Arsema was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but has lived most of her life across sub-Saharan Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Togo and Benin), where she picked up an interest in acting as a storytelling device. Born of a Nigerian father and Ethiopian mother, Arsema received her B.A. in Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016 and her Masters of Public Health in Health Policy from Yale University in 2018.

After receiving her degree, she moved to South Africa where she auditioned for an agent, leading to her first professional screen role. In 2020 she enrolled into the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London, UK, where she is working towards her Masters of Fine Arts in Professional Acting.