RELATIVELYSPEAKING My brother would have been a radio host – Nathaniel Gyang
Nathaniel Gyang is brother to award-winning filmmaker, Kenneth Gyang, known for his movie ‘Confusion Na Wa’ and several more. In this interview, he talks about growing up with him, his brother’s love for football, video games and more. Excerpts:
Daily Trust: How would you describe your brother, Kenneth Gyang?
He is a very interesting and intelligent person who is passionate about his work. He’s someone who’s fun to be around.
DT: When you are around him, what do you two usually discuss about?
We talk about films, crack jokes. He knows a lot of stuff, so we grew up learning together, reading the same books. Then again there are the intellectual discussions. kind of books have you both read and enjoyed? When we were kids we read a lot of vampire novels, like ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and ‘Things Fall Apart’. DT: What was your brother like as a kid? He was passionate about entertainment. We schooled together, mimed many songs together. He loved watching movies and liked to listen and speak the way radio personalities do. DT: Did you foresee that he will be a filmmaker someday? If Kenneth Gyang hadn’t become a filmmaker I wonder what else he would have been, because there was that strong passion for entertainment when we were kids. He actually talked about being a radio personality, but this was before he discovered filmmaking. So this was decided when he was still very young. DT: Has his rise as a filmmaker rubbed off on you in any way, being that you are close to him? He always used to tell me a lot about films, so right now, in any work he’s doing, we are always together. He tells me his ideas. Also, while he directs I am
DT: What names do you call each other that’s not in the public domain? He calls me Nato, while we call him Kendo DT: How does he react when he’s upset? He raises his voice, and then becomes very quiet and sober as though regretting his reaction. DT: What usually gets him
He loves football, so when Arsenal is winning he’s always very excited. The same thing happens when he’s playing video games.
DT: Boys are known to have little fights while growing up. Can you remember a particular incident with him?
I remember when we used to fight while playing football. This happens when he gets sarcastic when he’s winning and gets me angry. I would try to get back at him by taunting him, but I was always bad at doing it.
DT: How does he relax when he’s not working?
When Kenneth Gyang is relaxing he’s playing video games. He can play all day and tell you he’s either resting or relaxing.
DT: What is it about him that people don’t know you will like to share?
The fact that he’s a very loving person. Once he likes you, he can go to any extent to support you. People hardly know this about him.
DT: What is it like being brother to the well-known award-winning filmmaker, Kenneth Gyang?
We look very much alike and also have the same height and stature. So when I go to certain places people mistake me for him. However, I don’t see him as that celebrity because he’s my brother. It’s always very interesting when people see us together and make comments about how we look alike.