Evelin Kembe
In 1998, Emmanuel and Margaret Kembe were shifted to the United States as refugees from Ethiopia. The Sudanese, soon-to-be parents of three, found out they had conceived and produced a star living in the gentle comfort of the womb of her mother. After four months, they found out.
Evelin Kembe was born singing in 1999. Those screaming sobs she emphasized at her arrival to the world sounded like melodies. Emmanuel and Margaret always knew her destiny. But it was no surprise… the Kembe bloodline is a bloodline of artists.
Kembe began performing in the sixth grade in her very first school production– “Bugsy Malone Jr.”. That gave her the courage to audition for agencies and talent shows and by the time she had reached high school, performing became a need. She had become so comfortable sharing her gift with those who were interested that it became clear to her this is what she wanted to pursue for the rest of her life (in a professional setting).
Her drive for the arts began early and was the result of elementary school “haters” (as she would refer to them in her youth). If its one thing that Kembe has, its belief in herself. The “you can’t sing” made her only want to sing more and get better with every note and every song.
Experiencing traumatic pain in various forms from a young age is part of what guides Kembe as an artist. She attempts to express positivity while revealing her truths in order to reach those who can relate and share the Gospel which states that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. There is healing and joy and peace.
Kembe has been trained by Marshall Butler, Lora Fabio, Peter Comperatore, Miller Lucky, Donna Bradby. She performed in talent shows, participated in chorus and theatre (and musical theatre) all throughout high school, while also dabbling in professional recording. She would go to the studio of a close family friend, Dr. Laury Dauhner, who Emmanuel, her father, would record with (as he is the musician that exposed Evelin to it all) whenever he was in North Carolina. And Margaret, her mother, is the force that kept Kembe dreaming and believing and pushing and working and growing. The force that drove her to and from auditions and to and from rehearsals and to and from performances.
Evelin made the decision to come to North Carolina A&T State University as a marketing major–which one week later was accounting… then accounting and political science… then professional theatre with a minor in political science… then just professional theatre. The background of this process was Kembe fighting the disagreements of family members due to the obvious “what ifs” that come with living as an artist. Trust in God surpasses all of that.
Somewhere along the way at A&T, Kembe developed an interest for film acting seriously, this turned into a love when she began to pursue it full-force and for that, she can thank Lelund Durond, Donna Bradby and Uta Hagen.
Fortunately, with her whole family on her side, she has graduated from the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and intends on taking the entire world by storm.
Evelin Kembe is a Sudanese-American professional actress, a recording artist, a writer, and an aluma of North Carolina A&T State University–the largest HBCU in the nation.
