Ernest Napoleon, a multifaceted individual, was born in Moscow, Russia, to a Tanzanian father and a Russian mother.
At the tender age of three, Ernest embarked on his first acting experience in a Christmas play, which was a New Year's celebration in the Soviet Union at that time.
When Ernest was five years old, his family relocated to Tanzania, where he was a highly energetic and imaginative child, often coming up with elaborate plans, which his mother affectionately referred to as "Napoleon plans" after the famous French military and political leader Napoleon Bonaparte.
In Tanzania, Ernest pursued a variety of interests, including working as a TV presenter for the largest TV station in East Africa, EATV, DJ-ing at one of the prominent nightclubs in Africa, Club Billicanas, and recording music as a Bongo Flava artist, performing under the stage name MC Napo.
As a teenager, Ernest moved to Los Angeles to pursue a degree in computer science and a career in filmmaking. For seven years, he dedicated himself to acting and writing classes.
Ernest's passion for filmmaking eventually led him to create his own feature film, Going Bongo, in which he played the lead character, Dr. Berger. The film follows Dr. Berger, who lands a job at a prestigious medical center in Los Angeles and is eager to impress his new boss. After attending a gala event, Dr. Berger mistakenly volunteers to work in Africa for a month at an under-resourced hospital, leaving his fiancé and life behind to fulfill his promise.
Going Bongo is the first international film made by a Tanzanian and the first East African film to be accepted by iTunes. Ernest produced, co-wrote, and acted in the film, showcasing his multifaceted talents.
Kiumeni, another film by Ernest, is set and shot in Dar es Salaam and won two awards at the Zanzibar International Film Festival 2017. The film is a comedy that juxtaposes poverty and wealth, following the story of a young affluent man who falls in love with a girl from a poor neighborhood and must navigate cultural differences when he visits her family.
Ernest is currently working on multiple projects, including producing a UK/US-based film called "Let No Man Know," which tells the true story of Tom Molineaux, a former slave who rose to become a contender for the English bare-knuckle crown. The script is written by Ray Nicholas, a stunt coordinator for films such as Bourne Identity, Dark Knight, and Titanic.
