When you see Zendaya walking the red carpet or accepting awards, there’s often a familiar face nearby, her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. But he’s more than just a proud dad cheering from the sidelines. Coleman wears multiple hats as a former teacher, talent manager, bodyguard, and the grounding force behind one of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
Let’s dive into the life of the man who helped shape Zendaya’s remarkable career.
Profile Summary
Full Name: Kazembe Ajamu Coleman (born Samuel David Coleman)
Date of Birth: February 10, 1960
Age: 65 years old
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oakland, California
Height: 5’4″
Children: Six (Katianna, Kaylee, Annabella, Austin, Julien, and Zendaya)
Ex-Wife: Claire Stoermer
Instagram: @kazembeajamu
Twitter: @Zendayas_Dad
Net Worth: Approximately $700,000
Kazembe Ajamu Coleman Biography
Born Samuel David Coleman on February 10, 1960, in Oakland, California, Zendaya’s father took an unexpected journey of self-discovery later in life. After taking a DNA test that revealed his Nigerian ancestry, he made a powerful decision: he legally changed his name to Kazembe Ajamu Coleman to honour his African roots, specifically connecting with the Yoruba tribe.
His ancestry traces back to Nigeria, Macedonia, and Iceland. Coleman’s own parents, who hailed from Arkansas, were just fourteen when they married.
Standing at 5’4″, Coleman has a distinctive presence that’s hard to miss. He typically weighs around 163 pounds and is known for his brown eyes and long black hair, which he often wears in dreadlocks—a style that reflects his connection to his African heritage.
Coleman’s path to becoming a Hollywood fixture started in the classroom. After attending local schools in Oakland, he graduated from high school in 1978 before heading to college in California. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education in 1982, setting the stage for his first career as a gym teacher and physical education instructor.
For years, Coleman dedicated himself to education, teaching in Oakland schools. His commitment to young people’s development wasn’t just a job; it was a calling he shared with his future wife, Claire Stoermer, who also worked as a teacher in Oakland’s inner-city schools.
Kazembe Ajamu Coleman Career
Everything changed when his youngest daughter started making waves in Hollywood. In 2017, Zendaya told Glamour, “I was basically like, ‘I want to do this,’ and my dad quit his job as a teacher to make it happen.” That’s precisely what Coleman did; he walked away from his teaching career to become Zendaya’s full-time manager and bodyguard.
Since then, he’s been a constant presence at red carpets, award shows, and industry events. You’ll often spot him accompanying Zendaya to everything from the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards to the Grammy Awards and, most memorably, the 2020 Emmy Awards when she took home her first win.
His Instagram bio describes his job to you, “CEO, ETA, 5Tre The Blade. KZC Inc. Mgr Consultant, Performance Coach, Music Producer”, a tell sign that his role extends far beyond just being Zendaya’s dad.
Kazembe Ajamu Coleman Family
Zendaya might be the most famous Coleman, but she’s definitely not an only child. Coleman has six children in total from two marriages. From his first marriage, he has five older children: three daughters—Katianna (nicknamed “Kizzi”), Annabella, and Kaylee, and two sons, Austin and Julien (nicknamed “EZ”).
Zendaya, born September 1, 1996, is the only child of Coleman’s marriage to Claire Stoermer. Despite being the youngest by a significant margin, she’s spoken often about how much her older siblings have influenced her.
“I look up to my big sister and realize the influence she’s had on me and making me a better person,” Zendaya told TIME in 2015. “Having such a big, grounded family, I realized as you get older how important that is.”
The family has expanded even further; Coleman is now a grandfather to approximately seven to ten grandchildren.
Zendaya embraces her role as aunt, telling Complex in 2015, “Honestly, I think about my little nieces and my little nephews first. Because one day they’re going to have Twitter, and they’re going to have Instagram, and I’m going to be like, ‘This is how you handle it, kids.'”
