
Dr. Ife Williams-Creator
Africologist
Professor of Political Science and Africana History
Immediate Past President of African Heritage Studies Assoc.
In 2001, she served as a Fulbright Professor at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, teaching African Philosophy and graduate-level Research Methods. An Educator for over thirty years, Dr. Williams taught at Delaware County Community College and many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Dillard in New Orleans, Savannah State, Clark Atlanta, and Cheyney Universities.
Ife Williams embarked on broadening the scope of the classroom as a Multimedia Producer of the following documentaries: “Payback: A Reparations Story” and “’Africa Is Not a Zoo’” on the displacement of indigenous people for game reserves.
Over the past decade, Ife Williams has engaged in social justice activities and research around global reparations, serving as a Non-Governmental Representative for the United Methodist Church to the World Conference Against Racism (2001) and several preparatory and follow-up conferences in Europe, the Americas,’ and Africa.
In 2015, she received a second Fulbright to conduct a longitudinal study on the government-appointed “Task Force on Reparations” in Barbados. Dr. Williams served as a consultant to Barbados Community College in their transition to Distance Learning offerings as the service part of the award—currently, a Fulbright Specialist and unofficial promoter of international education opportunities.
As past President of the African Heritage Studies Association founded by John Henrik Clarke to promote scholarship on the African Diaspora, she organized three conferences and was honored by serving as the keynote speaker at the 2022 Panafest event in Accra, Ghana.
The American Council of Learned Societies ACLS/Mellon gave her an award for enhancing this digital humanities project in 2022 that had attracted over 236,000 views at that time.
In 2023, her book, Police Brutality-A Philadelphia Story that addresses the historical efforts to harness police violence and the provision of redress to its victims was published.

muthi reed
Artist worker
muthi reed is an artist worker. They were born in Detroit with the emergence of Techno and raised in Philadelphia with the emergence of the war on drugs. Their audio video performance work is a reminiscent processing of arrhythmic aftereffects of Black care practices cultivated within frameworks of violence.For their process, they sample sound and other relics to build presence for ritual deconstruction, release, intervention, re encounter with self, kinfolk, neighbors, and publics.

Jannah Abdul-Azir Bynum
Veterinary Nurse

Tina Payne
Educational Technology Specialist
Tina Payne is an Adjunct Professor of computer science and an Educational Technology Specialist at Delaware County Community College. A fitting role for her as she has always had a love of technology and a desire to help people. She has worked in various roles at the college for more than 20 years, supporting students and faculty in their use of technology. A lifelong Delaware County native, she enjoys serving the members of her community and the neighboring areas.

Lori Wushensky
Educational Technology Specialist

Tiye Carter
Educator
Tiye Carter is a retired educator with over 22 years of experience working in public schools for the School District of Philadelphia. Having graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cheyney University of PA with a master’s degree in education, Tiye has spent her entire life as a resident of Philadelphia. During her undergraduate years, she pursued a career in cancer research with a particular interest in clinical microbiology. Tiye has worked and studied in various fields, including the natural healing sciences. Throughout her diverse experiences, research has been a common link, and she has been able to apply her skills to various projects. Tiye is grateful for the opportunity to work, learn, and provide support.

Ryan Saunders
Producer/Director
Ryan Saunders was born and raised on the twin island state of Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean. He has several decades of experience in media production starting on the island and upon migrating to the United States. Saunders has produced several shorts and full length documentary videos that highlight the history, culture and experiences of Caribbean peoples.
So much of the history of slavery and of the African Diaspora has been hidden, and often what has been revealed has left many generations with a sense of inadequacy and a lack of rootedness. With the opportunity to produce these short pieces I’ve had the chance to revisit these periods with a different perspective and understanding. More importantly, it was the opportunity to reawaken, reconnect and explore moments of history that reveal the strength and resistance of ancestors who often had nothing but the will to survive and overcome in the face of centuries of oppression.
Mr. Saunders received his BA in Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and his MFA in Film and Media Arts at Temple University.

Angela Davis Johnson
Visual Artist
Angela Davis Johnson is a community-informed, interdisciplinary visual artist. Her work is rooted in Black Southern traditions, migration, and care.
She is a member of Alternate Roots and a Joan Mitchell/Visual Arts Scholars alum. She co-created Holler in Space, an interactive archival performance with partner muthi reed. Her work has been exhibited widely and extensively which includes front porches, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Mississippi Museum of Art, and Mint Gallery. The mother of two has deep roots in the south and continues to create while migrating and maintaining studios in Philadelphia and Atlanta.

Amanda Johnson
Media Marketer
Amanda Johnson is an independent media maker born and raised in West Philadelphia. Her long time passion for socially conscious films and documentaries led her to pursue a career in documentary film making. She was first introduced to the art of film making through Scribe Video Center. She received training in several areas of video production and has worked on a variety of independent documentaries and short films. Amanda continues to collaborate with new and emerging media artists to create work that inspires and uplifts communities.

Josh Graupera
Artist
Josh Graupera (they/them) is an artist living in Philadelphia, PA. Their practice explores the relationship between visual art and community organizing, using drawing, screen printing, zine-making, and facilitation practices. They love video games, microelectronics and their dog Luna.
Statement:
My practice is a constellation of processes, procedures, and projects that explore the relationship between art and community organizing, using drawing, screen printing, self-publishing, and facilitation practices. My work employs world building techniques while working individually and in collaboration with other people to create new social systems and structures in imaginary worlds, as well as our own.
Themes of self-determination, utopia/dystopia, grassroots resistance, collective building and destruction of the natural world saturate my works. It is visually anchored in sci-fi, fantasy and pre-Columbian art. I’m inspired by video games, tabletop role-playing games, daydreaming and “alternative”histories.

