Leadership Lens is a series of Q&As with participants, and alumni of AKFC’s Global Leadership Program. From artists to philanthropists, finance executives to medical doctors, AKFC’s Global Leaders are all dedicated to strengthening Canada’s role in addressing global and local issues, and building a more prosperous, peaceful, and pluralistic world.
Israel Ekanem is a Nigerian-Canadian storyteller, filmmaker, and DJ. As the founder of Ubuntu Media, he has produced acclaimed films, including Drown the Lovers and Kill Your Masters. Known as DJ Ubuntu, he blends music with narrative, manages artists like Mayaya, and hosts The Off Kilter Show on CKDU Radio. He founded the Ubuntu Podcast Network to uplift local voices. Through film, music, and storytelling, Israel fosters empathy and cultural connection, believing in the power of stories to transform the world. Learn more about Israel on our 2025 Global Leadership Program cohort page.
AKFC: What inspired you to pursue storytelling as a career?
Israel Ekanmen: My storytelling really came from my grandmom, and it’s one way I keep her alive with me whenever I tell any story. My grandma was a very wise woman. She would teach me a lesson, and it would stick, but I didn’t understand why.
As I grew older, I realized that the lessons that really stayed with me were the ones that had stories around them. That’s when I realized how powerful stories are. To me, visual storytelling is a great way to get a point across.
I’ve always wanted to make film. I loved watching movies growing up. I’ve always wanted to find a way to tell stories. What I find is that with story, it doesn’t matter where the person comes from, what language they speak, their race, [or their] age. Story has a way of uniting people because it’s something we all resonate with.
AKFC: What motivates you to continue doing the work you do today?
IE: Story, to me, is really about change. You watch a movie, a character starts a certain way, and by the end of the movie, they’re someone different — hopefully in a positive way. That’s what story does: [it] leads to change.
If you want transformation, if you want to make impact, story does that. What motivates me is the positive change that storytelling brings. It’s also a really cool way to meet people — whether that’s through podcasting, writing a short story, or making a documentary. It’s a way of connecting.
Community really resonates with me. Ubuntu — that’s [the name of] my company — [comes from] a South African word that means we are all here for each other. No matter how difficult the world feels or what’s happening globally, community is something we all need. Storytelling helps you find the people who understand you and share things with you.
AKFC: Is there a particular issue you’d like to address — or a change you’d like to make — through your storytelling?
I grew up watching a lot of TV, and it was great, but there’s nothing like seeing someone who looks like you and talks like you doing cool stuff. That’s why Black Panther was so important globally. It’s not real, but the way it resonated was huge.
For me, the change I want to see is creating platforms that celebrate diverse voices — not just people of colour, but queer people too. When you see someone who shares a lived experience with you, it inspires you to do more.
AKFC: What led you to apply to the Global Leadership Program?
IE: My dad used to work with an aid agency and worked in Ottawa, and I remember seeing this amazing building. He told me about Aga Khan Foundation Canada, just in passing, and I followed the newsletter.
Years ago, the Foundation had a touring exhibit that came to Pier 21 in Halifax, and I went. At the time, I saw the International Youth Fellowship program, but I was too old to apply. I just wanted to find a way to be part of what the Foundation was doing.
Then I found this program and I thought, “Of course I have to apply!” [I was inspired by] the caliber of the alumni. I didn’t get in the first time, so I learned more about the program and applied again. I want to learn from people and have them learn from me. It was a no‑brainer.
AKFC: What does global leadership mean to you?
IE: Global leadership is important to me. I grew up as the eldest in my family, and as an African man there are responsibilities that come with that. Leadership feels innate, but what I realized is that I love the responsibility more than the power. Being responsible for people who have been trusted in your care — that matters to me.
This program felt right. As a leader, if you want to create a place where people feel safe, you need education. Sometimes I’m just winging it, and I wanted tools to lead better.
I’m originally from Nigeria, lived in South Africa, and now I’m in Canada. I’m a global citizen, and all of that came together.
AKFC: What are you most curious to explore through the program?
IE: We’ve already had workshops that have been really enlightening. One that really stood out to me was about pluralism. I didn’t even know it was a thing. Diversity is great, but I’m seeing how impactful pluralism can be, and that’s something I really want to learn more about.
I’m also interested in how creativity and storytelling fit into sectors like policy, governance, and community‑based work. The people in my cohort are doctors and diplomats, and I want to gather as much as I can from them while also contributing what I know.
The world is wonderful, but it’s also going through turbulent times. I want to learn how to be a better global leader — how to be realistic and pragmatic, but still think of positive ways to influence the planet we live on.
Most importantly, I don’t want this learning to stop with the program. I want everything I learn to be sustainable and ongoing, not just for a year, but long-term.
AKFC: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
IE: I was going to apply every year until I got in, so I’m really glad to be here. It comes back to community — we’ve formed a WhatsApp group, and we’re about to spend days together learning and growing.
I want to learn, and I want to contribute. I did have a bit of imposter syndrome seeing the names of people in the cohort, but I also know that if you’re selected, you belong. I want to form relationships that help me grow — not just in Canada, but globally.
This interview was conducted prior to the 2025 Global Leadership Program residency in Ottawa. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Israel Ekanem is part of the 2025 cohort of AKFC’s Global Leadership Program. Learn more about the program here.
