Meet Aloye Akhagbeme | 🙏🏾God-Fearing 🎭 Marathon Runner 🏁

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aloye Akhagbeme and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aloye, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since my childhood, I’ve been known as the big-spirited, outgoing, well-spoken, naturally “funny guy” and “Golden-Boy” of my family, friend group and hometown community in Dallas, Texas. Having been influenced by Hip-Hop, R&B, and Gospel at an early age, my love for music was my introduction to the pursuit of a career in performing arts. Around the age of 13, I began writing music with hopes to get signed to my cousin’s (now “ex”) boyfriend; who I had only met over the phone and falsely claimed to be a newly famed rap artist named Z-Ro with a hit song “I Hate You B***h” on the radio at that time. After his joke of an opportunity was exposed as just that, I was able to actually perform music through the youth and Men’s choir at my church Greater Cornerstone in North Dallas. It was there, that my foundation for the arts was fostered. I gained comfort and familiarity with a main stage and spotlight from speaking and showcasing different talents at big events for years. For the first time, at the age of 16, I joined the cast for a series of theater plays that were written and directed by Dana Clark-Brocks through my local church. I fell in love with the camaraderie I built with my cast mates, as well as the opportunity to play and perform in a manner that brought people joy and entertainment. I received affirmation in my gifting and potential, by people that I respected and valued, along with what I consider to be GOD’s blessing on my creative foundation. Those experiences all set a fire and passion in my heart to pursue a career as an actor.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I wholeheartedly believe my faith in and favor from GOD, my authenticity, character, and charisma, my gift of optimism, which translates to a “marathon mindset”, my heart to impact whoever I can with the love of Christ, and my support system, are the distinguishing factors from who I am, compared to others in this industry. Measuring success on this journey definitely has not been easy, but it’s been a joy so far.
I want the world to be inspired for “greater” in several capacities by my work and life. I want my example on and off camera and stage to encourage passion, faith, joy, and perseverance. Most of all, I want to be a great reflection of GOD’s love to others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When family or friends are in town, I often recommend restaurants like Papi’s, Copelands, Egg Harbor Cafe, Fridas, and HERO or Sarah Donuts (because cake donut shops are the preferred “on-the-go” breakfast back home in Texas). As for places to visit, I encourage them to go to the Aquarium and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Atlanta Beltline, Cascade Skating Rink, the Battery, possibly an event like Bonfire ATL if my guests want a dose of ratchet, a hard MAYBE on Lenox mall 👀, and visit my church Victory Midtown or Change Church, as well as a Waffle House and somewhere with some wings + hookah to make the trip ATL certified.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My inspiration comes from a long list of family members and friends, including my wife, mother, aunts, late grandparents, siblings, late uncles, friends and several other successful figures. Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior being the greatest and most deserving of all credit and reverence for anything beautiful, blessed and pure in my life. My entire existence and purpose is dedicated to and centered around him. The person whose life has the most impact on my creative journey is the late and great creative Nipsey Hussle. His music and career’s theme has motivated me to have a “Marathon” mindset, appreciating both the victories and hurdles of the journey while never compromising my core values and character for the sake of instant gratification. His life and art encourage me to stay focused on and true to, my purpose to impact the people and things GOD allows me to influence. One of the most relative elements of Nipsey’s story to mine is the work and lifestyle change he made in leaving a more lucrative + secure financial structure of getting money in “the streets”. He left the life he knew best and chose to take a major lane switch and pay cut, in order to make the foundational investment and sacrificial commitment to pursue his craft as hard and for as long as GOD would allow. He took the route often traveled, but less persisted due to the discomfort, failures, distractions, and pain most people experience along the way. Anyone that knows me, knows I was never “running the streets” but can relate, in that I left my home and deepest relationships in Texas to pursue my passion in Atlanta, Georgia. Right after college, I started my professional career in Corporate America at a job amongst others, with potential to make six-figures, and live a comfortable life in theory. I often tell people “My dreams led me to ATL, and that job brought me here.” While trying to balance them both, I was shown time and time again that security was not a reality for me in the corporate world. I quickly changed gears, in an effort to pursue my craft full time, and started working “actor jobs” that often provided more flexibility, at the expense of strong income and consistency. Since then, it has been a constant dance in and out of traditional jobs and “creative hustles” from one season to the next, in order to fuel my dreams and feed my family. I’ve been encouraged during the ebbs and flows of this journey, by quotes coined by Nipsey, such as one from an interview on Big Boy’s Neighborhood stating “I went through EVERY EMOTION trying to pursue what I’m doing. I won’t act like I had it all figured out. I JUST DIDN’T QUIT! I think what’s going to separate whoever is trying to go for something is that You ain’t gon’ quit. That’s why I call this thing a MARATHON!” Perspective like that has motivated me when discouragement, self-doubt, comparison, exhaustion, and other thoughts and feelings creep in, to STAY encouraged, STAY the course, STAY focused, STAY true to self, and STAY in my own lane, as I keep running this marathon!

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Youtube: https://youtube.com/@s.t.a.echannel7581?si=-1Nuih62Qs_FL2OA