Ahmad Chadway
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Chadway is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. He first appeared as the narrator and central character of the 1997 film Soul Food
. Originally, he was named Ahmad Simmons, and was portrayed by Brandon Hammond
. In the television series, the surname was changed to Chadway, and the role was assumed by Aaron Meeks
.
, Illinois
, Ahmad is the oldest child of Kenny Chadway
and Maxine Chadway
. At the time of Ahmad's birth, Kenny and Maxine were not married to each other, and had barely finished high school. The couple soon married and eventually had a total of five children: Ahmad, Kelly (Taylor Love), Brooke, and a set of twins.
Even as a pre-teen, Ahmad demonstrated a level of maturity beyond his years. He shared a special relationship with his widowed grandmother Josephine Joseph
(Irma P. Hall
), whom he referred to as "Big Mama". Her illness and subsequent death (due to diabetes) led to a rift between Ahmad's mother Maxine and her sister Teri
, disrupting the decades-long tradition of Sunday dinner being held at Big Mama's house. When the family seemed on the verge of drifting apart permanently, Ahmad manipulated his adult relatives into arriving for dinner one Sunday at Big Mama's home (now occupied by his aunt "Bird" and her husband Lem
), which resulted in reconciliation and forgiveness.
Ahmad is an intellectually gifted
student. To accommodate his needs, his parents used school vouchers to enroll him in one of Chicago's most exclusive private schools, Lakeside Preparatory Academy.This would have been impossible in the "real world", as the state of Illinois
does not have a school voucher program. He continued to do well at Lakeside Prep, consistently earning decent grades. His transition to Lakeside Prep was a rocky one, as he was one of the few African American
students there, and perhaps the only one from a working class background. Eventually adjusting to the new environment, he learned to balance his time between neighborhood friends like Reggie (Kevin Rahsaan Grant) and K.C. (Donovan Ian Hunter McKnight), and new friends from school, primarily Mike (Bradley Reid) and Callie (Tamara Hope
).
Like many boys his age, Ahmad becomes fixated with girls as he entered adolescence. During his middle school years, he has several girlfriends including Keisha (Nicole Hardy) and Amina (Keenan Macwilliam). He even briefly engages in a flirtatious relationship with Callie.
Ahmad aspires to become a filmmaker, and speculates that he may one day write a screenplay about his experiences as a member of the Joseph family.
Soul Food (film)
Soul Food is a 1997 American comedy-drama film, produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Tracey Edmonds, and Robert Teitel, and released by Fox 2000 Pictures. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film stars Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Jeffrey D. Sams, Irma...
. Originally, he was named Ahmad Simmons, and was portrayed by Brandon Hammond
Brandon Hammond
Brandon Hammond is an American former child actor who appeared in a string of high profile projects in the 1990s.Hammond's first film role was in Menace II Society where he played the younger version of the main character Caine...
. In the television series, the surname was changed to Chadway, and the role was assumed by Aaron Meeks
Aaron Meeks
Aaron Joseph Meeks is an NAACP Image Award-winning American actor. He is best known for his role as Ahmad Chadway on the Showtime television series Soul Food.-Series:...
.
Character Background
A lifelong resident of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Ahmad is the oldest child of Kenny Chadway
Kenny Chadway
Kenneth "Kenny" Chadway is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food as Kenny Simmons, and was portrayed by Jeffrey D. Sams...
and Maxine Chadway
Maxine Chadway
Maxine Joseph Chadway is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food as Maxine Joseph Simmons, and was portrayed by Vivica A. Fox. In the television series, the surname was changed to Chadway, and the role was assumed...
. At the time of Ahmad's birth, Kenny and Maxine were not married to each other, and had barely finished high school. The couple soon married and eventually had a total of five children: Ahmad, Kelly (Taylor Love), Brooke, and a set of twins.
Even as a pre-teen, Ahmad demonstrated a level of maturity beyond his years. He shared a special relationship with his widowed grandmother Josephine Joseph
Josephine Joseph (Soul Food)
Josephine Joseph is a fictional character from the 1997 film Soul Food, and the Showtime television series of the same name. Along with her grandson Ahmad -- who refers to her as "Big Mama" -- she serves as the moral and emotional center of the film. Additionally, she makes recurring appearances...
(Irma P. Hall
Irma P. Hall
Irma P. Hall is an African American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television shows since the 1970s. She is best known for playing matriarchal figures the films A Family Thing, Soul Food and The Ladykillers....
), whom he referred to as "Big Mama". Her illness and subsequent death (due to diabetes) led to a rift between Ahmad's mother Maxine and her sister Teri
Teri Joseph
Teri Joseph Carter is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food, and was portrayed by Vanessa L. Williams...
, disrupting the decades-long tradition of Sunday dinner being held at Big Mama's house. When the family seemed on the verge of drifting apart permanently, Ahmad manipulated his adult relatives into arriving for dinner one Sunday at Big Mama's home (now occupied by his aunt "Bird" and her husband Lem
Lem Van Adams
Lem Van Adams is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food as Lem Harris, and was portrayed by Mekhi Phifer...
), which resulted in reconciliation and forgiveness.
Ahmad is an intellectually gifted
Intellectual giftedness
Intellectual giftedness is an intellectual ability significantly higher than average. It is different from a skill, in that skills are learned or acquired behaviors...
student. To accommodate his needs, his parents used school vouchers to enroll him in one of Chicago's most exclusive private schools, Lakeside Preparatory Academy.This would have been impossible in the "real world", as the state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
does not have a school voucher program. He continued to do well at Lakeside Prep, consistently earning decent grades. His transition to Lakeside Prep was a rocky one, as he was one of the few African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
students there, and perhaps the only one from a working class background. Eventually adjusting to the new environment, he learned to balance his time between neighborhood friends like Reggie (Kevin Rahsaan Grant) and K.C. (Donovan Ian Hunter McKnight), and new friends from school, primarily Mike (Bradley Reid) and Callie (Tamara Hope
Tamara Hope
Tamara Hope is a Canadian actress. Her starring roles include Guinevere Jones and The Nickel Children, a film about teenage prostitution, as well as a recurring role on CTV's Whistler as Leah McLure....
).
Like many boys his age, Ahmad becomes fixated with girls as he entered adolescence. During his middle school years, he has several girlfriends including Keisha (Nicole Hardy) and Amina (Keenan Macwilliam). He even briefly engages in a flirtatious relationship with Callie.
Ahmad aspires to become a filmmaker, and speculates that he may one day write a screenplay about his experiences as a member of the Joseph family.