Retji Dakum

“My identity is complex and my influences are diverse. Being from Nigeria, I identified myself through my culture, but after living in America for almost a decade, I have learned to also identify myself through my race. Using photography, film and sound, my art uncovers the reality of both my African culture and my race as a black man in America.”

Education

2020 MFA, Filmmaking, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore MD

2017 Nationals Youth Service Corps, Nigeria

2015 BFA, Digital Arts, The College of New Jersey, Ewing NJ (TCNJ)

2015 Internship, Studio D, Hearst Corporation, NYC.

2013 Study Abroad program, Rome, Italy

Awards and Recognition

Made In Baltimore Film Festival Official Selection - “Attached” Leslie King Hammond Award - Maryland Institute College of Art Roberta Polevoy Scholarship - Maryland Institute College of Art Presidents Purchase Award – “Roots” TCNJ Department of Art & Art History Purchase Award – “Don’t Shoot i” TCNJ Simon Boliver Achievement Award – Minority Executive Council TCNJ Best Media Work Award, Gen-Y 2.0 DMV Aspiring Artist Show, VisArts

"Retji was born and raised in Jos, Nigeria until he was 15 years old. He got his undergraduate degree in Digital Art at The College of New Jersey in 2015, after which he went back to Nigeria to complete his National Youth Service Corps program. He currently resides in Baltimore, MD pursuing his masters degree in Filmmaking at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Retji is a storyteller that uses photography, film and sound as mediums of expression. As a visual artist his core mediums are documentary photography and non-fiction cinema.