18, on tour – Henoc Bayole Kama’s journey as a rising creative

In photography, it takes a gifted person to be able to capture the essence of a moment and communicate it with the depth and clarity that Henoc does. His capability to multitask graphic design skills with photography and videography opens possibilities to new opportunities. Henoc BayoleKama, an 18-year-old rising creative polymath of Congolese descent known as EBK,appears destined to have had the chance to nurture the foundation for his creative aspirations from an early age. Having grown up in Tottenham, London, with limited opportunities for artistic expression Henoc, decided to face the hard realities of the unspoken trapped life as an unprivileged black youth in the United Kingdom. Initially, dancing and football served as outlets for his creative flow. He embarked on a journey to infuse creativity into everything he does, leading him to some great opportunities at such a young age, even recently being part of 21 Savage’s tour in the UK. Expect big things from him in the future as his journey continues to unfold.

“Could you describe what it is you do and what’s your favourite part of the job?”

“I do a bit of everything, mainly photography, videography, graphic design, and sound engineering In short words, I create. The experience and the people I meet is a big favourite, but what I truly love is feeling growth after every creation or booking. At the end of each project, I learn something new, adapt, and add it to my skill set, ready to showcase it in the next opportunity.”

“Name a couple of opportunities that have come your way and what is your proudest moment?”

“From the top of my head, several opportunities have shaped my journey, including the 21 Savage tour, Fally Ipupa concert, Joe Mettle’s Kadosh Show and Tour Vibration in France. Additionally, I’ve had the chance to do work/shoot for artists such as Digga D, Mastermind, Sukihana Jacob Sartorius, Teezandos and even Mo Barbers,plus many others. 

My proudest moment would undoubtedly be my involvement in the Fally Ipupa concert last December. Within my community, the Congolese community, it’s a significant achievement. Fally Ipupa is an artist I’ve been aware of since I was young; my parents listened to his music. I’m pretty sure I performed a dance to one of his songs at my auntie’s wedding when I was around 8 years old. But yeah being backstage in his room before the event began was a moment I couldn’t believe.I can’t lie I was starstruck.”

“When did your creative journey begin and where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“To be honest Creativity has been a part of me since young. In my early years, I channeled it through my distinctive style of play in football and dancing. However, as I evolved, so did my means of expression I reckon. I remember with graphics it all started in 2015, during year 5 if I’m correct. There was a social media trend where people had cartoons made for them and uploaded them. Unable to afford the service, I learned to do it myself and began creating cartoons for my friends.

In the next 5 years, I envision significant growth in my creative journey, aiming for a more prominent position on a global scale being the go to person in numerous of fields. The unpredictable nature of this path has taught me to embrace the unexpected, acknowledging that achievements may come sooner or later than anticipated. Additionally, with my current pursuit of marketing in my first year of university, I hope to seamlessly integrate this knowledge into my skill as despite stepping away from playing football, I aspire to remain actively involved in the beautiful game professionally but from a marketing perspective, combining my passion for creativity with strategic promotional efforts.”

“As you navigate through the opportunities and challenges in your career, how do you stay grounded in your identity and maintain authenticity in your work?”

“Navigating the highs and lows of my career , staying grounded in my identity and maintaining authenticity are crucial as I feel like that’s where a lot of people in life slip up . Honestly I achieve this by simply keeping it real and as much as I’m around “big people” I’ve realized Surrounding myself with people who share that authenticity ensures I stay true to my core. My work is driven by genuine love and passion, and I believe that raw, authentic energy resonates with the people I work with, ultimately creating a genuine connection in every project.”

“How do you think your upbringing has affected you in terms of your creative journey”

“For the most part of it Growing up was actually fun, I never had much, far from privileged. Through self-reflection, I realized that from a young age, I had to create and make more from what I had. While it might seem like I had more to others, it’s because I consistently made more from my original resources. Every limitation became a space for innovation, and every challenge was an opportunity to push the boundaries of what I could achieve.That hunger mentality persists to this day, even as I acknowledge the privilege of having better gear and valuable connections in recent times. My humble beginnings have taught me to create from the ground up, relying on talent and skill.”

“And lastly do you have advice to any future and current creatives”:

“Personally, I’d say focus and prioritize mastering your craft by all means, and trust me, everything else will naturally come from that. It’s only right that I mention and shout out my Sixth Form sociology teacher, Mr. Taylor, for his “figure out your why” speech as well.”