Created by Ghanaian-American actor and filmmaker, Nathaniel Kweku, Growing Up Immigrant is a comedic web series that seeks to rectify Trump-era narratives about immigrants in the United States.
Kweku – who has featured in SWAT & Rosewood – plays the main character, Nicholas Ajayi, a first-generation Ghanaian-American millennial who has just moved in with his aunt, Aunty Mama, played by Akuyoe Graham of American Pie and When We Rise fame.
“Through Nicholas’s eyes, we experience how complexities with his identity affect his career choices, family life, and of course, his romantic life. (Did we mention he’s dating a girl who happens to be white and also “seeing” a girl who happens to be Nigerian-American??)” Kweku explains.
The University of Southern California alumnus wrote and executive produced the series as well as directed three of the six episodes. His fellow USC alum Daniel Trujillo produced, edited, and directed the pilot episode.
The additional cast in the series include Jessica Obilom (Trafficked, opposite Ashley Judd), Michelle Kim (Ray Donvovan and The Gifted), and Josh Davis (Grey’s Anatomy and General Hospital), and newcomer Peterjohn Minto round out the series regular cast.
Nathaniel is passionate about telling stories that help bridge the gap between Africans and African Americans and has been working on Growing Up Immigrant for over two years. He has also worked famed Ghanaian actors John Dumelo and Maame Adjei as a lead in the feature-film Before the Vows from An African City creator Nicole Amarteifio. The movie was filmed in Ghana and will be released later this year.
In addition to acting and filmmaking, Nathaniel previously worked at The Africa Channel in North Hollywood. “With the success of Black Panther, I’m confident that the world is ready for more diverse narratives about Africa and Africans,” he adds.
Watch the first episode of Growing Up Immigrant below:
