He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Since childhood, Zakee has embraced art. Art has been at the center of his life throughout his life. For Zakee, art is his therapy as it is for the hundreds of people, he inspires every day through his poetry and African inspired artistry. While in school, Kenneth became a member of the Karamu House, an historic Black Theater Company established in Cleveland more than 100 years ago. At the Karamu House, he studied acting and appeared in several groundbreaking productions that highlighted the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the African – American experience. Zakee enrolled in Morehouse College (1986) where he studied psychology. While at Morehouse, he toured with the Morehouse College King Players Acting Guild. He wrote for the Morehouse Maroon Tiger newspaper/yearbook. In addition, he helped to co-found one of America’s first African Fraternity, Kemet Asen. This fraternity of inspired brothers were committed to scholarship and service to the African American community.
Over the years, Kenneth has served as a Master of Ceremony and emceeing and sharing his poetry during community festivals and cultural events including Kwanza and Juneteenth throughout Metro Atlanta. He received a 1st Place Prize in the National Black Arts Festival Poetry Contest for self-published authors for three books of poetry in 1994.
As a visual artist, Zakee’s unique Gourd Art features the Adinkra symbols from the ancient kingdoms of Ghana, West Africa. These colorful, cultural, inspirational works of art adorn the homes of families and hang on the walls of offices, bookstores, galleries and coffee shops in Atlanta and are on display in venues across the country.
If you’ve visited and shopped in southwest Atlanta, you will find his handcrafted greetings cards on display at several local venues including the APEX Museum, Sevandana Natural Foods and the Shrine of the Black Madonna. For decades, Zakee has made his signature African-inspired wearable art. His one-of-kind designs are readily identified and frequently seen throughout metro Atlanta.
