Summary of Events
Under the leadership of Founder and Executive Director, Professor Anita M. Diop, Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, ARHF celebrates it 's first 90 Days operating in Cameroon, the very first international Branch.
We have carried over our Signature and Hallmark programs from America, as well as created new program that focuses on cultural learning initiatives such as the YCLPDP - Youth Cultural and Language Program and Afrocentric centered learning NATYTI- New African Thought Youth Training Institute.
The report contains details of our accomplishments, areas to strengthen, and corrective measures to ensure our future success.
Click below to read the report.
Cameron First Quarterly Report
Youth Cultural and Language Preservation Discovery Program - (YCLPDP) launched it's first
Writing Workshop for the All Star Scholars Volunteers.
The workshop is designed to enhance the skills of the writer, bringing out their voice and enabling them to write the African narrative from an Afrocentric perspective.
As we go into the African Renaissance, it is imperative that we ready all with interests in the preservation of history, culture, language, traditions, and spiritual wisdom to take control to record and collect these data for future generations. It is our lofty goals of publishing in an annual or bi-annual anthology of our findings. Additionally, we desire scholars and students from around the world with similar interest to join in our efforts making the ARHF Research Center 1st in its class.
This leads to the first data base and archival system for the upcoming African Roots and Heritage Foundation Research Center and Museum, that will be located in Soa, Cameroon in the Kingdom of Okoa.
The workshop was lead by Professor Anita M. Diop, the Executive Director and facilitated by Dr. Ahmad Bello, Youth/Program Coordinator and Dr. Dora Mbu, Assistant Director.
L'atelier est conçu pour améliorer les compétences de l'écrivain, en faisant ressortir sa voix et en lui permettant d'écrire le récit africain dans une perspective afrocentrique. Alors que nous entrons dans la Renaissance africaine, il est impératif que nous préparions tous ceux qui ont intérêt à la préservation de l’histoire, de la culture, de la langue, des traditions et de la sagesse spirituelle à prendre le contrôle de l’enregistrement et de la collecte de ces données pour les générations futures. Notre noble objectif est de publier dans une anthologie annuelle ou semestrielle nos découvertes. De plus, nous souhaitons que les universitaires et les étudiants du monde entier partageant les mêmes intérêts se joignent à nos efforts pour faire du Centre de recherche ARHF le premier de sa catégorie.
Cela conduit à la première base de données et au premier système d'archives pour le prochain centre de recherche et musée de la Fondation sur les racines et le patrimoine africains, qui sera situé à Soa, au Cameroun, dans le Royaume d'Okoa.
L'atelier était dirigé par le professeur Anita M. Diop, directrice exécutive et animé par le Dr Ahmad Bello, coordinateur jeunesse/programme et le Dr Dora Mbu, directrice adjointe.
The African Roots and Heritage Foundation officially launched their newest program called Youth Cultural Language Preservation Discovery Program – (YCLPDP). It is designed to immerse the youth, students, and members of the Diaspora and the surrounding community, who want to participate in their own Sankofa[1], that is “go back and pick up the gems of the past” and ready this generation for the ongoing African Renaissance. In this program we are able to meet the needs of the Global African Community.
Our purpose is to record the various histories and uncover the hidden gems of the many kingdoms. With all these findings our will is to publish the data in multiple formats, giving the ARHF All star volunteers the opportunity to work on noble projects that will lead to Africans as a whole taking control of how we are represented in all media spaces. This will eventually lead to reforming the way we think of ourselves and facilitate true independent governance in all affairs.
At the invitation of Her Royal Majesty Nkunkuma Marie-Louise Zoa (Woman King) of the Kingdom of Okoa the African Roots and Heritage Foundation with staff and volunteers visited with the Royal Court, on Saturday, August 26, 2023 in the village of Soa, which is situated in the Centre region of Cameroon.
THEME: Women in Leadership: Women as the Guardians of African Traditions and Culture
The Nkunkuma and Royal Court greeted the ARHF team by dance and singing a song of welcome, performed by the princesses of the Kingdom.
The Nkunkuma and the High Priest of Okoa gave each member a handshake. We quickly learned the diversity among the various Kingdoms throughout Cameroon. It is seldom or actually not permissible to touch the King. But in the Kingdom of Okoa we discovered, the kingdom has a unique set of practices, not found in other kingdoms, which makes it stand out among its neighbors.
