Kezia Dzifa Awadzi and CNN Lokko are first cousins, great friends, and writers inspired by their unique histories and by the new adventures they encounter in a culturally diverse environment where everyone is different—just like them.
Kezia and CNN began their creative collaboration as children, performing skits for their family under Kezia’s direction. As they grew older and pursued different educational paths, they continued to see each other during family visits with other cousins, watching movies, sharing snacks, and reminiscing about their childhood. The skits became a thing of the past, and while both discovered a love for creative writing, neither shared that interest with the other.
CNN was pleasantly surprised when her mother brought home a copy of STEP magazine and she discovered that her older cousin had won a writing competition. She realized then that they shared a love for writing—but at the time, she simply took note of it, smiled with quiet pride, and went on with her life.
The two discovered the depth of their shared similarities when CNN enrolled in graduate school. Kezia had already begun her own journey and offered invaluable advice. During spring breaks, CNN would visit Kezia, and their relationship began to grow beyond family ties into a genuine friendship. They soon realized that, although Kezia had graduated before CNN began her college studies, both had been members of the Literary Club at the University of Ghana–Legon—writing, producing, and performing plays.
In 2009, they challenged each other to a writing competition. Kezia began writing African Girl, while CNN, who gravitates toward young adult fiction, started The Adventures of Elizabeth Sam. Their friendly rivalry fueled the creative process, with each determined to finish a chapter before the other. It was an effective strategy that pushed them to make time for their shared passion.
That same spirit of collaboration led to their first co-authored novel, Changes, in 2014. Written in a blog format, each cousin wrote from the perspective of a different character, and once again, their competitiveness spurred them forward—each eager to outdo the other.
In 2015, they worked together on ALIENS!, a comedic video series exploring the experiences of immigrants. Family gatherings soon turned into recording sessions, with relatives recruited as actors, camera crew, and producers. However, the challenge of living in different locations made it difficult to continue producing new episodes.
Undeterred, in 2017 they turned to digital radio, which solved the problem of distance. It was a dream come true—they wrote the plays, recruited volunteer actors from across the United States, and produced weekly episodes. The work was demanding but deeply fulfilling, allowing them to continue creating together despite the miles between them.
Kezia and CNN continued to collaborate on various creative projects over the years—Kezia often flying or driving hundreds of miles to support the production of plays written by CNN, and CNN spending summers at Kezia’s side, selling their signature crunchy coconut biscuits. Despite the demands of their individual lives, they continued to nurture an insatiable dream: to build something lasting together, rooted in their shared passion.
In 2025, they officially registered J.E.K.A. Nexus Global, transforming years of shared creativity into a multifaceted company. With publishing and an e-bookstore at its core, J.E.K.A. Nexus Global reflects their commitment to amplifying diverse voices and creating accessible, meaningful content for readers everywhere.