Kazembe Ajamu Coleman’s Marriage
Coleman and Claire Stoermer didn’t marry until 2008, by which time Zendaya was already twelve years old. For eight years, they worked as a united front, with both former teachers.
Claire taught at Fruitvale Elementary School in Oakland for over two decades, while Coleman managed their daughter’s burgeoning career.
In 2016, the couple divorced, citing irreconcilable differences. But they remained genuine friends. When news of the divorce broke publicly, Zendaya quickly set the record straight on social media.
“My parents ain’t been together for a long time, y’all didn’t know cause we private + they still homies #lateassnews,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter), along with a photo of her parents hiking together.
Claire didn’t request spousal support, and the two have continued to co-parent with mutual respect. They’re still spotted together at Zendaya’s events, proving that families can evolve without losing their foundation of love and support.
If you’re planning to date Zendaya, you’d better be ready to face her father first. Coleman has made it crystal clear that anyone interested in his daughter needs to pass his scrutiny, and he doesn’t apologise for it.
“My dad is going to vet any guy that even looks at me,” Zendaya said at Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon in 2016. “If I decide to have my dad around to make sure dad vets them out and makes sure they are cool, they better go through dad first!”
This protective instinct was on full display when NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. attended a Grammy Awards afterparty with Zendaya. When reporters asked Coleman about the relationship, he didn’t mince words: “What relationship? There’s no relationship.
We’re just friends.” He added, “When you see my daughter out on a date without me, it’s a relationship.”
Kazembe Ajamu Coleman Approves Tom Holland
Fast forward to December 2024, and Coleman’s protective nature took a heartwarming turn. According to TMZ, Spider-Man star Tom Holland, who’s been dating Zendaya since they met on set, did things the traditional way. He asked Coleman for permission to marry Zendaya months before proposing over the 2024 holiday season.
Coleman gave his blessing, and Holland proposed at one of the family’s homes. Sources told TMZ that Zendaya’s entire family is “very excited for this next chapter” and considers Holland a “class act.”
Looks like someone finally passed the “Coleman-audition” with flying colours.
Where He Lives and What He Does
Coleman currently lives in a $1.9 million home in the West Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, which Zendaya bought. The house isn’t too far from the Encino estate Zendaya calls home. However, he maintains close relationships with all his children, despite the geographic distance.
On social media, Coleman is refreshingly authentic. His Instagram account (@kazembeajamu) has over 20,000 followers. He regularly posts about his family’s achievements, shares motivational content, and celebrates his daughter’s success without being overbearing. His Twitter account (@Zendayas_Dad) has over 10,000 followers.
Despite her Emmy wins, blockbuster films (Spider-Man franchise, Dune, The Greatest Showman, Challengers), and status as a fashion icon, Zendaya has remained remarkably humble. She credits both her parents for this grounding force.
“I gotta give it up to my parents,” Zendaya said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2016. “I’m really lucky to have the parents that I have. They just have always instilled in me those core values that I think I have to carry with me through everything.”
Both Coleman and Stoermer emphasised education above all else. Zendaya admitted to Us Weekly in 2014 that she “always had to take school very seriously” growing up, joking that “in 2nd grade [I] failed some spelling tests and got in a lot of trouble!”
Their teaching backgrounds shaped Zendaya’s worldview. Watching her mother work tirelessly in underfunded Oakland schools and her father dedicate himself to physical education showed her what real commitment looks like. It’s no wonder she once said if she weren’t an actress, she’d be “a teacher in a heartbeat, guaranteed!”
Kazembe Ajamu Coleman Net Worth
While Zendaya’s net worth soars into the millions, Coleman’s estimated net worth sits around $700,000. Not bad for someone who transitioned from teaching to talent management. His income comes from managing his daughter’s career, various consulting work, and his music production endeavours.
The financial details aren’t what matter most to Coleman, though. He’s made it clear through his actions that family, heritage, and values take precedence over everything else.