The Executive Director, Professor Anita M. Diop, presented the Nkunkuma with a Certificate of Credential appointing HRM as the Cultural Ambassador of the Kingdom of Okoa to the African Roots and Heritage Foundation. Other gifts were exchanged to demonstrate goodwill between the two leaders.
ARHF determined several goals to meet in this visit.
1) To establish a partnership between ARHF and the Okoa Kingdom for the purposes of recording and valorizing their history and culture, while utilizing our volunteers to interview and accurately record the history, culture, language, and much more for this kingdom, creating attractiveness in the Diaspora for those who want to rediscover their roots, which will increase tourism and ultimately, we are taking control by writing our own history and narrative.
2) To create the research and documentation on Women in Leadership: Women as the Guardians of African Traditions and Culture in a traditionally male run society. Highlighting the successful governance of a kingdom with a female hierarchy.
3) To learn about the natural ways to preserve Kingdom Cultural artifacts and storage.
This opportunity was also the official launch of the YCLPDP - Youth Cultural Language Preservation Discovery Program.
Our Youth Coordinator, Dr. Ahmad Bello, coordinates the YCLPDP. Under his direction the youth volunteers are guided to conduct research on the Kingdom, highlighting the history, language, culture, methods of succession, governance and artifact preservation and much more. With the data collected it is the will of ARHF to publish these findings for the public with the hope of developing a research center.
It was established in this meeting that as a gift and a high honor from the Royal Palace of Okoa that land is given to the African Roots and Heritage Foundation to build its NATYTI - New African Thought Youth Training Institute and Research Center on the land next to the Pied dans l'eau (Feet in the Water) restaurant.
Other invited guests were Professor Cecile Dolisane Ebosse, the Head of the Department of Black Civilizations and Literature at the University of Yaounde 1 and Dr. Dora Mbu was also in attendance. The staff of ARHF and 14 volunteers with backgrounds in History, Anthropology, Black Civilizations and much more.
YCLPDP is designed to be the bridge between learning theory in academic classroom and immersion into the culture.
[1]Sankofa, a Twi word from the Akan people of Ghana, which means, “go back and pick up the gems of the past”.
Professor Anita M Diop, the Executive Director of African Roots and Heritage Foundation has been elevated from the status of African Princess, a title given nearly 30 years ago for her passionate work to uplift, motivate and inspire all people of African descent. Being duly honored by The FO Negou II His Majesty, Negou Tela Guilliame Alain Roi du Peuple Baleng to receive the title of Mafo (Queen) of the Baleng people with all rights, privileges, status and honor and prestige, on November 18, 2022 in the Royal Palace of Baleng, situated in the Western Region of Cameroon.
In all humility, Mafo Anita Marie accepted the honor and with all power uphold the duty and respect of this new office. May every endeavor receive its blessings in her hands.
Professor Anita M. Diop the Executive Director of the African Roots & Heritage Foundation was at Quartier Mozart for the 1916 exhibition, emphasizing when the Germans left Cameroon, and the France came to settle. Anita Diop spent the day in Mozart Neighborhood, she discovered the book by Amadou Djaili Amal WALAANDE which she took a copy of, and is being made into a film. She met the talented artist Beck Beh with whom she talked about theater, and told her script to the Scripto Sensa team in the Writing Room which she hopes to have produced into a film. She discovered the Afrofuturistic concept FOUMBAN IS WAKANDA, she admired the panoramic view of Etam-Bafia neighborhood, visited the 1916 exhibition, ate the ndomba and took hang out with young history researchers. All this at Mozart's Quarter.
The Executive Director, Anita M Diop met with Sa Majeste, Le Roi Nayang Youkam Inocent and Prince Joseph Youta Dada at the Royaume de Batoufam. They discussed the Diaspora discovering their roots and reclaiming their lost identity in Cameroon.
Afterwards, Professor Anita was given a tour of the Palace Museum and Gardens. She learned secret medicinal practices, history of the Batoufam people and their concept of time.
The people of Batoufam practice an Eight day week. That day is set aside for rest and judgement. No work or holidays even funerals cannot be carried out on this day. A cultural gem and treasure, the Batoufam calendar.
The African Roots and Heritage Foundation lead by Professor Anita M. Diop and Executive Director actively participates in many Global Pan African Events as a leading expert in the field of Culture and Arts.
This year started with an annual Birthday Fundraiser in February 2021 with all funds collected and donated for the Global Day of Community Service that provided Tablets and Wi-fi for the Bogso Secondary School in Cameroon.
