KWAME EDWARDS:
Kwame is an aesthetic engineer, sociologist & ethnographic filmmaker from the District of Columbia. He fancies himself a griot in service to the western African Diaspora. One day, he might write a book.
FILM
2026
Power to the Parents: the Gwinnett SToPP Story
Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematographer
2025
Seasonal Depression
Director, Writer, Producer, Editor, Cinematographer
Chocolate City Criterium series (DC Bike Academy)
Director, Producer, Editor
2021
Saddled Solace
Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematographer
DAYS OF RESISTANCE (We Act Radio)
Editor, Cinematographer
World Class For Whom
Producer, Editor
The Hot Seat (Jafe Cycling)
Cinematographer, Assistant Producer
2020
H.O.PE.
Editor
Heartbeat of the City
Writer, Director of Research, Cinematographer, Score
Creator, Producer, Writer, Editor, Host
2019
Director, Executive Producer, Writer, Editor
2018
Black In China 黑人在中国 (season 3)
Creator, Producer, Videographer, Ethnographer, Editor
2017
Black In China 黑人在中国 (season 3)
Creator, Producer, Videographer, Ethnographer
Creator, Director, Producer, Editor, Videographer
2016
Black In China 黑人在中国 (season 2)
Creator, Director, Producer, Editor, Videographer, Ethnographer
2015
Black In Doha السود في الدوحة قطر
Director, Producer, Editor, Videographer, Ethnographer
"Hip Hop Is Gay" - True Culture The God
Director, Producer, Editor, Videographer
Black In China 黑人在中国 (season 1)
Creator, Director, Producer, Editor, Videographer, Ethnographer
Black in China 黑人在中国 series featured on Black Life China website
Black Life China podcast interview; March 2015
2013
Paper Trail [silent short film]
Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, Videographer
Reasons Kwame Ismail Should Not Be a Rapper [comedic short film]
Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, Videographer, Actor
One Love on the Nile (Get Far Magazine)
Crank That Bass (M.A. Thesis)
ACADEMIC Presentations
2016 Cultural Appropriation vs Appreciation in the East Asian Hip Hop; International Hip Hop Studies Conference; University of Cambridge
2014 The Shenzhen Struggle; Ameson Foundation Year in China
2013 Crank That Bass; Graduate Research Conference; University of Maryland Baltimore County
2009 Does Birth Order Affect Self-Esteem; National Association of African American Honors Programs National Conference; Miami, Florida
Accolades/Honors
The Media Prince/Washington Informer Bridge Magazine/Made in the DMV: 2021 DMV 35 Under 35
Government of the District of Columbia Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment (OCTFME) JULY 2019 Filmmaker of the Month (FOTM)
Things he's done
Athletic Director - DC Bike Academy
Team Principal - Them Bammas Racing (TBR) Youth Cycling Team
Adjunct Professor - American University Department of Sociology
- Bowie State University Department of Behavioral Sciences & Human Services; Department of Fine & Performing Arts
- Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC-Essex) School of Wellness, Education, Behavior & Social Sciences
- Morgan State University Department of Sociology & Anthropology
- Prince George's Community College (PGCC) Psychological & Sociological Sciences Department
- University of Maryland Baltimore County Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration & Policy
- University of Maryland College Park Department of Sociology
Guest Lecturer - 黑龙江大学 [Heilongjiang University]
- Universidad de La Habana [The University of Havana]
Teacher - Al-Hekma International School of Qatar
- 深圳市翠园教育集团 [CuiYuan Middle School]
- 深圳市华富小学 {Huafu Primary School]
- Maya Angelou Public Charter School
- New Beginnings School [Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services]
- Gateway to College Academy at Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston Campus
Program Director - Bowie State University Study Abroad
Grant Panelist - Prince George's Arts & Humanities Council
International Correspondent - Get Far Magazine
Radio Host/DJ - Yeyan Radio: “Rough Around the Edges”
- WERQ-FM 92.3
- WMBC Freeform Radio: “Rough Around the Edges”
- WBSU-FM
Education
Graduate Certificate in Documentary & Nonfiction Filmmaking - The George Washington University
TEFL {Teach English as a Foreign Language} Certificate
Master of Arts in Applied Sociology & Statistics - University of Maryland Baltimore County
Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management - University of Maryland Baltimore County
Bachelor's of Science in Sociology - Bowie State University
Bachelor's of Arts in United States History - Bowie State University
