“Let there be no division amongst you”
Priscilla Lafayette Kwabi: Director, Writer and Creative Director
Personal Background For Doing This Type of Production
From childhood, my education has always involved drama, art and dance; in high school two of my majors were in Drama and Music. In Sixth Form I majored in Performing Arts, English Literature, Film and Citizenship and in Higher Education Drama and Media Cultural Studies. Throughout my education I had been directing shows at schools. Teachers would always call on me to creatively produce work, choreograph for competitions and direct shows - I was acting and performing then too.
Although it was after my trip to EYC 2012, hearing Dr Jonathan David for the first time, that my eyes opened and I started to truly realise my responsibility as first, a daughter of the Kingdom and second, my responsibility as an artist. God began to show me the power art possesses, its ability to communicate messages and influence its audiences. In 2013 I directed and wrote my first full play called the 'The Final Call' and the following year "The Gatekeepers" which was performed at my church FLCC (London) for 2 nights during Easter and sold out! It was then I decided to really take it seriously - I was selected to train as a Director at the Young Vic Theatre, London - with some of the best artists in the industry; it was here I really learnt about the science of creating and how to dissect and work with text, people and Art.
My love for writing, movement direction, theatre direction and now Film continues to grow and the messages I hear from Dr Jonathan David and Pastor Philip Dupont especially his words at FGC 'Grow up, Think and Govern', his talks on Responsibility, SoAR haunt me and shape the content of the art I produce.
What Motivated Me
Being in the Industry for a while - I was lucky enough to work on some amazing projects with amazing artists and also work on some projects of my own, but my continuous fellowship with God and with others always made me feel as though "there is more, you can do more". My fellowship with brothers/friends/educators like Gold Synagogue, Emmanuel Boateng, Isaiah FiftyFour, Ps Philip and listening to Dr Jonathan pulled me out of "Churchianity" and "Religion". I started talking less and listening more, listening to the news as well as activists, writers, philosophers like Cornel West, Maya Angelou; reading a lot of books all with a 'God' lens and 'God' hearing aid on - I began to really see the world, its beauty, its malignance, its needs, its cry and how I fit in - I realised I have a piece of the answer and I must play my role and do my part.
What is key for me is my belief in God and being an interdisciplinary artist is not a separate thing - my identity as a Kingdom believer must inform everything I do - and it does! My motivation comes down to this: I have been chosen for such a time as this, if i keep silent deliverance will come from somewhere else. God, Kingdom, Truth and my love for humanity over everything!
Future Perspectives, My Aims
For Council Eleven, it is becoming a ‘Arts & Humanities’ platform falling under three headings:
1. ‘Paideia’ which is the Greek word for a "broad cultural education" all our content will be informed by God and in Truth, uncompromised content for all; not just believers after all 'For God so Loved the World'.
2. ‘Art’ which is our means of communicating, expressing and connecting.
3. ‘Community’ which is our aim, to bring back a sense of interdependence, empathy, Love, partnership that will hopefully lead to opportunities for live community development and organisation.
I tell myself that this can change the world - a big dream but a possible task with God and us as Co-creators with Him.
For myself I want to keep walking and talking with God as well as others who are doing the same and others who may not be doing the same. I will continue to write and direct - offering always uncompromising wholesome education for other mediums outside CXI, as well contribute to Urban & Community Design for inclusive and sustainable strategies - being a responsible Kingdom Architect committed to learning, growing, walking and creating.
Priscilla Lafayette Kwabi
