Emeka Menakaya

Emeka Menakaya was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria on April 30th 1983, he is the second of four children. He attended secondary school at King's College Lagos, Nigeria, and went to further his University education at The University of Texas at Arlington, earning a bachelor's degree in Business Management. Throughout Primary school, Secondary and University, Emeka has always had a passion for acting and theatre, and participated in the arts whenever he had an opportunity. He lived in Dallas, Texas for 11 years where he had the opportunity to explore his passion for film. He appeared in The Okra Principle (2009) an enthralling look at the ups and downs in the lives of three Nigerian brothers and their close friends. Okra soup, a traditional Nigerian dish that the brothers often partake in is cleverly used to lighten the underlying serious issues that the story explores. Take the Spotlight (2014) a story of Artie Rain, a Dallas, Texas film director who has been hired by two Dallas based African Film producers to direct a movie about human trafficking called "Finding Promise". Artie sees in this venture, a chance of a lifetime because for the first time in his life, he has all the funds he needs to make a film. He must now make or die trying, a masterpiece that must "Take the Spotlight" wherever screened. Artie pursues this goal with a maniacal zeal equal to that of Napoleon Bonaparte, a man whose dedication, meticulousness and commitment to winning Artie also embraces, at the same time dealing with challenges in his family life and work life. Emeka moved to Toronto, Canada in 2013 where he resides, and has since explored his passion for film, starring in the short film Chuks (2014), where he plays David- The Victim. Chuks is a businessman who deals in a peculiar business. For a handsome fee, he facilitates the transportation of desperate Nigerian illegal immigrants looking for greener pastures in North America. Emeka also appeared in the short film- Final Forever (2014), where he plays a Guard who grants people who are worthy enough with access to the pearly gates or deserving of the pits of hell.