Ghanaian filmmaker behind ‘The Burial of Kojo’ directs upcoming series for The Oprah Winfrey Network

On the back of his warmly received 2018 feature Film ‘The Burial of Kojo’, Samuel Bazawule, better known by the stage name Blitz the Ambassador, recently landed another big win.

Last year, he directed two episodes of the African-American anthology series, “Cherish the Day” set to premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network in February 2020.

Of the experience, Blitz noted on Twitter: “2019 had many highlights but getting to direct the legendary Cicely Tyson on #CherishTheDay tops my list. Her grace and mastery of craft was awe inspiring. Can’t wait for y’all to see this beautiful anthology series by @Ava Feb 2020. @OWNTV.”

Cicely L. Tyson, an American actress and former fashion model is the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards, four Black Reel Awards, one Screen Actor Guild Award, one Tony Award and an honorary Academy Award.

Tyson is also the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

According to Blitz via Twitter, Chapter One of the anthology series stars Xosha Roquemore as Gently James and Alano Miller as Evan Fisher, a young couple who meet and fall in love in Los Angeles. The first season will span five years which consists of over eight episodes.

Tyson will join Roquemore and Miller as Miss Luma Lee Langston, a renowned star of stage and screen of decades past, he added.

‘The Burial of Kojo’, the first Ghanaian produced and directed film to be eligible for the 2020 Golden Globes Awards, was written and directed by the Brooklyn based Ghanaian hip-hop artist, filmmaker, and visual artist.

‘The Burial of Kojo’ debuted on Netflix. As a music man, Blitz won an award for best new artist at the 2000 Ghana Music Awards. He’s experimented with hip hop and live music but it appears he has his eyes firmly set on film making now.

He moved to the United States in 2001, where he studied at the Kent State University in Ohio. He then moved to New York City to pursue his dream of being a notable musician and entertainer.

In late 2009, he was chosen as one of Beyond Race Magazine’s “50 Emerging Artists.” The endearing attribute of Blitz the Ambassador is that while some of the African stock shy away from their heritage, he has made it a point to embrace and highlight his culture.