Building Momentum on Screen: Simba William Yakibonge’s 40‑Plus Commercial Campaigns Lay the Groundwork for Narrative Film Roles

By Akanksha Harsh

Simba William Yakibonge has quietly become one of Canada’s most familiar faces on television, not through blockbuster films, but through more than forty national and international commercials. Since being spotted in Ottawa by veteran talent agent Angie Seymour, Yakibonge has steadily built a screen career from the ground up. “You will be a great actor,” Seymour reportedly told him when she discovered him in an Ottawa parking lot. That early encouragement propelled Yakibonge into relentless auditioning and steady work in commercials, a path that would prove to be a rigorous on-camera training ground.

Yakibonge’s journey began far from Canada’s main entertainment hubs. Raised in Montreal and later Ottawa, he had no local film industry infrastructure to fall back on. Instead, he auditioned relentlessly, slowly landing spots in commercials. Today, he boasts credits in campaigns for major brands, Amazon, Wingstop (including a spot aired during the NBA Finals), Mobil, Coors Light, and others. These ads aren’t just paychecks; for Yakibonge, they were a “masterclass” in screen acting. On commercial sets, he learned to perform under tight shooting schedules and to hit emotional beats on cue.

Acting coaches note that commercials demand precision. As one guide explains, actors in ads must make “every word… make commercial sense” and often “switch from one tone to another or from one scenario to another very fast”. Yakibonge found this crucible of short-format work honed his camera presence and adaptability. The constant switching of tones, going from humor to seriousness in just a few seconds, taught him the economy of expression. These fast-paced shoots also required professionalism: multiple directors and script changes, sometimes dozens of takes, forced Yakibonge to become flexible and reliable under pressure.

In interviews, he credits this training for sharpening his timing and discipline. In his own words, the discipline of commercials “taught [him] to deliver in a single take,” a skill he says transfers directly to narrative work.

Throughout this time, he became “one of the most consistently working commercial actors in Canada”[1]. Industry insiders note it’s rare for an Ottawa-based actor to appear so regularly on national TV; Yakibonge estimates viewers might see him on air every day. This consistency built not just experience but visibility: as Amir Shervin Behfar, a Canadian casting director, puts it, “Commercials can make an actor a household face even before a narrative breakthrough.” By treating each advert as an opportunity to learn, Yakibonge effectively used the Canadian ad market as his acting classroom.

Canada’s small market meant limited feature roles, so Yakibonge took initiative. He began writing and producing his own short films to showcase his range. One notable project, The Roster, even won Best Comedy at the Black Actors Film Guild of Canada award. These independent films screened at festivals, giving him early acting accolades and putting him on filmmakers’ radar. “Making my own content opened doors,” he noted. By proving he could carry a story on screen, Yakibonge attracted the attention of narrative directors. He said festival successes demonstrated his “potential beyond advertising” and led to offers for principal parts in longer-form projects.

At the same time, Yakibonge built a strong social media presence. He cultivated a TikTok audience of over 80,000 followers. In clips and behind-the-scenes posts, he honed a digital voice and proved he could engage viewers beyond traditional media. As he notes, this dual path, a classically ambitious actor and digital storyteller, has given him audience loyalty on his own terms. His sizable social following also raises his profile for U.S. and international fans, a valuable asset as he makes the leap to narrative film.

With that foundation, Simba Yakibonge is now transitioning into film and television drama. In 2024, he landed a leading role as “Nick” in No Regrets, an award-winning drama series streaming on Tubi. His performance earned him the “Best Actor in a TV Series” award from the Black Actors Film Guild of Canada. This critical recognition validated Yakibonge’s screen work and proved his chops in a dramatic role far beyond the 30-second commercial format.

Notably, his profile has risen in feature film circles as well. He was cast in a principal role in Afterlove, the debut feature by Marjan Hashemi, a filmmaker celebrated for winning the 2023 Women in the Director’s Chair Award. Afterlove (produced by Gearshift Film) is poised to make the festival circuit, and Yakibonge’s involvement signals that established directors see him as more than an ad actor. Industry observers say this kind of casting often comes after a performer has built momentum and demonstrated reliability on camera, exactly the reputation he earned in commercials.

Throughout, Yakibonge maintains that the rigorous demands of advertising work have been an invaluable training ground. By consistently delivering hits on national campaigns, he absorbed lessons in pacing, camera presence, and professional work habits. These skills, learning to project emotion quickly, to hit marks, to find truth in every take, are now serving him on longer projects. Casting directors note that Yakibonge’s on-set experience shows: he moves through scenes with ease and rarely needs corrections, a hallmark of the efficiency learned from years of single-take ad shoots.

At the same time, Yakibonge remains committed to his Canadian roots. He often speaks of helping the next generation of Ottawa actors break into the industry. He envisions launching a production company and even building a new soundstage in Ottawa, a major initiative that would create opportunities at home while growing internationally. By investing in local infrastructure, he hopes to nurture the kind of environment he lacked when starting out.

Simba William Yakibonge’s story is a testament to perseverance and ingenuity. From being discovered wandering Ottawa to playing nationally televised commercials daily, he has methodically built a career on screen. Now, with a proven track record and industry recognition in narrative acting, Yakibonge is ready for his next chapter, one that may well see him directing the spotlight on Canadian talent for years to come.