Kingsley Uwode，Kingsley Ûwôdé was born to Alphea and Kingsley Uwode in Mineola, NY and grew up in Hempstead, NY. His father had come from Lagos, Nigeria a number of years prior and his mother was from Lakeview, NY. His parents met at the church where Alphea attended, which was close to where Kingsley Uwode resided with a relative.