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Kuukua Eshun: Telling impactful stories through art, creativity

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After discovering her poetic and writing potentials at an early age, she was perhaps not certain where the road may lead her.
However, with consistency and dedication over the years, she is currently making a mark in the creative space and looks forward to achieving more on both local and international fronts.
The spotlight, in this edition, is on fast-rising Ms Kuukua Eshun Ghanaian-American filmmaker and storyteller whose productions have been screened at film festivals across the world.
Her film, “Artist, Act of Love”, released in 2019, recently won an award at the Worldwide Women’s Film Festival for ‘Best Visual Effect’ and was selected by the European Union for the 2020 European Film Festival.

Background
Kuukua was born in Accra but lived the greater part of her life in the United States of America, where she studied Arts and Science at Columbus State University.
She returned to Ghana recently and is working on other promising projects that would augment the works of the relatively few women filmmakers in the local creative industry.
In an interview with The Spectator, the 27-year-oldexplained that storytelling had been one of her preoccupations ever since she was in high school but decided to pursue it professionally about three years ago.
“Ever since I was young, I have always known how to express how I feel through words. Before I started film, I was doing a lot of writing.Whenever I was upset, sad or happy, I would always write it in my diary.
“It got to a point where I thought I could turn my words into film.”Film making gives me the ability to see my strength and it gives me a lot of freedom,” she noted.
Filmmaking
Taking inspiration from “emotions and femininity,” she is focused on raising awareness about social issues through her writings and film.
To this end, she said, a documentary on sexual violence would be screened in Ghana and Europe in December this year and was expected to empower women who had survived sexual assault and encourage others to overcome their “worst experiences.”
The director cum producer described filmmaking as a “calling” and considers it a way of expressing herself and sharing her story with the world.
Projects
Prior to releasing her award-winning ‘Artist, Acts of Love” film, she had already released a short poetry film titled:“Stranger to Your Seed,” which attracted positive reviews on her YouTube channel about two years ago.
Another “Experimental Short Film” labelled: “Wake,” was also released about two weeks ago and was gaining some traction on the same channel.
“Artist, Acts of Love” which talks about “feeling and knowing love” is described as “a romantic escapism for people who love deeply.”
Currently working with popular actress and producer Ama .K. Abebrese, Kuukua considers herself “a powerhouse who would continue to tell stories that matter through her art and work.”
The creative filmmaker had, in recent years, worked with top brands such as Roc-nation, Vic Mensa, Wizkid, Huawei, Facebook, Variety Magazine, Michaela Coel, Lifetime TV, The Economist,among others.
Advocacy
As an advocate, she has spoken on university platforms in the United States, Ghana International School, and many other conferences, but has recently collaborated with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana, to hold a healing session for young women who are survivors of sexual assault.
Her articles have been published in some international magazines and website as well as published in the ECA Literary Magazine, Apple News, Ghana web and many more.
Kuukua is the co-founder of Boxed kids, an organisation which provides education to deprived children at James. She said the organisation, in spite of challenges, continued to impact the lives of about 50 children in the community and continues to attract the attention of other well-meaning organisations and individuals.
Her vision to create“a safe space for women in sports” againled her to join other partners to establish an all-female skate crew in Accra known as the “Skate Gal Club.”
Skate Gal Club, among other things, seeks to build the confidence of women, educate women about sport and change the perception about women in sports.It organises community events and has so far taught about 200 girls the basics of skateboarding.
The club, according to the team, is currently crowdfunding the creation of Accra’s first dedicated skate park to “avoid frequent clashes with the police and some members of the public who see skating a nuisance.”
By Ernest Nutsugah
Entertainment
Dierre Doors names King Promise as Brand Ambassador for Ghana campaign

Italian premium security door manufacturer Dierre S.p.A. has named award-winning Ghanaian Afrobeats and Highlife artiste King Promise (Gregory Bortey Newman) as the face of its new Ghana and West Africa marketing campaign.
The partnership, managed by Regiments Management Company Limited, forms part of Dierre’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the West African market.
The two-week campaign, themed “Secure What Matters,” will run across digital, outdoor and influencer platforms, with King Promise featuring in a campaign film showcasing Dierre’s Prestige and Synergy security door ranges.



