Mamito Kukwikila
Biography by Arlen Aguayo Stewart (Close friend of Mamito’s)
I moved to Toronto three years ago and was so fortunate to meet Mamito. Having also just
moved to the city with similar aspirations we found a kindred spirit in the other. I’ve seen
Mamito flourish in her brief years in the city, pouring her heart and soul into any artistic project
that crosses her path: whether it be spoken word, tackling the stage, producing, dancing, writing,
acting, singing, or inspiring others. The most beautiful thing about Mamito is that she has this
incredible drive and strength grounded in a genuine kind old soul. Listening to her speak about
her goals and dreams instantly makes you check yourself and how much you can push yourself
and more importantly the world around you. She sees beyond the boxes others try to place her in;
she’s sees a universe of infinite possibility.
What hood are you in?
Up until January of this year (2017) I lived in Chinatown/Kensington Market area. I was
fortunate to be “adopted” by my now Canadian family who I rented a basement room from when
I first moved to Toronto from London (England). I now live by myself (ADULTING) in North
York. Vastly different from the fast pace of Chinatown/Kensington Market area, but I like the
quiet. I lead an active and busy life which sees me go downtown nearly everyday (and I love to
do that) but it’s nice to come home to silence.
What do I do?
I am am actor, spoken word artist, producer, writer and acting coach with a company I started
with fellow artist and vocal coach, Candace Cheung called The Performer’s Workshop Series. In
the words of Viola Davis “I came to live out loud”, so that’s what I do. 🙂
What are you currently working on?
Right now I am currently working on HERstories with my writing partner Malube Uhindu-
Gingala. Not sure when this is going to be posted, but I have a play that is on at The Commons on College. The world premiere of Kristofer Van Soelen’s GRAY and directed by Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster. The production ran until October 1st. I also did an all female music showcase on October 7th at the Smiling Buddah organised by Fred E Fame where I performed tracks from my spoken word EP (untitled at the moment). The Performer’s Workshop Series kicked off with our first offering in October too, a Weekend Intensive Masterclass, so I have a fair amount that I have been working on. 🙂
Where can we find your work?
HERstories will be launching a website in the near future and there people will be able to stay
abreast of developments and see the final teaser. In terms of where you can see what projects I
have coming up, follow me on the socials: Instagram (mamito_k) or Twitter (@Mkukwikila).
***
Malube Uhindu-Gingala
Biography by Virgilia Ashton Griffith (Close friend of Malube’s)
The day begins. She wakes. Sets her intentions for the day. Roots herself in the seeds she has
planted. Sits at her desk and like a brave soul, allows her experiences to rush through her fingers
into characters that we have yet to see. She spins whole universes in her mind. She is awake and
her imagination is free. Malube Uhindu Gingala was born in Montreal, Quebec. She is of
Ivorian and Congolese descent, Jacqueline Williams and Mbanza Uhindu Gingala. Malube
learned French before English and moved to Toronto when she was 10 years old. She began her
creative journey at a young age starting off as a collective creator and actor for the theatre. She
was always a natural at writing, but began to share it publicly in her later years. Knowledge is
power for Malube. It’s important to her to know where she came from and to know the history
of her ancestors. Always wanting to learn and soak up as much as she could. In her early 20s,
she would try different roles such as, directing and producing. It’s about understanding the
different forms of storytelling, so that she could be a better storyteller. Political issues are very
much apart of her work. Malube will continue to raise the bar in her creative content. She will
also continue to reclaim her time.
What hood are you in?
I was born in Montreal, Quebec. During my formative years, I grew up in a residential area in
North York — where families, dogs & huge parks are the norm. For the most part, life in North
York was relatively quiet and I was surrounded by a lot of nature. Now, I live near the Junction. I
love where I live because of it’s vibrancy; everyday I leave my loft and I see different colours
everywhere. Also, I’m surrounded by coffee shops, studio spaces, creative people, loud noises
(my window faces the street), and even different smells; it’s always moving. I love living in an
area that matches my inner rhythm. I’ve also found a community of artists/friends that are pretty
much, my neighbours. That “young-artist-living-in-a-loft-in-the-west” kind of life? …That’s me.
What do you do?
I am an actor, writer, director, filmmaker & content creator. I’ve realized that being a filmmaker, means that I can create stories highlighting the human experience. My intention is to keep creating films that humanize all sorts of circumstances. I do this in the hopes that film can unite us. Film has such a profound place in the world so I keep that in mind while I create and prepare.
What are you currently working on?
Presently, I am working on HERstories — a television series created by Mamito Kukwikila and
myself. ‘HERstories,’ tells a personal and in depth account of the intertwining lives between two
black actresses and the influence of the very woman, a dressmaker, who links them together.
Also, I am in pre production for a short film that deals with the consequences of violent
behaviour in male sports teams. It took us a long time to write this film. I’m very excited to share
it with you all because it tackles the subject of sportsmanship in an intriguing way — A story
created by Caitlin English (Writer), Sara Basso (Director) and myself.
Where can we find your work?
We keep our HERstories social media accounts updated on a regular basis with an inside look at
our process, up & coming announcements, as well as fun stuff that keep us motivated like quotes
from our mentors: Instagram (herstoriestvshow), Twitter (@HERstoriesshow), Facebook
(HERstories – TV Show). To stay updated on what I am up to work wise, my socials are as
follows: Instagram (chezmalu), Twitter (@maluknows).
