IRIS

Iris creates videos that are blowing up Tiktok. Her most popular video is titled: I HAVE AN AFRICAN MOTHER.

She mimics her mother,  her African ways and just African mothers in general. It is amazing how she transforms from an average American  girl to an animated African mother; suddenly she explodes in feigned anger. How does this ten year old girl speak so well like an African woman, nail the accent, the demeanor, the nuances in tone, mannerism, body language and facial expression. This is a girl who has been observing her mom very carefully.

Follow her accounts on Instagram and Tiktok - @iriken.

ANALYSIS OF EXCELLENCE

I HAVE AN AFRICAN MOTHER

Watch the video first so you can completely appreciate this breakdown.

The scene opens up with Iris, a school girl trying to tell the world about her African mother. She sets the camera, adjusts herself and starts to walk forward ready for a great delivery as she tries to narrate an  experience  she had with her African Mother... but, oops, unexpected surprise, she breaks her stride....her mother was siting calmly nearby taking it all in. This rattles the young girl, she had not noticed her mother until now.  

This was the first stroke of excellence. Her acting was so believable. Her shock, coy-look was so real and she  did not seem like she was roleplaying. She makes a feeble attempt to placate her mother.  Suddenly her tone  drops as she says: ''Hi mom.'' This was so natural as if her hand got caught in a cookie jar...observe carefully the wave of her hand and her semi-guilty expression -you can't teach this. You would think her mom (or where she should be)  was really there. The scene ends with her gazing uneasily at her mom with an expression of anticipation as she braced herself for what was to come from a mother she knows would definitely scold her. That look!! When children are caught doing what they are not supposed to be doing.

Now her brilliance truly shines in scene two.

The camera pans to the same Iris- now dressed as her own African mother. Observe how she sits silently glaring at her own daughter with a cold expression of disappointment and controlled irritation. This look on her face is priceless as she says ''Finish''....a very familiar word with East African women. It wasn't just that she says it but she does it with a genuine African drawl and the look on her face-is just spot-on....very African. 

Now watch how she says:  ''You have an African mother, of course what!!''  Here is a natural actress because she speaks by reinforcing what she says with a shake of her head-in mockery and cynicism....all for emphasis. That shake of the head is unmistakable and as subtle as it is, you get the sense she has been truly provoked. (This is acting at its best). Then she says ''Hee'' another very-African expresion. 

Then comes the funny line: 

She now says ''Where do you want your mother to be from? Hee? India or China?''.....Listen to the stress on China (Chaaynaa) followed by 'Huh?' She repeats this with a facial expression as if saying to her daughter 'Little- girl, make -this -make -sense, smart aleck...tell me since you think you know it all'. 

Now she took this to a different level -the transformation is unreal you almost refuse to believe she is the same person. The Pause, then she claps her hand and touches her chest in exasperation...her voice strangely becomes low and deep...so authentic and African as she says ''And you know- I know, that I am from Africa, Hmm! Everybody around us knows,  who are you telling I am from Africa Hmm who Hmm?'' (Watch the movement of her hands...it is effortless and she is no longer just acting). She continues:

''Of course  what? Of course  what?' Do they have to know everything  we are doing?''

The Kenyan-English accent is unreal.....and almost scary in the way she nailed it. 

Then she explodes, sticks out her chest and extends her arms in surrender...(like real grown up Kenyan women). No she was not done! Watch how she steps it up; her irritation now bubbles to the surface and she could no longer curtail herself-  she explodes in peak-animation.

''Well, well, I need to watch you' flicking her finger in warning. ' And why are you telling them? Do they need to know everything we are doing?'' (Watch how she points to the camera....all so very affortlessly....as if happening in real time.

She takes on an expression of ''Look, child I have had it with you this time''.

The African accent is unreal.....and almost scary in the way she nails it,. She has attained that level that only great actors get to. This is no longer that little girl, she has completely become the part she is playing. A surreal transformation.

Then she explodes, sticks out her chest and extends her arms in surrender...very African. No she was not done, she steps it up, her irritation on full display and she could no longer curtail herself.

Great Acting is more about body language. Your body and your face must agree with the tone of your voice and what you are saying or else it is not believable; very few actors can truly do this. Acting has to be so genuine so much so, that even when someone watches the scene with volume completely down, they should still be able to somewhat decipher or have a general idea of what is going on.

What Iris did here is what actors may achieve after many days of rehearsals. Oh No! But she wings it- Just like that. Her animated expression is uncanny especially when she stretches out her hands and sticks her chest out, tilting herself to the side in emphasis just like Kenyan women.

''They know that I am from Africa, you don't have to tell them anymore''.(Watch her pronunciation of Africa...she spits it out. (Afriikaa).

She goes off! ''The dishes are not done, instead of doing a silly video, go do the dishes.'' Now she is off the chain.  ''My tea needs sugar.''

She is now saying -Make better use of your time and stop  the silliness.

What a job!! She nailed it.

The scene ends leaving the viewers wanting for more.

Watch her expression, her timing, her delivery, her enunciation, the Kenyan Accent is perfect. 

Go watch the video again at @irike_  or @thebronzepagetribe on instagram

If this was a movie-shoot, the director, producers and crew members would all stare in awe and finally stand up and applaud when its all over. 

This is raw-natural-organic talent.

Iris has been featured in many commercials. She was in a popular Christmas commercial for Mercedes Benz-" Kids With Questions. 'She was in various commercials for  Disney Cruise Line, Monopoly-Splash, Burger King, Norr Skateboards, Target, Unicorn Academy, Roxy Dolls, Miraculous Campaign, Stride, Old Navy, Speechless kids, Fashionista Kids, Zara Kids, Zbar, Walmart, JCPenny, Flexfit, L.L Bean, Hiboy, Bella Canvas Kids, Mandalorian Pellow Pets, Little Rookies, Gabbys Dollhouse, Dotdotsmile, BCP Products, Cupshe, Levity home, Nike, Apple and Eve, Inspire -Clean Energy, How to train a dragon, Ruggable, Hoka, Booking.com, The Shay Hotel, Bitzee, Tutu du Monde, CVC Jersey, Poly Group, Next Level Apparel, Bell Canvas, My Little Pony and the list just continues to grow.

Iris was also in a comedy drama: 'I Do Without You' (2025) and also in 2023 FOX TV Series, 'The Reenactment'.