WeDiasporan

04/04/2026

Yes, The Libraries are No Longer Burning. They are Being Refined.

As we prepare to launch the next evolution of our mission, we are honored to announce the expansion of our International Board of Advisors.

For 14 years, we have documented the "Proven Records" of global leaders, pioneers, and elders. We have witnessed a silent epidemic: when a leader passes without their logic being codified, a "library" burns to the ground.

Today, we are moving from Research to Sovereignty.

By welcoming these world-class experts to our board, we are strengthening the ONBA Methodology, our industrial-grade refinery designed to capture, assetize, and preserve human brilliance before it is lost.

Our mission is clear: To ensure that the wisdom of the past becomes the economic and strategic engine for the future.

Please join us in welcoming our new advisors. Together, let’s stop the smoke. Let’s save the burning library.

Rev. Gloria Tinu Ogunbadejo – UK: Senior Advisor: Ancestral Healing & Generational Trauma

Dr. Negus Rudison-Imhotep – USA: Senior Advisor: Cultural Memory & Institutional Management

Prince Maxwho Obayangbon – Italy: Senior Advisor: Community Liaison & Cultural Heritage

Dr. Julietta Raymond – USA: Senior Advisor: Family Restoration & Clinical Psychotherapy

Greg DeShields, CDE – USA: Senior Advisor: Inclusive Leadership

Emille Bryant – USA: Senior Advisor: IKIGAI & Sustainable Success

Prof. Laura Serrant CBE, PhD – UK: Senior Advisor: Inclusive Practice & Strategic Leadership

Chiyedza Nyahuye – USA: Senior Advisor: AI Enablement & Workforce Readiness

Prof. Oluwafemi Esan – UK: Senior Advisor: Higher Education Governance

Dr. Enolia Foti – USA: Senior Advisor: Social Entrepreneurship & Global Influence

Kossi Komla-Ebri – Italy: Senior Advisor: Literature of Migration & Medical Ethics

Kaye Woodard, MBA – USA: Senior Advisor: Operational Excellence & AI Transformation

Mohamed BA – Italy: Senior Advisor: Intercultural Dialogue & Performance Art

Carole Demesmin Mawoule – USA: Senior Advisor: Cultural Heritage & Traditional Values

Godwin Itulah – Switzerland: Senior Advisor: Diaspora Advocacy & Esan Culture

Jeahne (JR) Spann Davis – USA: Senior Advisor: Financial Education & Legacy Building

Learn more at https://wediasporan.com/team/

27/02/2026

The Circle is Closing. Will you be in Verona, Italy, with us this year?

From May 8–10, we return to Verona to honor a 14-year journey of Research, Narrative, Diaspora Heritage.

This is a convergence of the 1,000+ voices, professionals, and visionaries we have interviewed over the last decade. We are moving from research to Action.

Why you need to secure your spot today:

Strictly Limited Capacity: To maintain the "Village Square" intimacy, seats are capped.

Logistics & Visas: We are currently finalizing guest lists to ensure seamless documentation for our international attendees.

The Full Circle: Be part of the strategic roadmap for the next chapter of WeDiasporan.

Don't wait for the recap videos. Be the one in the room.

👇 Reserve your position now to be added to the official Guest List:

https://wediasporan.com/event/

23/02/2026

In 2012, we sat in a circle in Verona, Italy, and dreamed of a united African Diaspora.

Since then, I have conducted over 1,000 interviews and 12 years of research to understand one thing: Our heritage is our greatest global asset.

From May 8–10, 2026, we are returning to where it all began for the Diaspora Reunion: Verona.

This isn’t just a conference. It is a "Village Square" immersion designed for the visionaries, the leaders, and the builders of our community.

The Verona 2026 Experience:

The Venue: A return to Sala Africa, honoring our roots.

The Content: Curated film screenings, heritage tours of Roman-African history, and high-level strategic networking.

The Immersion: A 3-day, all-inclusive journey through Afro-Italian culture and future-focused dialogue.

Critical Logistics & Urgency:

We are committed to a boutique, high-impact environment. Therefore, space is strictly limited and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For our Global Community: We are currently finalizing premium accommodations and logistics.

Early reservation is essential to guarantee your place in the circle.

For our brothers and sisters in Africa: Please register immediately. We require lead time to provide the necessary documentation and support for your visa applications.

