# Hakeem Kae-Kazim
**Hakeem Kae-Kazim** (born 1962) is a Nigerian-born, classically trained actor, producer, and director whose international career has spanned Britain, South Africa, Nigeria, and the United States over more than three decades.[1](https://nidcom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-diaspora-awardees.pdf) • [2](https://www.adunagow.net/entertainment/hakeem-kae-kazim-ownership-without-a-doubt-on-average-joe-africa-and-who-gets-to-tell-the-story/) He is internationally known for playing the businessman George Rutaganda in the Oscar-nominated film *Hotel Rwanda* (2004), and for television roles including Colonel Ike Dubaku in *24*, Mr. Scott in *Black Sails*, and Zeus in *Troy: Fall of a City*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/) • [4](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962, in Lagos, Nigeria; raised mostly in England (one account places his birth in London to Nigerian parents)[1](https://nidcom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-diaspora-awardees.pdf) • [5](https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2010-01-14-what-makes-him-tick/) |
| Training | Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 1987, after National Youth Theatre summer programs from about age 14[1](https://nidcom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-diaspora-awardees.pdf) • [4](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/) |
| Early career | Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre of Great Britain, in a Shakespeare-heavy stage career including *Richard III* and *King Lear*[6](https://www.embassydirect.co.za/2017/10/24/actor-%E2%80%A8hakeem-kae-kazim/) |
| Breakthrough | George Rutaganda in *Hotel Rwanda* (2004), which gave him international attention[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/) • [7](https://www.adunagow.net/entertainment/interview-with-hakeem-kae-kazim-2/) |
| Signature television | Colonel Dubaku in *24* Season 7 and *24: Redemption*; Mr. Scott in *Black Sails*; Samson in *Roots*[8](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=6026) • [4](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/) |
| Voice work | Video games including *Halo*, *Call of Duty*, and *The Bourne Conspiracy*; the character Krogan in *How to Train Your Dragon*[9](https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/08/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-the-international-nigerian-actor-and-man-with-a-beautiful-voice-hakeem-kae-kazim-speaks-on-his-endorsement-deal-upcoming-projects-family-and-how-to-improve-nollywood/) • [10](https://www.ntfa.com.na/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/NTFA2026_Booklet_Digital.pdf) |
| Behind the camera | Produced *Black November*, *Man on Ground*, and *Last Flight to Abuja*; directed his first feature, *It's the Blackness* (2026)[10](https://www.ntfa.com.na/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/NTFA2026_Booklet_Digital.pdf) |
## Early life and training
Kae-Kazim was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and spent his early years there before his family relocated to London.[1](https://nidcom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-diaspora-awardees.pdf) His parents were Nigerian (from Abeokuta in [Ogun State](https://www.edgepedia.org/ogun-state), by his own account) and had left to study in England, taking him with them.[11](https://www.nollywoodgists.com/news/5670/the-great-black-hope-hakeem-kae-kazim.html) One profile of the actor, published in the South African newspaper *Sowetan*, states that he was born in London to Nigerian parents.[5](https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2010-01-14-what-makes-him-tick/) In interviews he has described himself as born in Lagos but raised for the most part in England.[9](https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/08/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-the-international-nigerian-actor-and-man-with-a-beautiful-voice-hakeem-kae-kazim-speaks-on-his-endorsement-deal-upcoming-projects-family-and-how-to-improve-nollywood/)
__Acting was not the family plan.__ His parents wanted him to become a doctor, and he later recalled the "normal freak-out" when he told them he wanted to act, though they came around after a while.[5](https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2010-01-14-what-makes-him-tick/) • [12](https://www.ewn.co.za/masinga-the-calling-we-talk-to-star-hakeem-kae-kazim-about-the-new-showmax-crime-thriller/) His route into the profession began in school plays, then the [National Youth Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-youth-theatre) in London, a summer program drawing young people from across the United Kingdom.[9](https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/08/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-the-international-nigerian-actor-and-man-with-a-beautiful-voice-hakeem-kae-kazim-speaks-on-his-endorsement-deal-upcoming-projects-family-and-how-to-improve-nollywood/) He attended its summer programs for four to six weeks each year from about age 14; by his account, after the third one he decided acting would be his career.[4](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/) He then trained at the [Bristol Old Vic Theatre School](https://www.edgepedia.org/bristol-old-vic-theatre-school), graduating in 1987.[1](https://nidcom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-diaspora-awardees.pdf)
## Stage career
Kae-Kazim's first professional engagement was with the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-shakespeare-company), where he performed in *Richard III* and *King Lear* as part of a world tour.[13](https://www.indieactivity.com/interview-with-hakeem-kae-kazim/) • [6](https://www.embassydirect.co.za/2017/10/24/actor-%E2%80%A8hakeem-kae-kazim/) He went on to the National Theatre of Great Britain, which also staged a great deal of Shakespeare, and has said that most of his early acting life was spent on Shakespeare.[6](https://www.embassydirect.co.za/2017/10/24/actor-%E2%80%A8hakeem-kae-kazim/) He credits the classical training with teaching him character development: understanding Shakespeare, in his words, is a craft that helps an actor look for a character's humanity, whether in television or film.[4](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/)
