Business profile: performance artist Egypt

Performer and community leader Devin T. Robinson X, professionally known as Egypt, has used performing arts to lead the public for over a decade.  He uses a unique form of acting called, confessional narration to educate his audience on social issues such as HIV, Black history, domestic violence and love.  A confessional narrative is a mixture of acting, motivational speaking, poetry and comedy used to enlighten the audience.  A normal for Egypt consists of attending community action meetings, scheduling performances and of course performing in front of receptive crowds.  He has performed on BET’s 106 and Park, MTV and the historic Apollo Theatre. Egypt has shared the stage with many celebrities including, Alicia Keys, John Legend and Magic Johnson.  On the international stage, he has performed in Johannesburg South Africa, Haiti, and Amman, Jordan.

Since the age of ten, Egypt had a desire to change the world.  When he discovered that the same instruments and techniques used to defeat the HIV virus 20 years ago were still being used, he sprung into action.  This was his first avenue and subject to succeed in that ambition.

His goal is to become a spokesperson for change.  When people think of the word “change”, he wants them to think of a lowly servant who grew up with little to nothing, but grew into someone who gave, served and loved enough to change the future.

Egypt’s wife, future family and desire to have a legacy, is what motivates him the most.  His wife believes in him and inspires through her support.  Having lost his mother at the age of twelve, and his father abandoning him within the same month, he strives to be the father he never had.  He feels he was brought into a world without a legacy to build on.  A legacy provides a man with something to strive to enhance or live up to.  The goal is for his children to not have that powerful burden.

The power of change pushes Egypt to continue performing and be an active community leader.  Every day he works towards the goal of ending HIV as well as the cycle of women dating deadbeat men who abandon their offspring.  Egypt believes through faith and hard work these ills in society will be removed.

Egypt is a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida native and felt his town was just like any other neighborhood growing up.  He did see his share of violence within his predominately Black community, but never felt scared or worried.  Within his inner-city environment, life was fun and good, and at times challenging; however Egypt kept himself into video games, Black history, and performing arts.  Through hard work and dedication, he went on to graduate from Palm Beach State College as Alumni of the Year and Florida Atlantic University with degrees in Arts and Performance Theatre.

Egypt’s has many people who have positively influenced his life. His mentors are Mr. and Mrs. Ruffin, who he met them through the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship committee and provided him a college scholarship. The two have been Egypt’s spiritual and physical backbone since he graduated high school.  They invested in him when they knew little about the teenager so Egypt ensured not to embarrass them.  His Uncle, Tom Robinson, has been the man he aspires to be and taught him the virtues of manhood.  Egypt’s sister, Chastity, who was 19 at the time, took care of him and their younger sister in addition to her two children after their mother died; Chastity raised 4 children as a single mother. Egypt’s mentors were all selfless, loving and very passionate people, which Egypt strives to make proud.

For the first time, Egypt is performing and producing a one-man show in Atlanta titled, Black Men: Naked Truth, which is premiering on October 4, 2014 7:00 p.m. at Mark Squared Studios.  The performance discusses the current state of Black America, demonstrating why Black men do what they do and why certain people want to kill, harm and deny their rights.  Egypt is yet again using his talents to bring light to social issues affecting underserved communities.

Atlanta Free Speech salutes Egypt.

To learn more about Black Men: Naked Truth please click here.