Don't just watch the video of this event later. Be in the room when the next chapter of the African Diaspora is written.

Secure your place in the circle here https://wediasporan.com/event/

14/02/2026

In 2012, something special happened in Verona. We organized a conference on multiculturalism in Italian society.

Scholars came. Professionals came. Community leaders came. But what made it unforgettable wasn’t just the academic debate.

We transformed the hall into a village square.

A space where titles didn’t matter. Where we could see one another. Speak honestly. Share what we really felt about identity, belonging, migration, and home.

Conversations didn’t end at the podium; they flowed into shared legacy projects we are still proud of today.

Now, we are coming full circle.

From 8–10 May 2026, in the same hall, in the same beautiful city, we invite you to be part of the Diasporan Reunion, Verona 2026.

This is more than a conference. It’s a gathering of hearts, histories, and futures.

We are welcoming guests from the Caribbean, the US, the UK, and across Italy for three unforgettable days of connection and celebration.

Here’s what awaits you:

🎬 Two powerful short film screenings
🎤 A dynamic conference with diverse voices
📖 A storytelling workshop where your story matters
🏛 A guided tour through historic Verona
🍷 A curated wine tasting experience 🍽 Accommodation, meals, and hospitality already arranged
🎉 And plenty of moments for laughter, music, and joy

Whether you joined us in 2012 or are coming for the first time, this reunion is for everyone who believes in dialogue, community, and shared futures.

Registration is now open - spaces are limited.

Join us. Bring your story. Be part of the circle.

The Diasporan Reunion, Verona 2026 8–10 May | Verona, Italy

15/11/2025

For many established Diaspora leaders, the founders, CEOs, and coaches who have spent decades building their empires, a moment of reckoning arrives. You’ve achieved success.

You have the respect of your peers and a profitable business. But a new question begins to surface: “What next?”

Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.

Your 20+ years of expertise are locked inside you, distributed across a career of hard-won battles, unique insights, and groundbreaking strategies.

But how do you ensure that knowledge, that story, outlives you? How do you pivot from being a successful participant in your industry to becoming an architect of its future?

For the answer, we must look at the masterful “legacy pivot” of one of the UK’s most prominent media figures: June Sarpong, OBE.

Most people know Sarpong from “Act One” of her career. The daughter of Ghanaian parents, she became one of the most recognizable faces of British television, spending nine years as a presenter on the seminal youth program T4 and later as a panellist on Loose Women.

But to see her only as a presenter is to miss the point entirely.

June Sarpong’s journey is a high-definition blueprint for every Diaspora leader currently in “legacy mode.”

She provides a masterclass in how to leverage a public platform, codify a life’s work into a proprietary solution, and build tangible assets that will shape generations to come.

Act One: Building the Platform (The 20-Year Foundation)

Before you can build a legacy, you must first build a platform. Sarpong’s 25-year career was a case study in building cultural capital.

Read more at https://aclasses.org/june-sarpong/

22/09/2025

Exploring The Heart of Nigerian Hospitality: A Conversation with The General Manager of Great Ville Hotels, Lagos

As someone who has dedicated over 12 years to the hospitality industry in Italy, my recent three-day visit to Nigeria was a profoundly insightful experience.

My work involved countless interviews, so it felt only natural to sit down with Jackson Eje, the General Manager of the hotel where I was staying in Surulere, Lagos.

The conversation was also particularly relevant for our ongoing project, “SANKOFA: Retracing My African Roots”, an initiative designed to reconnect the African diaspora with their heritage through immersive, culture-rich experiences that honor our ancestral legacy.

Read more at https://aclasses.org/great-ville/

15/08/2025

In my latest episode, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. M. Keith Claybrook, Jr. Author, Speaker, and Associate Professor of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach.

Dr. Claybrook has dedicated his life to exploring African American history, African Studies, and the social sciences, not as distant academic subjects, but as living, breathing tools for empowerment and transformation.

We talked about:

✅ The roots and evolution of African American & African Studies

✅ How history shapes identity and resilience

✅ The power of reclaiming African and diasporic narratives

✅ Using education as a force for social change

This was more than an academic discussion; it was a call to remember, reconnect, and rise.

