.
That realization eventually gave birth to Chief Ikenna, my artistic identity. “Ikenna” means “of God’s strength,” and that name has become a reminder of both my heritage and the strength it has taken to continue pursuing this journey.
Since then, Houston has become a major part of my story. I’ve had the opportunity to perform professionally in theatre, work in film, compete and perform as a spoken-word artist, and use my platform to tell stories centered around culture, identity, love, faith, pain, and the Black experience.
But I didn’t only want opportunities to perform,I wanted to create opportunities for other artists to be heard.
That desire led me to create The Art of Poetry at the Houston Museum of African American Culture, a Houston-based open mic and poetry experience designed to give poets, singers, storytellers, and creatives a space to express themselves and build community. What started as an idea has grown into something that has allowed me to host events, produce poetry slams, celebrate Black culture, highlight women artists, and bring together creatives from across Houston.
At the same time, I’ve continued my work as an educator and Speech & Debate coach. That’s probably one of the most full-circle parts of my story. Speech and debate helped a young kid with a lisp discover his voice, and now I get to help young people discover theirs. Whether I’m standing in a classroom, coaching a student for competition, performing onstage, acting in a production, or standing behind a microphone as Chief Ikenna, the mission is really the same: use my voice to help somebody else recognize the power in theirs.
I wouldn’t say I’ve “arrived.” I’m still becoming. There have been rejection letters, closed doors, moments of doubt, and times when balancing being an educator, actor, poet, producer, and simply a human being felt impossible. But every part of the journey has taught me something about who I am.
Today, I’m continuing to build Chief Ikenna as an artist, grow The Art of Poetry, pursue acting and performance opportunities, pour into the next generation through education and speech and debate, and create work that represents my culture and community.
When I look back at where I started, there’s something beautiful about knowing that the kid who once had to fight to become comfortable with his own voice has built a life around using it.
And I think I’m still only at the beginning.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I think the bumps, detours, and even a few roadblocks have helped shape the artist and person I am today.
One of my biggest struggles has been giving myself permission to fully believe that being an artist is something I can actually build a good life around. Growing up in a Nigerian household, success often came with a more traditional picture. There was education, stability, a career, and a clear path forward. Being an actor, poet, and creative doesn’t always come with that same sense of certainty. I had to learn that choosing an unconventional path didn’t mean I was choosing the wrong one.
I’ve also had to navigate rejection.a lot of it. Auditions I thought I nailed didn’t turn into roles. Opportunities I prayed for went to someone else. I’ve walked into rooms believing, “This could change everything,” only to walk out having to figure out how to keep believing in myself when the answer was no. The entertainment industry can make you question your talent if you allow every rejection to become a reflection of your worth.
Another challenge has been balance. I’m an educator, Speech & Debate coach, actor, poet, host, and creative. Sometimes those worlds work beautifully together, and other times they all seem to need me at the exact same moment. I’ve gone from teaching and pouring into students during the day to rehearsals, performances, poetry events, or writing late into the night. There have been moments when I’ve had to ask myself how much of me I can give away before I have nothing left for myself.
And then there has been the internal struggle.
I grew up with a lisp, and for someone whose life now revolves around speaking and performing, that’s almost poetic to think about. There was a time when I wasn’t completely confident in my own voice. Even after finding success, I’ve still had moments of comparison, insecurity, and wondering whether I belonged in certain rooms.
But I’ve learned that struggle doesn’t always mean you’re on the wrong road. Sometimes it’s proof that you’re being stretched enough to become the person the destination requires.
My faith has played a huge role in keeping me grounded through that process. I’ve had to learn that every “no” isn’t necessarily a rejection,sometimes it’s redirection. Every room isn’t mine, every opportunity isn’t mine, and every season isn’t meant to look the same.
The road hasn’t been smooth, and I don’t think I would rewrite it to make it smooth. The rejection taught me resilience. The uncertainty taught me faith. The balancing act taught me discipline. And the kid who once struggled with his voice eventually learned that his voice was never something he needed to hide. It was something he was supposed to use.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my core, I’m a storyteller. I’m an actor, spoken-word artist, vocalist, educator, coach, and creative entrepreneur, and although those titles may seem like different worlds, they all come back to the same thing for me: using my voice to connect with people. As an artist, I perform as Chief Ikenna. My work is heavily influenced by my Nigerian heritage, Black culture, faith, love, heartbreak, and the experiences that have shaped me as a first-generation African American. I specialize in storytelling that blends poetry, theatre, music, humor, and emotion. Whether I’m performing a poem onstage, stepping into a character in a theatrical production, or making funny content on social media, I want people to walk away feeling like they experienced something, not just watched something.
In theatre, I’ve had the opportunity to perform professionally throughout Houston, including several productions with The Ensemble Theatre. I’m especially proud to have received a 2025 Georgie Award for Best Supporting Actor. I’ve also continued challenging myself through auditions, training, film, and productions that have allowed me to grow beyond what I thought I was capable of as a performer.
Outside of performing, one of the things I’m most proud of is creating The Art of Poetry, an open-mic platform that has grown into a space for poets, musicians, and other creatives to share their work and build community. Creating a stage for myself is one thing, but being able to create a stage where somebody else can discover their voice means even more to me. Watching artists walk into the room nervous and eventually command that same stage reminds me why I started it.
That same passion carries into education. I work as a Special Education educator and serve as a Speech and Debate coach. I know firsthand what finding your voice can do for a young person. Growing up with a lisp, I never imagined that my voice would eventually become one of the biggest parts of my identity. Speech and debate gave me confidence, community, and a place to belong, so being able to provide that opportunity for another generation is deeply personal to me.
What sets me apart is that I don’t believe I have to choose between being an educator and being an artist, between serving people and pursuing my own dreams. Every part of my life feeds another part. The educator makes me a better storyteller. The poet makes me a better actor. The actor makes me a better communicator. The coach makes me a better leader. And my experiences as a Black Nigerian-American man give me a perspective that is uniquely mine.
I’m proud of the awards and accomplishments, but I’m most proud that I kept choosing my voice. I went from being a kid who once struggled with his speech to building a life where speaking, performing, teaching, and storytelling are at the center of everything I do.
That transformation is probably the best description of my work: I found my voice, and now I’m committed to using it and helping other people find theirs.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Collaboration is at the heart of what I do. As Chief Ikenna, I’m always open to acting opportunities, spoken-word performances, hosting, workshops, and creative projects with artists, filmmakers, theatre companies, musicians, educators, and organizations that believe in meaningful storytelling.
People can also support me by supporting The Art of Poetry. Come to an event, bring a friend, step up to the mic, share the work, and help us continue building spaces where Houston artists feel seen and heard.
Sometimes support is simply saying my name in a room I haven’t entered yet. Share a performance, recommend me for an opportunity, or follow the journey. I believe in collaboration over competition, and I don’t just want to walk through doors, I want to leave them open for the next person.
If you have a stage, a story, or an idea worth creating, let’s build something meaningful together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiefikenna?stkn=MTd3anBpcXhhZGozNg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BsCAeBa9m/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chiefikenna?si=NVR3ARYdU8h2im7R
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefikenna?_r=1&_t=ZP-99b6amC8sNq