In March 8-11, 2021, she was a guest speaker at the FIBE 2021 Festival at Bogso/Eseka Cameroon Central Africa, speaking on the theme of the Diaspora.
April 23, 2021, she was invited to the Consciousness and Capital show and spoke on the topic of Summer Learning Institute that was established in Tanzania at the Tsuba University.
On May 25, 2021, the Executive Director participated in Africa Day with Twende Afrika as a guest speaker in Uganda. The topic discussed was 'How to empower the Youth".
Professor Anita M Diop is humbled to participate as a panelist with the Historical Africa Cultural Centre USA on the African Union Year 2021 Theme: Art, Culture, and Heritage. July 17, 2021 in a
Virtual Conference.
In July 28-30, 2021 Professor Anita M. Diop was appointed the Ambassador of the Sixth Region to ACALAN AU for the Official launch of African Languages Week in Burkina Faso, West Africa. She presented a paper entitled, "The Importance of Preserving African Language At Home and Abroad".
July 31, 2021 the Executive Director was invited as the Closing Keynote speaker at the First International Conference on Cameroonian Studies and History at the University of Buea, Cameroon, Central Africa. Professor presented a paper entitled, "Reclaiming and the Establishment of the Culture and Identity of Cameroon Historical Diaspora".
While in Cameroon, Professor Anita visited many Kingdoms which was a rich cultural experience. August 14, 2021 she traveled to the Kingdom of Bana to meet the His Royal Majesty Fon Sylvestre SIKAM HAPPI V.
Later that month she traveled to the Fonboun Kingdom and met with His Royal Majesty Sultan Mbombo Njoya with a discussion on repairing the breach between Africans Americans and Cameroon . August 21, 2021.
August 26, 2021 visited the region of Simbock to visit Fobuzie Naah Ndeh Doris. Who is the Queen of Chomba. Chomba is the name of my husband's village. By birth she is from Mankon a neighboring village to Chomba. She works as a Vice Principal in her local school district. Queen fobuzie is from the Ethnic group is Ngemba and it the Location is Bamenda II subdivision of the NorthWest region of Cameroon.
August 31, 2021 meeting with Professor Anita M. Diop meets with Professor Ebenezer Njoh Mouelle, Ancien Ministre Representatant du Cameroon au Conseil Executif de L'Unesco, along with Professor Ceceile Dossaline of University of Yaounde 1. Yaounde, Cameroon Central Africa. Interesting conversations regarding the way forward for Africa. Yaounde, Cameroon.
July 31, 2021 the Executive Director was invited as the Closing Keynote speaker at the First International Conference on Cameroonian Studies and History at the University of Buea, Buea Cameroon, Central Africa. Professor presented a paper entitled, "Reclaiming and the Establishment of the Culture and Identity of Cameroon Historical Diaspora".
This year started with an annual Birthday Fundraiser in February 2021with all funds collected and donated for the Global Day of Community Service that provided Tablets and Wi-fi for the Bogso Secondary School in Cameroon.
The African Roots and Heritage Foundation participated in the TAI Fourth Annual Artizen Conference in Tanzania at the University of Tasuba in Bagamoyo, From November 10 - 22, 2020 . The Executive Director, Professor Anita M. Diop was a key speaker on the workshop entitled,"The Role of the Gifted Artist.
While visiting Ministry of Women and Children, an orphanage in Zanzibar, Tanzania, ARHF participated in Global Day of Community Service with a sizable donation to help with the orphaned children, particularly Baby Hawa who was only 3 months old at the time of the visit.
We strongly believe in aiding those whose lives we touch, giving them a brighter future.
The African Roots and Heritage Foundation participated in the Scott Arrington Family Black History Month Program at the Highland Park Art Center in Highland Park, MI on February 16, 2020.
The Executive Director, Professor Anita M. Diop delivered a presentation on the "Importance of Reclaiming Your African Roots" as well as a Photographic Exhibit of her travels to many countries in Africa. Professor Diop was well received by the audience. She delivered her speech in a fiery way and therefore engaged the audience in how to get their DNA results. Afterwards followed a Question and Answer period.
The African Roots and Heritage Foundation was asked to participate in an online Meeting Hosted by Arizona State University, on November 7, 2020.
The Executive Director, Professor Anita M. Diop gave a presentation on, "Claiming the Culture and Africa's Identity of the Historical Diaspora and the Establishment of African Identity".