🔗 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvzdExJv59k&t=41s

In a recent Obehi Podcast interview, Dr. M. Keith Claybrook, Jr. delivered talks about the African American and African Studies, engaging in a thought-provok...

25/07/2025

How genuinely do you connect with the people you serve? | Todd Payne | Podcast Feedback

After an insightful podcast interview with Todd Payne, founder of KonnectFully, I asked him how he felt about our conversation. He responded, "I love the way you do the questions here; they flow naturally."

Todd's words resonated deeply because they highlight a crucial truth in storytelling and connection: genuine conversations create meaningful experiences.

Just as Todd guides couples who feel more like roommates than partners, those who miss the depth, vibrancy, and joy of true closeness, our mission as entrepreneurs and storytellers is similar: to foster genuine, heartfelt connections.

Real connection comes from genuinely listening, being curious about people's stories, and allowing conversations to unfold naturally.

Here are three actionable tips to foster deeper connections:

Listen actively: Be fully present in conversations. Ask follow-up questions and listen to understand, not just to respond.

Share authentically: Open up and share your own stories and experiences. Genuine vulnerability builds trust.

Invite participation: Encourage your audience to share their stories, opinions, or experiences to build mutual understanding and deeper engagement.

Today, ask yourself: Are you truly connecting with your audience, or are you just communicating?

If you're ready to transform your communication into genuine connection, explore the Story to Asset Framework here: 👉 https://aclasses.org/asset/

Let's move beyond simply talking and start truly connecting.

21/07/2025

“We all eat.” Too often we like to condition ourselves to compete for limited space, resources, and attention.

It’s time to reclaim a different story, one of connection, collaboration, and collective uplift.

From Survival to Significance

Many in the African diaspora know what it means to be in survival mode. We have navigated systemic barriers, social isolation, and cultural disconnection.

And in doing so, we sometimes forget: our greatest strength is community.

This edition of the Diaspora Storytelling series is a cultural homecoming, a gathering of voices, a weaving of legacies.

Together, we are shifting the paradigm:

From gatekeeping to resource-sharing.

From silencing to amplifying.

From isolation to intercontinental networks of support.

Meet the Voices of Connection

This session features speakers who embody this collaborative spirit:

🙌 Rev Gloria Tinu Ogunbadejo – Ancestral Healing Coach

🙌 Negus Rudison-Imhotep, Ph.D. – Imhotep Memory Consultancy

🙌 Dr. Marcia -A Leader Like You – Leadership & Career Coach

🙌 Lateefat Odunuga – Corporate Storyteller

🙌 Chidimma Martilda Chinekeokwu – Tourism Strategist & Archaeologist

They are not just sharing stories. They are building bridges.

If you are tired of going it alone… If you are ready to own your story, amplify your voice, and co-create a legacy…

👉 Join this session of the Diaspora Storytelling series: https://aclasses.org/diaspora-storytelling-series/

And if you are ready to turn your story into a powerful asset for growth and impact…

🎯 Start here with the Story to Asset Framework: 👉 https://aclasses.org/asset/

Together, let’s move from roots to relevance and rise.

17/07/2025

Exploring African Heritage Through Virtual Tours: Bridging Histories and Cultures for the Diaspora.

Think about this for a moment: In a small apartment in Toronto, 32-year-old Amara, whose grandparents came from Nigeria, puts on her VR headset.

In just seconds, she’s no longer in her living room; she’s walking through the ancient streets of Benin City.

She sees the red clay walls of the old Benin Kingdom and looks closely at virtual versions of the famous Benin Bronzes, which were taken during colonial times.

Even though Amara has never been to Nigeria, this virtual experience gives her a deep and personal connection to where her family comes from.

Read more about African Heritage Through Virtual Tours: Bridging Histories and Cultures for the Diaspora at https://aclasses.org/virtual-tours/

16/07/2025

Hello everyone,

On behalf of WeDiasporan, we are reaching out to ask if anyone with marketing experience or a strong interest in learning would be willing to volunteer a few hours each week to support our mission.

WeDiasporan is a socio-cultural research organization committed to reconnecting people of African descent with their rich cultural heritage and building meaningful partnerships across the globe.

If you are passionate about making an impact and would like to contribute your skills (or develop new ones), please visit our volunteer page to learn more at-https://wediasporan.com/collaborators/.

Thank you so much for your support!