Griot of Spirit & Structure

Sculpting the Narrative

For over 25 years, Dahkil has served as a lead editor for global brands like ESPN, Beats by Dre, and Samsung. Currently a Senior Editor at Bandit Editorial, he views the edit bay as a space for emotional translation rather than technical assembly. By extracting the unique "vocabulary and language" of a project, he constructs nonlinear narratives that shift perception—ensuring the final cut resonates with the project's authentic pulse, translating what clients feel into what audiences experience.

The Voice of the Story

You may know the voice before you know the name. For the past 17 years, Dahkil has served as the signature voice for ESPN's 30 for 30 campaign ("What if I told you..."), setting the tone for its iconic run. His vocal artistry spans television, radio, and film for major brands including Sprite, Lincoln, and Canon. In this space, Dahkil utilizes his instrument to carry the weight of the narrative, bridging the gap between the audience and the message with resonance and clarity.

Sunshowah Films & The Griot's Path

Dahkil's foundation as a storyteller began at Syracuse University under Dr. Micere Githae Mugo, where he embraced the responsibility of the Griot. Co-founding Sunshowah Films with Daoud Abeid, he produced award-winning narratives like the HBO-licensed Shades of Brooklyn Vol. 1 and served as creative director for the unscripted series Fit the Description. Expanding into immersive media as a NEW INC artist-in-residence, he directed the virtual reality documentary WaveRider VR and Making: Where Good Souls Fear with Alice Sheppard, premiering at Lincoln Center to challenge perspectives on disability.

Creating Change Through Advocacy

Established in 2025 with visual activist Russell Frederick for The Laundromat Project, The Darkroom Diaspora is an advocacy-driven collaborative focused on creating change through art. Dahkil contributes his "griot" perspective to the work, employing visual media to advance public advocacy regarding health and human rights. By integrating large-scale photography with AI, augmented reality, and audio narration, the project transforms static archives into dynamic "visual memories."

Storytelling as Medicine

Here, the lens shifts inward. As a co-founder and facilitator of Men At Work Healing, Dahkil operates as a "Griot of Agreements," helping men reimagine masculinity through the pillars of Story, Purpose, Play, and Practice. Drawing on his training in Sociocracy, he helps facilitate workshops that help shift restrictive narratives into spaces of shared power and emotional safety.

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Photograph by Alejandra Mancia