Young woman with curly hair and jewelry, wearing a brown leather jacket, gesturing with hands and speaking.

NEW NARRATIVES,
UNTOLD STORIES

A man in a military uniform adorned with medals and gold embroidery, standing against a dark patterned background.

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. 

Upside-down white text on black background that says 'it's worth it'.

Why ‘Wax and Gold’?

Wax and Gold (ሰምና ወርቅ) is an Ethiopian literary device inspired by the Amharic goldsmithing technique The craftsmen would cast pieces by building a clay mould around a wax core, draining the wax, and finally replacing it with molten gold to create beautifully gilded artwork. In Amharic poetry, the phrase refers to the hidden meaning, or gold, buried beneath the more unassuming surface, or wax. Wax and Gold has been used for centuries to deliver powerful messages hidden in plain sight. 

Our Team

A man in a tuxedo with a white shirt and black bow tie, smiling at the camera during an outdoor event at night. 
Connect with Joel:
Instagram logo with a camera icon inside a square.
LinkedIn logo in black and white
A simple icon of a laptop computer.

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.

A woman with long dark hair sitting on a white sofa, smiling, wearing a brown checkered turtleneck sweater and gold earrings, with a landscape painting in the background. 
Connect with Ariana:
Instagram logo icon
LinkedIn logo on a black background.
Icon of a laptop computer

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.

A young woman with braided hair smiling, standing with arms crossed, against a neutral background. 
Connect with Mahelet:
Instagram logo icon in black and white.
LinkedIn logo in black and white.

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.