who dat?

Ezi. Amarachi Rachel Nwokoro

Hello and welcome!

Firstly, let’s clear something important up.

What is an Ezenwanyi? Me! An Ezenwanyi in Igbo cosmology is a transfeminine embodied healer. It is an indigenous, honorary title from Biafra, West Africa. The abbreviation is “Ezyi. or Ezi” used like “Dr.” or “Mr.” and I also use these as pronouns.

I am an autistic, trans and queer, disability justice advocate based in London. Originating from a lineage of sacred healers from Biafra, I wear multiple creative hats and dazzle while doing so. After years of training in indigenous metaphysics, my work resembles a mad scientist and creative rebel with a radical love of freedom. Through platforms, RachelShapes and Black Mind, I work as an award-winning actor, curator, dancer, director, drag artist, facilitator, healer, poet, producer, playwright, public speaker, vocalist and visual artist.

My determination and tenacity was clear at 13 when I went door to door visiting acting agents, got signed by one and enlightened my parents after the event! Never a soul to take the path well-travelled, some years later, I was one of only five awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship for the Arts at Durham University where I read a BSc in Natural Sciences (Biology, English and French) for two years while navigating how to study while disabled. This is when I began broadening my exploration of different artistic fields - I branched out of acting and began directing productions including my first piece of writing, a short immersive theatre play called “Keep it Casual”.

After university, I gained confidence with public speaking and authentic connection by adventuring through the underground spoken word poetry circuit: night after night experimenting with ways to overcome my performance anxiety by sharing poetry in community. I began winning slam poetry competitions which lead me to compete and perform on an international scale.

My creative approach involves remembering how to play, dream and connect to the voice within. While directing a theatre tour in London, I authored my debut poetry book “Little You” (Burning Eye, 2019) at the same time as graduating from drama school. Though accomplishing these huge successes was abundantly rewarding, it also led me to understand the dangers of burnout and exploitation for disabled creatives. Time and time again, reconnecting with my creative source replenished my depleted spirit and it is this process of restoration that I wish to share in my work. These lived experience insights motivate my commitment to curating accessible arts activities for marginalised communities. Combining my journey with disability justice and my studies of indigenous metaphysics guided me to start offering services as a trauma-informed wellbeing practitioner and disability doula (with a passionate focus on creating space for disabled and chronically ill africans to express themselves without shame).

I am a qualified Mental Health First Aider who is inspired by indigenous healing modalities, Black disability justice, gender bending, the soul, nature, collective liberation and, by necessity, dismantling internalised oppression.