Open to work
Content Creator
Zama the Creative
Summary
The word Zama, in both Zulu and Xhosa, translates loosely to “to endeavor,” “to attempt,” or “to try.” It’s a simple yet profound term that resonates deeply with me. Beyond its linguistic beauty, the word encapsulates the perseverance I’ve needed throughout my life.
During the pandemic, as my family faced immense challenges—my father’s health crises, the weight of caregiving, and personal traumas—the concept of Zama became more than a verb. It became a mantra, a gerund that embodied our fight to persevere through hardships while staying true to ourselves.
If I introduce myself as Zama, I am endeavoring in my personal ZAMA Creative online spaces, conveying comments on the color of our conduct, and the context of our condition— all while documenting my journey investigating my own whims, commercial and creative. ZAMA Creative is your partner. Expression through execution.
I am an unabashed nerd. One of my special interests is linguistics and etymology—a fascination I inherited from my father. Languages have always intrigued me, though I’m not particularly adept at acquiring new tongues. Nevertheless, every decade or so, I attempt to learn a new one. Twice, I’ve taken on the challenge of studying Xhosa and Zulu, two languages rooted in the rich cultures of modern-day South Africa.
In elementary school, I spent countless afternoons in an after-school program, where we socialized, snacked, completed homework, and occasionally rehearsed songs for holiday and spring performances. These rehearsals were compulsory, often feeling like child labor, though I look back with a mix of humor and fondness. One year, we learned a song in Zulu. I’ve long forgotten the lyrics, but that experience sparked something deeper in me—a desire to learn the language and reconnect with my ancestral roots. This wasn’t just an academic pursuit; it felt personal, a way to enrich my understanding of my identity beyond the limited African American history month curriculum of my public school education. I seek to weave the themes of endurance through endeavoring in every walk I walk. I carry these themes with me, straight through to adulthood.
The Online Spaces of Zama the Creative
Overall creative Framework
2025 - Present
Creative Solutions Agency
ZAMA Creative is all about the solo projects. represents the creative wing of my work. All of these projects whether they are personally sourced or commercially published, they are the projects that matter because they matter to me. I separate them thusly from the body of work for Upbound Media Group LLC, my media company.
Quiet Care • Honor Account
A heartfelt chronicle of my journey as a caregiver for my father, documenting the challenges, joys, and reflections that come with supporting a loved one battling neurological degenerative conditions. An honorific to the online community of care blazers which helped me feel not alone and provided so many resources & reassurances.
SAS • An Artist Reveal • UpMG Production
A creative endeavor capturing the soulful artistry of my mother’s musical journey, blending her lifelong passion for music with a renewed focus on self-expression and legacy-building.
Don OS • Life & Process Vlog
A window into my meticulous routines and eccentric processes, showcasing my unique approach to everyday carry, productivity, and creative problem-solving, all through the lens of my personal “operating system.”
Blerd SPeak
2014 - Present
"You've been watching a Blerd Speak, on Blerd Speak.
Blerd Speak is a digital space where my eclectic interests as a Black nerd (Blerd) come to life through commentary, creativity, and conversation.
From anime deep dives to gaming retrospectives, from philosophical musings to tech nerdery, Blerd Speak is an evolving collection of video essays, reactions, and discussions. It is a reflection of my passions—sometimes serious, sometimes lighthearted, always unapologetically me.
At its core, Blerd Speak is about connection. Whether through shared nostalgia, critical analysis, or just celebrating the things that make us geek out, this space is a prism through which I express and explore the many facets of my experience.
Blerd Speak • Main Channel
The main Blerd Speak channel is a catch-all space for video essays exploring coding trends, gaming culture, anime reflections, and analog tech love letters. This is where all my eclectic musings will land—organized neatly into playlists so you can navigate what interests you most.
Numbers and metrics are not the goal here. This channel is a true reflection of the author’s whims, a space for explorations unbound by algorithms or expectations.
Blerd Speaks Tunes!
Music has been one of my first and enduring loves. Blerd Speaks Tunes! is a channel dedicated to celebrating harmonic bliss. While I’m deeply biased toward acapella music, my musical tastes extend across genres, with rhythm and blues taking the top spot. 🎙️🎷🎺 As a certified Pentaholic (if you know, you know), I aim to share first-time reactions to auditory sensations alongside original content. Reaction videos will only be posted a week after original material has gone live, ensuring a steady mix of creative output and shared discoveries.
Blerd Plays Back Log
It has been years since I was at my gaming peak—high school, to be exact. This series will challenge me to not only replicate the achievements I accomplished back then but surpass them. Halo 2 campaign on Heroic difficulty (Legendary can wait a bit)? Halo 3 campaign actually on Legendary this time? Can I hit Level 50 or higher in Halo 3 or Reach multiplayer (I played a lot of Halo back in the day)? These are the questions this inaugural series will tackle.
But it doesn’t stop at Halo. This series will be my chance to retrace my entire gaming journey, covering as much of my history as possible before tackling the backlog—always at the highest difficulty.
Other Zama Creative Spaces & Projects
2025 - Present
The Artisan's Projects
Sometimes I have projects that do not neatly fit into one category or another. Lower select examples of some of those very project types.
This One Soul (Formerly Legacy) • Docu-Series
A documentary series exploring the legacies of everyday individuals whose lives and work may otherwise go unsung, celebrating the enduring impact of their passions and pursuits on their journeys in their community.
ZAMA Photo Series • As It Was (Formerly Fade to Black)
An introspective photography series focused on capturing sectors of New York City, as they were, As some of us may remember before changes of modern times.
Once I Trot • ZC Photo Series
A travel-inspired photo series capturing vibrant and intimate moments across my journeys, blending documentary style with personal reflections on culture, place, and memory.
Skills & Tools
Operations Logistics
Client Relations
Audio/Visual Broadcast
Technical Consultation
Content Capture
Hardware Deployment
Production & Publishing
Framer
DaVinci Resolve
Capture One
Affinity
Adobe
OBS Studio
Notion
Writer Solo/Duo
Languages
English
Klingon
Sindarin
Education & Certificates
Brooklyn College • CUNY (2016)
Masters of Science | Education; Special Needs , Executive Functioning Focus
Trinity College (2014)
Bachelor of Arts | Philosophy; Human Rights double major
© 2025 Zama the Creative
