NEW NARRATIVES,
UNTOLD STORIES
WAX and GOLD is a Los Angeles-based media and entertainment company founded by Prince Joel and Princess Ariana Makonnen focused on powerful Black stories that inspire global audiences. Our work offers a fresh take on Africa and its Diaspora by developing & producing films, series, and digital content that help shape a new narrative for the continent. Inspired by our own story, which is a marriage of Africa, America, and the Caribbean, Wax and Gold's broader aim is to connect the global Black diaspora.
Why ‘Wax and Gold’?
Wax and Gold (ሰምና ወርቅ : sem-enna werq) is a concept from Ethiopian poetry. Taken literally, it refers to the goldsmith’s technique of casting pieces by making a clay mould around a wax core, draining the wax and then pouring in the molten gold. In poetry, however, the technique has been used to deliver apparent, surface-level messages (the “wax”) that carry a deeper, hidden meaning (the “gold”) underneath.
Our Team
Connect with Joel:
Joel Makonnen
Founder and CEO
Joel Makonnen is an attorney, author, Film/TV producer, and the great-grandson of His Majesty Haile Selassie I, the last emperor of Ethiopia. As Co-Founder of Wax & Gold, he oversees business and legal affairs. He is the Author of The Last Gate of the Emperor series (Scholastic) and a graduate of American University and Howard University School of Law.
Connect with Ariana:Ariana Makonnen
Founder and Creative Director
Ariana Makonnen is a writer and producer shaping culture-forward stories for wide audiences. She co-founded Wax and Gold where she heads creative and editorial. Previously, she launched Washington, DC’s largest arts festival, Art All Night and advised foundations on storytelling for impact. She is a graduate of Harvard University.
Connect with Mahelet:Mahelet Gezachew
Development Executive & Producer
Mahelet Gezachew leads development across film, TV, and brand partnerships at Wax & Gold, and produces our digital originals end to end. Previously, she’s held positions at Marvel Studios, Nike’s Sports Film Label, ARRAY Filmworks, and Ethiopia’s leading digital media platform, D!NK TV.