A'rese
A'rese Emokpae | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 13, 1988 Nigeria |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, audiobook narrator |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Winner of The Voice Nigeria (Season 1), role in Wakaa: The Musical |
A'rese Emokpae (born January 13, 1988), professionally known as A'rese, is a Nigerian performer, encompassing acting, singing, and audiobook narration. She rose to fame through her role in Bolanle Austen-Peters' Terra Kulture production Wakaa: The Musical, which paved the way for her victory in the first season of The Voice Nigeria. In 2017, she portrayed Senami Minasu in the Africa Magic series Jemeji and also debuted her single "Uwe No".
Background
A'rese is a descendant of the esteemed Nigerian artist and sculptor Erhabor Emokpae.
Education
She completed her undergraduate studies at Washington and Lee University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Art with an emphasis on Printmaking. During her time there, she developed a strong interest in musical theater and dance, notably performing as "Velma Kelly" in a sold-out run of Chicago. She has been active professionally since her graduation in 2010.
Career
Emokpae launched her professional journey in Chicago, Illinois, joining the ensemble at the Black Ensemble Theater. Her significant roles included portraying The Fairy Godmama in The Other Cinderella and Mya in One Name Only. After three years, she moved to Lagos to further pursue her acting ambitions.
In Lagos, she landed the role of Rume in BAP Productions' Saro: the Musical 2, which enjoyed full houses throughout 2014 and 2015. Subsequently, she starred as Kike Johnson in the well-received BAP/Terra Kulture production Wakaa: The Musical.
In 2016, A'rese auditioned for Season 1 of The Voice Nigeria, captivating the judges with her rendition of "Skyfall" and joining Team Waje. She emerged as the winner after performing "Hallelujah," later signing with Universal Music Group, through which she released her first single "Uwe No".
Her career expanded into television in 2017 with lead roles on Africa Magic's Jemeji and EbonyLife TV's series "MMM".
Television
| Year | Title | Network | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Voice Nigeria | Africa Magic | Self | Reality Show |
| Babysitting Ejiro | Kemi | Television movie | ||
| 2016-2017 | Tinsel | Bisola | Number of episodes unspecified | |
| 2017-2018 | Jemeji | Senami Minasu | 260 episodes | |
| 2021 | M.M.M. | LacedUp Productions | Marion | Web Series |
Theater
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Marvin Gaye Story | Mary Wells/Ensemble | Black Ensemble Theater; Chicago, IL |
| One Name Only | Mya | ||
| The Other Cinderella | Fairy Godmama | ||
| 2013 | Once Upon A People | The Storyteller | |
| She Kills Monsters | Vera (understudy) | Buzz22 Chicago at Steppenwolf; Chicago, IL | |
| 2014-2015 | Saro: The Musical 2 | Rume | BAP Productions/Terra Kulture |
| 2015 | Wakaa: The Musical | Kike Johnson |
Movies
- Unbreakable (2019)
Singles
| Year | Track Title | Performer | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Uwe No" | A'rese featuring LadiPoe | Uwe No - Single |
| 2018 | "Beautiful" | A'rese | Beautiful - Single |
Joint Projects
| Year | Track Title | Performer | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Out Of My League" | Dominic Neill featuring A'rese | Out Of My League |
| "#WCW" | Kalen Lumiere featuring A'rese | Realistic Love | |
| "Birds 'n' Bees" |
Honors and Recognitions
| Year | Award Event | Category | Work | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2018 Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role – English | 'Unbreakable' |