I am a social entrepreneur, gender equality, empowerment champion and a self-taught blogger with multiple skills that I’ve acquired over the past 13 years. Fuelled by my passion for empowering and promoting African girls and women, their voices, equality and diversity, I consider myself a ‘forever student,’ eager to both build on my academic foundations in Sociology and Politics, while staying in tune with the latest digital and in person strategies that will amplify the voices of African women, my local community and those of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities.

When I am not all things Teakisi, you’ll catch me watching Thor: Ragnarok over and over again. Or is it Infinity War and End Game?

I am a member of the Ishami Foundation which works towards bringing awareness of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis, in regards to my own personal experience with the Rwandan Genocide. I believe in amplifying the stories of the voiceless, taking pride and power in them. Over the years, I have developed strong skills in childcare while working as a teaching assistant. I am also passionate about bringing people together to collaborate in ways in which they can work towards a better community.

I am a proud mother of two children.

I’m GP Lecturer at Newcastle University and have worked as a doctor with NEAS during the COVID-19 crisis. My interest lie in Mental Health (as a generalist) with training in CBT. Having studied health inequalities since 1995, I feel particularly strongly about how unjust they are and how they limit people so unfairly.

I am a proud dad to two daughters, a step-son and partner of Salha Kaitesi – we live between Newcastle and Northumberland. I enjoy boxing, reading and lots of vinyl (also, I’m a part time DJ!)

I’m the administrative assistant at Teakisi, among other external community roles. I attended the first Teakisi event in February 2020 and have been a part of the African Woman Collective since then. I started my career as a Community Musician around the same time in 2020 after graduating where I’ve gathered experience working with a diverse range of communities from various backgrounds. I really enjoy networking and collaborating with others. In my own work as a songwriter and events organiser I embed an ethos of social justice and strive for change particularly focussed on inclusion for women and gender minorities and the minoritised global majority. As a dual heritage ‘Nigeordian’ woman myself I understand the importance of Teakisi as an inclusive accessible organisation, with Community, Collaboration and Change at the heart of it.

I am a digital storyteller with over a decade of experience and self-taught skills in digital content creation.  I am an Award-winning blogger who writes about the beauty and chaos of the place I call home, Zimbabwe, a teapot-shaped country in southern Africa. My journey in storytelling traces back to my roots, listening to fables and folktales from my grandfather, which shaped my love for words and stories.

When I am not immortalising my thoughts on the blog Becoming The Muse, I am trying to help build and shape a community of African content creators boldly reclaiming their narrative. I am affectionately known as an Uncle of Bloggers in the Blogging Community where I serve as the Creative Director for Afrobloggers – an organisation that connects, promotes and educates bloggers of African descent.

I’ve been fortunate to have played many roles in my life that gave me the resources to be able to give back to the world. I have been a corporate project manager and a freelance artist. I have held my families together; my birth family and my family with my grown daughter. I value connection and am happy to work with Teakisi who feel the same. 

Volunteering with Teakisi, I am dedicated to ensuring that minoritised communities are able to share moments and have spaces where they feel able to express emotions in all their colours. 

Graduating from SOAS University of London and the University of Leicester, I have gained a deep and specialised understanding of history and politics, continuously striving to decolonise my world view. My academic career has fueled my passion for networking and collaboration, driving my commitment to empower and focus on inclusion within minoritised communities. 

As a freelancer in marketing, I leverage my skills to uplift and support our communities, advocating for visibility, representation and amplification of experiences and stories that foster inclusive spaces. 

I am a dedicated youth with a degree from the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK) in Rwanda. My passion for women’s empowerment has driven me to work tirelessly to create opportunities for young women in my community. In a world, where traditional gender roles can often limit opportunities for women, I have been an advocate for breaking these barriers and fostering an environment of equality and growth. As the project lead for Teakisi’s saėėda initiative, I am eager to bring my experience and passion to a wider audience. I am committed to advancing women’s empowerment and look forward to contributing to one of the ongoing mission of Teakisi, supporting women in achieving their fullest potential.

I am originally from North Warwickshire in the Midlands but have lived in Northumberland and the North East for the past 20 years after spending some time living and working in the Scottish Highlands and North Yorkshire. I live with my wife Diane and our pet dog Bella and cat Bobby.

I recently qualified as a TEFL teacher and currently working towards an Advanced TEFL qualification. In my spare time I love walking with my dog, coffees out with my wife and creative hobbies including photography and quilling. I’m excited to be working with Teakisi at Tales Without Borders and I’m looking forward to the weeks and months ahead!