“Home is everything. It is where you protect the people and things that matter most. Dierre builds doors that reflect exactly that security, quality and style without compromise. I am proud to represent a brand that stands for those values,” King Promise said.
Founded in Italy, Dierre is a global manufacturer of armoured security doors, interior doors and fire-protection systems. Its products carry international anti-burglary certifications across Classes 3, 4 and 5, with the company producing hundreds of thousands of doors, locks and safes annually.
King Promise is one of Ghana’s leading Afrobeats and Highlife artistes, known for his distinctive sound, international collaborations and growing global audience.
The partnership combines Dierre’s security and design expertise with King Promise’s influence in contemporary African music and culture, as the brand expands its consumer engagement in Ghana and across West Africa.
Profile
From a room to a global enterprise: The Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye story

From humble beginnings to building an enterprise with global ambitions, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye’s journey is a story of discipline, independence, resilience and the belief that businesses should be built to outlive their founders.
Long before he became the Group Chairman of M&C Group, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye was building from modest beginnings.
His entrepreneurial journey did not start in a sophisticated corporate office or with a large team behind him.
At one stage, he was working from his room with limited resources, focused on turning an idea into a viable business.
That beginning became an important part of his philosophy: build the business first, then let the infrastructure grow with it.

Michael’s early experiences shaped his determination to become an entrepreneur. After university and periods of professional employment, including banking, accounting, marketing, packaging and logistics, he developed a deeper understanding of how businesses operate and how different industries connect.
His exposure to mining advisory work, property and other commercial opportunities broadened his perspective and helped him identify opportunities beyond a single sector.
But the journey was far from easy.
He recalls the uncertainty of sending proposal after proposal without knowing which one would eventually open a door.
Even after establishing an office in East Legon, some people assumed he was working for someone else because they could not imagine that the business belonged to him.
The confidence and corporate presence associated with success today were built through years of uncertainty, rejection, experimentation and persistence.
His evolution from working out of a room to leading M&C Group reflects a broader philosophy that has guided his business life: do not build an image before you build the substance.
For Michael, entrepreneurship is not simply about owning a company. It is about learning how to turn knowledge, relationships, opportunities and resources into sustainable value.
He believes professionals in every field can develop an entrepreneurial mindset by creating assets, building networks, investing in opportunities and developing additional sources of value alongside their careers.
That philosophy has influenced the way he approaches business expansion. Rather than viewing companies as isolated entities, Michael sees opportunities to create connections between industries, people and services.
Strategic partnerships, in his view, can create greater value than treating every other business as a competitor.
His approach has also been shaped by research and international exposure. He argues that entrepreneurs must understand the markets they enter rather than simply copy businesses they see succeeding elsewhere.
Behind every successful enterprise, he believes, are structures, regulations, relationships, research and decisions that may not be immediately visible from the outside.
As his business interests have grown, so has his ambition. M&C Group represents a significant chapter in that evolution, reflecting his drive to build an enterprise that extends beyond a single venture.
His vision is rooted not merely in personal wealth, but in creating businesses capable of generating employment, developing people, building partnerships and contributing to the wider economy.
Michael is particularly concerned about the role of the private sector in addressing unemployment and creating sustainable opportunities. For him, a successful business should ultimately do more than enrich its owner. It should employ people, develop skills, support suppliers and create opportunities that extend beyond the founder.
That long-term perspective is central to his understanding of success.
He is cautious about equating visibility with achievement. In an age where social media can make a business appear larger than it is, Michael believes the real measure of an enterprise lies in its systems, customers, assets, operations and results. The brand should be supported by substance.
His personal journey has therefore become a lesson in patience and discipline. The man who once had to convince people that the business was actually his now speaks about building systems, protecting capital, understanding markets and thinking beyond the immediate reward.
And his ambitions do not stop with the present generation.
Michael describes legacy as something that should extend beyond his children to future generations. His objective is to build something sustainable-something that can continue creating value after he is no longer at the centre of it.
From a modest room and limited resources to the boardroom and the development of a growing business group, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye’s story is ultimately about building before displaying, learning before expanding and creating something designed to last.
His journey is a reminder that global ambition does not necessarily begin with global resources. Sometimes, it begins with little more than an idea, discipline, persistence and the willingness to start where you are. – MyStoryMagazine