Ronald Abdou Ngum
Artist
As a young artist emerging from the African soil, from Cameroon and completing a BAFA in South Africa, I work in a variety of media; painting, photography, sculpture and sculptural installations. I explore the different forms of knowledge that define who we are and how we interact within the world. These usually range from black positionality and African folklore to class and gender interrogations.

Erika Richards
Multidisciplinary Artist
I am an award-winning professional illustrator and business owner with 14+ years of study and experience. As a multidisciplinary artist, I work in such mediums as watercolor, colored pencil, and oil paint. My work encompasses depictions of mostly black women in portraiture. As a business owner I have executed the development of an art gallery which has a loyal customer base. I continuously strive to create art that stimulates the eye as well as touches the soul.

Godwin Okonkwo
Mechanical Engineer
Godwin Okonkwo is a Nigerian living in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He has been in the United States since 2019. He holds an associate degree in engineering from Delaware County Community College. He is a student at Temple University pursuing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and will be graduating in 2026. He is exploring opportunities in the engineering field; he is passionate about the design and manufacturing industries. He loves to play soccer and ping pong. A fun fact about him is that he is an introvert but working on this map project made him open, free-spirited, and develop professional relationships. He loves to meet new people, experience different cultures and learn from them.

Nafis Fuad Shad
Information Sciences and Technology (IST) enthusiast
Nafis Fuad Shad is an aspiring Information Sciences and Technology (IST) enthusiast who is currently navigating his academic journey at Penn State University. Originally from Bangladesh, he and his family started a new chapter in the USA in 2021. Nafis’ passion for technology ignited during his studies in Computer Science at Delaware County Community College. A pivotal moment in his academic pursuit was when he collaborated with Professor Ife Williams on a digital map project highlighting significant revolts of Black history during his time at Delaware County Community College. This experience not only deepened his understanding of technology but also fueled his desire to use it as a medium to tell impactful stories. Now, at Penn State University, Nafis is channeling his enthusiasm and swift learning ability into his IST studies. His ambition knows no bounds as he eagerly anticipates contributing his skills to major tech companies, where he hopes to innovate solutions for real-world challenges. Nafis is dedicated to making a positive impact in the tech industry and is excited about the endless possibilities in the ever-evolving field of technology.

Prophet-Wisdom Ogedengbe
Computer Science and Design enthusiast
Prophet-Wisdom Ogedengbe is a second-year university student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He currently holds the position of president in the Computer Science Club and Secretary of the DCCC’s Student Government Association. Ogedengbe has a keen interest in history and design, and he explores the possibilities provided by the applications of technology in these areas. He is Nigerian and takes a deep interest in the history of his people and country. Ogedengbe discovered Dr. Ife’s project and joined her as a technical research assistant from February 2023 to the present, which has been an enlightening and rewarding experience. His primary task in the project is to identify and research slave revolts, whether on land or sea, with the goal of challenging the widely accepted narrative of slavery and dispelling the misconception that enslaved Africans had no hope of freedom and pride. He is honored to have contributed to this critical effort and thanks the reader for taking the time to read his story.

Edison Hong
Computer Science Enthusiast
Edison Hong is a current sophomore at DCCC who is majoring in computer science. He has held leadership positions in various organizations, including the computer science club, business society, and Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society at DCCC. Edison has set his sights on a career in technology and finance as he continues his education. A technical research assistant, Edison has been working for Dr. Ife since the beginning of summer on an important humanities project related to slavery. Edison found inspiration in the project’s results, which involved developing a comprehensive database on unknown slave revolts and history. Edison feels that his work is contributing to uncovering lost history, and he hopes that his efforts, along with those of future technical assistants and researchers working under Dr.Ife, will soon come to fruition.

Harsimran Singh
Social Media Outreach Coordinator

Stephen Okwiri
Graphic & Web Designer
Stephen Okwiri is a highly experienced graphic and website designer at Beldin Creations with over 11 years in the industry. He is a self-taught designer who discovered his love for design at an early age and has since honed his skills to become a versatile designer capable of creating captivating visual stories. Stephen specializes in graphic design and website development, seamlessly blending aesthetics with functionality to create designs that meet and exceed his clients’ expectations. He takes pride in infusing his work with a touch of Africa, creating designs that resonate with authenticity and cultural significance. Stephen has collaborated with diverse clients and organizations on a myriad of African-based projects, showcasing his commitment to excellence in visually stunning designs and seamlessly functional websites. Beyond his impressive portfolio, Stephen’s mission is to contribute to the elevation of African design standards, using visual communication to tell compelling stories and shape the visual narrative of projects across the continent.

Narrators
Tiye Carter
Tisha Benin
Carrie DuPree
Carlton and Habiba Soudan
Drs. Tony and Ann Hurley
Audley Warner
Pattison and Jaki Mungai
Johanna Lanham
Ife Carter
Dr. Kalenda Eaton
Joy Amoy
Nia Winslow
Dr. Winston Collins
Diane Powell
Maxine Brown
Sherida Douglass
Valerie Williams-Samad and Saeed Abdul-Samad
Victor Washington (RIP)
Barry Gordon
Stevie Gordon
Derrick and Jamila Ffrench
Tony Browder
Harold Strong
Dr. Raymond Winbush
Jose Torres Jr.
Antonio Torres
Catherine Kanabahita Guma
Michael and Tonya Wilson
Dr. Darlita Moyé and Milan Moyé
For any inquiries regarding information on the website or contacting talent, you may reach us through blackdiaspora.maps@gmail.com.