Meet Chiwuzo Ife (Chi Ife) Okwumabua | Theatre Producer and Musical Theatre Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chiwuzo Ife (Chi Ife) Okwumabua and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chiwuzo Ife (Chi Ife), we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson that I have learned with my business is that you cannot accomplish anything great alone. You can work on smaller projects by yourself, but it is hard for your vision to fully bloom without the help of staff or volunteers. I think that might be a lesson that a lot of entrepreneurs or independent contractors learn when they start their business. It is never about the efforts of one person trying to pull off a major feat, but the efforts of many acting as one. Even the universe consists of galaxies and planets that all make up this one verse or song we live in. For many years I worked on projects alone trying to manage my ever-increasing workload. Now I realize that to expand my business, I must find the qualified individuals to add to the team. I have also learned that once you bring on more team members that it is critical to make sure that you have the right people in the right position. It is utterly amazing what can be accomplished when you are managing a team of people who are excited about what they bring to the project and feel that their contributions matter. Increasing your team also means trusting others to get the job done. After spreading myself thin almost to the point of burn out, I had to surrender to the fact that I was not a one woman show. I had to learn to trust others to do what I felt only I could do well. Lastly, I will add that you need to practice self-care. Never feel guilty for taking a day to do absolutely nothing work related and everything that makes you feel good.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a theater producer, musical theater songwriter, and owner of Chi Ife Productions, a production company that creates theatrical and educational productions via film or stage worldwide. I am passionate about presenting bodies of work that are innovative, empowering, and create social change. My mission is to create original work that is thought-provoking and motivates people to live their best life. I have a diploma in Theatre Studies from Atlanta’s famous Tri-Cities High school of Visual and Performing Arts. In 2002, I received my bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Georgia State University. I later received a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta) in March 2012. My mother is from the US and my dad is from Nigeria. I grew up in Memphis and Atlanta. Traveling abroad has been a big influence on the work that I create and how I see the world. Although I did not grow up in Nigeria, I do visit and appreciate the culture. The arts have taken me to every continent except Australia and Antarctica. I hope to visit both one day and cross them off my list What I am most proud of is the original musical production that I am co-writing and have been workshopping since 2015 called A Song for Adaeze. There was a time that I almost gave up because I felt overwhelmed by the task of writing and producing a show. People do not realize how much hard work goes into producing a show. There are a lot of moving parts. When you do it well then people think it is easy. What is even more challenging is when you are also writing or a part of the creative process. A colleague encouraged me to keep working on the music in the show and the rest would come. That is what I did and never gave up. The more I presented the show, the more people wanted to join the journey in bringing the production to the stage. Recently, I have been writing more and hope to collaborate with artists and organizations on new works.

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?
There are so many cool spots in Atlanta. I would dare her to be adventurous and take the week to visit certain neighborhoods in Atlanta. Each neighborhood has a different vibe, attractions, and restaurants. My favorite neighborhoods are the West End, Downtown East Point and College Park, Castleberry, Cabbage Town, Downtown (West Side or Edgewood Ave), Midtown, East Atlanta, and Buckhead. I think start there and on the next visit then we go OTP (Outside the Perimeter).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shout out all my amazing mentors, friends, and family. Thank you to the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta for teaching me the power of using your talents to create change in the world. Thank you to the latest creative team members of the musical production of A Song for Adaeze, an Afrofuturism musical I am writing with the lovely Sunni Williams. Thank you, Freddie Hendricks and Brandin Jay for enhancing the production with your amazing talents. Thank you, Warren Marvin Lankford, for your musical composition, and for being one of the first persons to join the team. Thank you to my friend and creative consultant Aimee L. McCoy and stage manager Emanuel Montford. Thank you Dr. Shirlene Holmes for your advice and mentorship over the years. Big thanks to my mom and siblings Nmadili, Chuka, and Gwam for always having my back and providing support.

Website: www.chi-ife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifeproductions

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiwuzo-ife-okwumabua-6302a2a/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChiIfe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHI.IFE.PRO

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6izqmo9RS0oCurTlEwkbtw