Today we’d like to introduce you to Ogechi Sama.
Hi Ogechi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Ogechi (Oh- gay -ch- E) Sama! I am a 25 years old African American. My parents were immigrants from Nigeria. Fun fact my first name means God’s time is the best in Igbo which is my parents native language. I was born in El Monte California and raised in Elk River Minnesota since I was about 2 years old but now currently live in Brooklyn Park Minnesota.
I grew up loving all things creative. I wrote my first song when I was about 9 years old and have kept writing since. I would play pretend a lot which I guess fueled my love of acting. I would design outfits for my stuffed animals (you know regular kid without technology stuff). My family was big into movies and I remember watching the Oscar’s or the Emmy’s Award shows as a kid and telling my mom that’s gonna be me one day! (She of course was in agreement as long as I got my PhD first lol)
I had a love and desire to perform, sing, act, but never really pursued it until college. In college I of course went after the medical field route like a good Nigerian child but when COVID hit there was a major shift for me and I felt the Lord calling me in a different direction towards the entertainment field. My freshman year I found an agent and started taking some acting classes and auditioning for commercials. This became how I made extra money for college and it was great! I started developing a skill set and learning acting methods. I was still writing music and singing in church at this time as well.
Then around my sophomore year my agency asked me to participate in this talent conference in Florida. Mind you it was about 5k to participate and I being a broke college student did not have that. But I prayed on it and through fundraising, stimulus checks, and generous gifts the money was raised. Even my plane ticket which was the last thing I needed was covered by this amazing woman who God told to give me the money for it. I cried obviously.
Fast forward to the conference I was very out of my element many of the people there had been acting and singing since birth. I had many auditions and workshops. The whole conference was a competition where the winners could work with agents and win cool things for their agencies. I was not expecting to win anything but i actually placed in many categories. I also ended up winning a scholarship to an acting school in New York for a 2 year program!
Now I know what you’re thinking weren’t you still in college? Yes I was so I can was faced with a decision, Drop out and go to New York? Or Miss out on an opportunity to study acting full time in NYC? I chose C, cram all my senior year credits into my junior year and graduate 1 year early with my Bachelor’s so I can go to New York!
Unfortunately my dad passed away before we moved to Minnesota so it was just my Nigerian mom and she don’t play that drop out stuff. Truly it was by the grace of Jesus that I was able to do that cause nobody and I mean nobody saw me after the 1st semester of junior year but I did it. I graduated and headed to the big Apple for the next two years!
While I was there I learned so much! One of my teachers was actually young Voldemort from Harry Potter (subtle flex). I auditioned, produced music, co started a production company, made short films, stalked I mean saw some celebrities, watched real big time movies get made, ate really good food, explored, and did the thing as one may say. I was getting offers for more and more opportunities then God called me back to Minnesota after my time at the school was done.
If you are confused so was I? It seems I was so so close to the dream! (Emmy here I come.) Now backtrack a little I actually met my now husband two weeks before I moved here in MN. I didn’t know it at the time but he was a needed part in my journey in New York.
As many people know the entertainment is kind of a dark place. With drug use, high amounts of creatives being depressed or having anxiety, the pressure of making it and what someone is willing to do in order to do so. There is a lot of temptations. As a Christ follower I felt that I had a call on my life to be a light in darkness. Ever since I was little my mom would tell me to be a light whenever I would leave the house. When we were dating my now husband Brian kept me grounded during our long distance relationship and I introduced him to the world of the creative.
Through our time dating we actually started a health and wellness business and knew we wanted to build a life together. Our goal is to be in a position financially where we get to do what we love instead of have to. We understand the entertainment industry is not stable when you are first starting out and knew God was leading us down a different path.
Many people have questioned me or doubted why I chose to come back or think it was a bad decision but I know now looking back that God uses ALL things. My time in New York was a just a piece to a bigger puzzle being put together.
Currently it’s been about 2 years since I left New York and a year into being married to my absolute best friend! We are focused building our Health and Wellness business ROOTED together helping so many people make health/lifestyle changes.
Now I can’t lie I do miss New York but I am excited to pursue my dreams in a different way than most do and my goals have expanded now. I still do commercials every once in a while and write songs/sing. I am Both a business and a creative which actually go hand in hand. And yes I still work a 9-5 (one had to in this economy)
I have so much peace and excitement for the journey my husband and I are on and I know in my heart that God is just working on a different part of the puzzle.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I had to make some tough decisions and having the money to make different moves was a challenge but it always worked out!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My Husband and I own a health and wellness business named ROOTED. We help people with health or wellness goals find the best solutions for them with our products and personal consultations. I am also a creative! But am currently doing things more on the side for now. I have my associates in Film and Television. I have produced shorts and music, directed different shoots, acted in different types of productions. I have sung in church most of my life but have written songs and performed on different stages mostly for fun though. I did release two songs on multiple platforms as well and produced/directed a music video for my song Where you go! On YouTube.
What does success mean to you?
Doing hard things that produce good fruit! Success sometimes means doing the things that’s are needed so that later you can do the things you want. I believe that applies to many things if it be a career goal or your family. Family is huge for me but sometimes it takes being humble (which I don’t naturally want to do) to love others well. And choosing to do the hard thing anyway is successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rooted-us.org/
- Instagram: @oanyanwu_
