We recently had the chance to connect with Raymond Karago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Raymond , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, I have really come to enjoy boxing. I lift weights as well, but boxing is fantastic for several reasons; It is great for cardio, it is a great way to physically vent during difficult times, and I believe it tests your mental strength. For example, if you can stay calm when someone is trying to hit you, then in my opinion you can handle anything.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Raymond Karago,
I am an award winning SAG-AFTRA actor, voice actor, producer, writer and content creator. I am Kenyan, was educated in England, and have worked in both Los Angeles and Kenya. In LA, I have worked in several award winning projects including Gangsters (for which I won best supporting actor at the DreamMachine International Film Festival), I provided narration for the multi-award winning documentary The 600; The Soldiers’ Story, Ilville (which is currently streaming on Tubi), The Exile Road, Desert Sky and This Thing Called Hip-Hop (which had a streaming run on Amazon Prime). While in LA, I also wrote and produced a few projects including Stand Up, which I also starred in, for which I won best concept at the DreamMachine International Film Festival, as well as a premiere at the Burbank International Film Festival. Gun 2 Soon, which has been to various film festivals all over the world with wins at the Milan Gold Awards, the New York Film Awards and the Paris Film Awards amongst others. I also have the upcoming Kareem’s Oorah, a story about a Muslim-American (played by yours truly) who joins the U.S. Marines in the aftermath of 9/11.
In Kenya, I have been fortunate to work in some truly incredible projects; including the animated series Twende in which I voiced a honey badger henchman, a baboon mechanic, a wise buffalo samurai, as well as other animals including an African wild dog, a gorilla, a chameleon amongst other animals. Twende was nominated for best animated series at the SAFTA Awards in 2024. Other projects include several acclaimed TV Shows including Volume (which was on Netflix), Salem and Shanga. As far as film, I was in the 2023 feature Merry X-Mess, as well as the 2024 comedy Sketchy Africans which was one of the most anticipated films to come out of Kenya last year. As far as commercials, I have done adds for brands such as Versman, DSTV, Equity Bank and Mabati Rolling Mills. In 2024 I was blessed to play the lead role of Bernard in the play Boeing Boeing, which was a massive success. I also produce a Youtube show with my business partner called 2 Sides of a Story, in which we host debates on important but taboo topics. There are a few things still in the works that will be revealed with time.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I was always made to feel like I was less than. I was ridiculed for my looks, my “weird” behavior, my lack of athleticism and my struggle with grades at school. I have spent most of my life believing that I was inadequate, and it has effected my self esteem, my self esteem and has often stopped me from taking certain chances. It has also caused me to be very hard on myself, often comparing myself to others and taking failure/ rejection very hard.
However, through therapy and the amazing people I have encountered in my life, I have learned that this is not true. It is still a process, but I am slowly learning to like who I am, find my North Star, and believe in myself.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I believe that suffering and success teach you more about yourself than success ever could. In those moments of crushing defeat, you are able to analyze what went wrong, who really has your back, and most importantly; you learn how to maneuver after you pick yourself up and try again. In my experience, the most successful people are not necessarily the most talented or the smartest, but they are almost always the most resilient. Just like lifting weights makes your body strong, suffering strengthens your mind to the point where you become unstoppable.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Without going into to much detail,
There is a TV series I have been developing since I was in college. It depicts the true story of a slave rebellion that took place in the 1700s. The pilot and pitch materials have all been completed.
I believe that this story and stories like this are important now more than ever because in my opinion, history has usually been told from a Eurocentric perspective. For example, when I was in school in both Kenya and England, we only ever learned about European history. There are so many stories from marginalized communities that are harrowing, inspiring, heartbreaking and complex. More than anything, many of these stories are not known by the general public, which I think is a shame because so many incredible men and women, from Queen Nanny to Metacomet to Mansa Musa seem to be lost to the archives of history. I am glad we live in a time where such stories are being told to give a voice to the formerly voiceless.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was a person who did his best to be good, that he tried to help others and be there for his loved ones. I would want to be remembered for standing up for what I believed in. I hope to be remembered as a great actor, writer, producer and more significantly that I helped create art that challenged norms, educated and inspired people.
Most importantly, I want to be known as someone who was good to his family (my amazing father, mother and brother) a good friend, and hopefully one day as a great husband and father, maybe even a great grandfather.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