He moved on to British television with roles in series including *The Bill*, *Trial & Retribution*, and *Grange Hill*, and played the title role of *Julius Caesar* for the BBC.[1](https://nidcom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-diaspora-awardees.pdf) • [7](https://www.adunagow.net/entertainment/interview-with-hakeem-kae-kazim-2/)
## South Africa and the Hotel Rwanda breakthrough
Wanting more television and film work, Kae-Kazim moved to the United States, and then, while working there, traveled to South Africa for a friend's wedding. An agent he met put him up for a commercial, which he won; his first job in South Africa was an appearance in a Fresca advert, and when the client asked him back, his South African career grew from there.[4](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/) • [5](https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2010-01-14-what-makes-him-tick/) He spent about ten years in the country, working in South African television and film, and became a household name there.[7](https://www.adunagow.net/entertainment/interview-with-hakeem-kae-kazim-2/)
The film that put his name on the map internationally was *Hotel Rwanda* (2004), Terry George's account of the 1994 genocide, in which Kae-Kazim played George Rutaganda, the businessman whose supplies depot plays a sinister role in the events.[5](https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2010-01-14-what-makes-him-tick/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/) He has called Rutaganda the most memorable screen character he has played.[13](https://www.indieactivity.com/interview-with-hakeem-kae-kazim/) The role led to leading parts in the TNT movie *The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines* opposite [Noah Wyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/noah-wyle) and *The Triangle* opposite [Sam Neill](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-neill), and to a run of Hollywood credits including *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End* (2007), *X-Men Origins: Wolverine* (2009), and *[The Fourth Kind](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-fourth-kind)* (2009).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/) • [14](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/hakeem_kaekazim)
## Television and voice work
**Television made him a familiar face** to audiences on several continents. He is recognized for his recurring role as Colonel Ike Dubaku, the Nigerian warlord and terrorist, in Season 7 of the action series *24* and in the prequel film *24: Redemption*, which was shot in South Africa.[8](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=6026) Later roles include Mr. Scott in [Michael Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-bay)'s pirate series *Black Sails*, The Prophet in NBC's *Dominion*, Samson in the miniseries *Roots*, Cecil Colby in the CW's reboot of *[Dynasty](https://www.edgepedia.org/dynasty-2017-tv-series)*, and the Greek god [Zeus](https://www.edgepedia.org/zeus) in the 2018 BBC/Netflix series *Troy: Fall of a City*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/) • [4](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/)
His distinctive voice carries a parallel career. He has contributed to the video game franchises *Halo*, *Call of Duty*, and *The Bourne Conspiracy*, and voiced the character Krogan in the animated series *How to Train Your Dragon*; his voice credits also extend to *DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge* and, in 2024, the role of Baldr in the animated series *Twilight of the Gods*.[10](https://www.ntfa.com.na/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/NTFA2026_Booklet_Digital.pdf) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/) He entered the field, he says, when people who heard him kept asking for voiceover work, and he was for a time the voice of the Nigerian telecom brand MTN.[9](https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/08/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-the-international-nigerian-actor-and-man-with-a-beautiful-voice-hakeem-kae-kazim-speaks-on-his-endorsement-deal-upcoming-projects-family-and-how-to-improve-nollywood/)
His later film work runs from the *Godzilla vs. Kong* role of Admiral Wilcox (2021) to portrayals such as President Robert Mugabe in *Mugabe* (2023) and Moise Tshombe in *Hammarskjöld: Fight for Peace* (2023).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/) In 2026 he joined Season 2 of Paramount+'s crime drama-comedy *Average Joe*, set in South Africa, playing Sipho, a [Cape Town](https://www.edgepedia.org/cape-town) crime boss defending his territory.[15](https://www.brucedennill.co.za/2026/10/07/tv-interview-hakeem-kae-kazim-average-joe-or-controlling-the-empire/) • [2](https://www.adunagow.net/entertainment/hakeem-kae-kazim-ownership-without-a-doubt-on-average-joe-africa-and-who-gets-to-tell-the-story/)
