‘Kwasi Ace’ is now a household name in Guyana. It’s the stage name of singer, actor and comedian Kwasi Edmondson; a combination of his old nickname ‘Ace’ which he got in high school and his birth name. It was local comedian Kirk Jardine (Chow Pow) who merged the two when he was exposing Kwasi’s talent.
Kwasi was involved in drama for many years before being known for his songs and comedy sketches and he has a way of fusing his talents into an incredible mixture of comedic rhymes with catchy soundtracks.
It was while he was a student at the Sophia Training Centre that his theatrical interests were born after meeting veteran actor Howard Lorimer. Kwasi became a member of the Theatre Guild in anticipation of Carifesta X which was hosted by Guyana in August 2008. Since then he has written for and acted in shows such as the “Link Show”, “Mori J’von Comedy Jam”, “Stretched Out Magazine” and “No Big Thing”. He writes, produces and directs his own comedy show, “A Diff’rent Kinda Ting”.
Kwasi said he had always loved the performing arts but was too shy to push himself. However, he was influenced to step on to the stage which in turn helped him overcome his timidity. He recalled being plagued by the thoughts of how people would think of him but he soon realised that when you were gifted with a God-given talent and when you work hard to be disciplined no one can stop you. For Kwasi the stage is where he comes alive.
“Even though the pay sucks,” he said, “my theatre is my family and I can’t live without it. Nothing beats when you’re on stage and the audience loves every bit of your performance. They meet you backstage to shake hands, take pictures and tell you that you did a job well done – that’s a feeling that stays with you for days.”
He said he wants to leave a legacy that he did something here and touched someone’s life, even if it’s just one person.
Inspiration for Kwasi comes from his family, friends and his fans but it is life that takes the cake. “I pay close attention to most aspects of my life and things I’m surrounded by. That way I can sing, write and find humour in life,” he said.
He has been cast in many award winning plays such as Makantalli which was written by Harold Bascom and directed by Malcom DeFreitas; Hope which was written and directed by Howard Lorimer and Working Girls which was written and directed by him.
He prefers roles that require him to speak “pure Guyanese” but has enjoyed playing a drunk, a Rastaman and roles with foreign accents that would offer a challenge. He does mostly the writing and directing of plays and because of his current interests in stand-up comedy and singing, drama is on hold.
“I want the people to know that a lot of my music is my inner feelings and when I do comedy I construct all my jokes. If any of my jokes are on the internet it means I put them there,” he said with confidence.
He has really launched himself recently as a musical artist, a high note for him being competing in this year’s Carib Soca Monarch contest, where he placed second and won the best newcomer award.
He had strong crowd support for his song “Same Thing” which took a comedic look at his view that Soca has become monotonous and predictable. He thinks that the genre should be lyrically inclined which would add more flavour to not only the local competition but regional music. He wrote the song almost seven years ago after watching annual competitions and noticing redundancy. Not only did he watch and listen but he set his mind to being the difference he wanted to see.
When he entered the competition, he said, he did not have sufficient funds and could not afford an expensive presentation but thanks to his talent and the help of his sister and friends, they went on stage wowed the crowd and the judges.
“I felt like I won because the response was different and my career just shot off,” he said. Indeed. His next comedic song “Stupid Questions”, which makes fun of quirky Guyanese mentality, skyrocketed on the local airwaves and in the media. Kwasi’s name even became familiar in the Diaspora. His song “Industry” takes a vital and funny look at the issues in the region’s entertainment industry, but his newest song “Fork” is just plain, comedic Kwasi.
He said his social life is lived “electronically” as he is either online or watching movies repeatedly. He loves being at home with his family and if indeed he socialises, it would be with a few friends, drinking beers and talking nonsense.
He revealed that more songs will be released soon and there is one named “Broke Pocket” that he is sure Guyana will love. He also promises more uplifting music.
The face that’s there
but no one sees
Kwasi was born in the village of Plaisance on the East Coast Demerara on August 13, 1981 to Suzan Dick and Deryck Edmondson.
His mother was an officer of the Guyana Police Force prior to her death by natural causes.
His father worked as a state driver and is now enjoying his retirement. When Kwasi was a child he enjoyed the best days with his family in the small village; but because of his parents’ jobs they moved to the city where he spent the majority of his childhood days in Charlotte Street before moving to Sophia.
Kwasi is the youngest of six siblings, now four since two of his brothers passed away: the eldest when Kwasi was a pre-teen and the other years later. He now has a brother and two sisters.
After he completed his secondary education at the Richard Ishmael School in Georgetown, his mother died.
Kwasi said he had shared everything with his mother and the grief of two loved ones dying before he was 20 was too much. for any teen to handle. Adding salt to open wounds, a few years after his mother died his second brother passed. The loss of three close family members took a toll on Kwasi and he fell into a deep depression to the point where he practically gave up on life.
The births of his children, Brandon, now nine years old and Tianna who is eight, helped pull him out of the doldrums.
He said he now had a reason to live and he fought the depression that would every now and again assail him. Theatre and music became the support factors that help push him through.
In a moment of introspection during the interview with The Scene, Kwasi noted that being funny helps him and others get through life’s pressures.
“People enjoy what I do, especially my music because I speak the truth that’s on my mind. I don’t want a façade of me. I want my fans to know that I am an entertainer but I’m also human and I go through all the challenges and emotions as everyone else,” he said.
