Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou is a Beninese-born actor who shot into the limelight following his role as Cinqué in "Amistad," a performance that secured him a Golden Globe nomination. He also earned Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in "In America" and "Blood Diamond." Hounsou has showcased his versatility by appearing in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Korath the Pursuer and the DC Extended Universe in roles such as the Fisherman King in "Aquaman" and the wizard Shazam. Hounsou has also been featured in the "A Quiet Place" franchise.

Hounsou is the founder of Fanaticus, an independent production company aimed at championing and promoting the stories of Africa. Under this banner, he made his directorial debut with the documentary film "In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven" in 2018. In addition to his on-screen exploits, Hounsou has demonstrated his vocal prowess by narrating ESPN's "32 Teams, 1 Dream" commercial series for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and featuring on South African record producer and DJ Black Coffee's "Ode to Ancestors" song. This song was part of an EP inspired by Zack Snyder's movie, "Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver."

Outside of acting, Hounsou has been vocal on many social issues, including speaking at the UN General Assembly on the impact of climate change on developing nations, appearing before the US Senate on behalf of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and participating in a hearing and summit for the International Arms Ban Treaty. In 2019 on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Hounsou announced the formation of the Djimon Hounsou Foundation, which aims to reconnect the African Diaspora with the motherland and combat modern-day slavery and human trafficking, where he serves as Chairman of the Board.