## African storytelling, producing, and directing
A recurring theme in Kae-Kazim's interviews is his advocacy for African stories told by African filmmakers. He has argued that [Nollywood](https://www.edgepedia.org/nollywood), the Nigerian film industry, should raise its production standards to compete internationally and that Africans must control what stories are told about them; he has pointed to Africa's own history, including its empires and heroes, as material for the screen.[9](https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/08/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-the-international-nigerian-actor-and-man-with-a-beautiful-voice-hakeem-kae-kazim-speaks-on-his-endorsement-deal-upcoming-projects-family-and-how-to-improve-nollywood/) • [2](https://www.adunagow.net/entertainment/hakeem-kae-kazim-ownership-without-a-doubt-on-average-joe-africa-and-who-gets-to-tell-the-story/)
His own first experience working in Nigeria was *Inale*, a musical directed by Jeta Amata shot in [Benue State](https://www.edgepedia.org/benue-state); he has since produced and starred in *Black November* with [Mickey Rourke](https://www.edgepedia.org/mickey-rourke) and [Kim Basinger](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-basinger), the award-winning *Man on Ground*, and *Last Flight to Abuja*.[9](https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/08/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-the-international-nigerian-actor-and-man-with-a-beautiful-voice-hakeem-kae-kazim-speaks-on-his-endorsement-deal-upcoming-projects-family-and-how-to-improve-nollywood/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/) In 2026 he directed his first feature, *It's the Blackness*, and the Namibian Theatre & Film Awards program describes him as an internationally acclaimed actor, producer, and director whose ongoing projects include *Black Axe* and *Kwame: The Rise of the Pan Africans*.[10](https://www.ntfa.com.na/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/NTFA2026_Booklet_Digital.pdf) • [15](https://www.brucedennill.co.za/2026/10/07/tv-interview-hakeem-kae-kazim-average-joe-or-controlling-the-empire/) He is also a global ambassador for Africa 2.0, a civil-society organization of emerging and established African leaders.[1](https://nidcom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-diaspora-awardees.pdf)
## Personal life
Kae-Kazim is married to Bronwyn, who is from South Africa and works in the hotel industry, and they have three daughters, Aisha, Shada, and Jadesola.[9](https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/08/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-the-international-nigerian-actor-and-man-with-a-beautiful-voice-hakeem-kae-kazim-speaks-on-his-endorsement-deal-upcoming-projects-family-and-how-to-improve-nollywood/) After moving between England, South Africa, and the United States, he has described himself as a global citizen, dividing his time between Los Angeles and South Africa.[12](https://www.ewn.co.za/masinga-the-calling-we-talk-to-star-hakeem-kae-kazim-about-the-new-showmax-crime-thriller/) • [4](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/)
## References
1. [Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, 2024 Diaspora Awardees booklet](https://nidcom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-diaspora-awardees.pdf)
2. [ADUNAGOW Magazine: Hakeem Kae-Kazim, "Ownership, Without a Doubt" (October 7, 2026)](https://www.adunagow.net/entertainment/hakeem-kae-kazim-ownership-without-a-doubt-on-average-joe-africa-and-who-gets-to-tell-the-story/)
3. [Hakeem Kae-Kazim, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434444/)
4. [View of the Arts: In Conversation with Hakeem Kae-Kazim (March 29, 2018)](https://viewofthearts.com/2018/03/29/in-conversation-with-hakeemkaekazim/)
5. [Sowetan: What makes him tick? (January 14, 2010)](https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2010-01-14-what-makes-him-tick/)
6. [Embassy Direct: Actor, Hakeem Kae-Kazim (October 24, 2017)](https://www.embassydirect.co.za/2017/10/24/actor-%E2%80%A8hakeem-kae-kazim/)
7. [ADUNAGOW Magazine: Interview with Hakeem Kae-Kazim (January 17, 2010)](https://www.adunagow.net/entertainment/interview-with-hakeem-kae-kazim-2/)
8. [TVSA: Hakeem Kae-Kazim profile](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=6026)
9. [BellaNaija: BN Saturday Celebrity Interview with Hakeem Kae-Kazim (August 10, 2013)](https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/08/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-the-international-nigerian-actor-and-man-with-a-beautiful-voice-hakeem-kae-kazim-speaks-on-his-endorsement-deal-upcoming-projects-family-and-how-to-improve-nollywood/)
10. [Namibian Theatre & Film Awards 2026 booklet](https://www.ntfa.com.na/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/NTFA2026_Booklet_Digital.pdf)
11. [Nollywood Gists: The great black hope, Hakeem Kae-Kazim](https://www.nollywoodgists.com/news/5670/the-great-black-hope-hakeem-kae-kazim.html)
12. [EWN: 'Masinga: The Calling', We talk to star Hakeem Kae-Kazim](https://www.ewn.co.za/masinga-the-calling-we-talk-to-star-hakeem-kae-kazim-about-the-new-showmax-crime-thriller/)
13. [IndieActivity: Interview with Hakeem Kae-Kazim](https://www.indieactivity.com/interview-with-hakeem-kae-kazim/)
14. [Rotten Tomatoes: Hakeem Kae-Kazim](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/hakeem_kaekazim)
15. [Bruce Dennill: TV Interview, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Average Joe (October 7, 2026)](https://www.brucedennill.co.za/2026/10/07/tv-interview-hakeem-kae-kazim-average-joe-or-controlling-the-empire/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of Africa and the Middle East*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license