WeDiasporan

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!

16/07/2025

Are you in the travel and Hospitality industry?

Remember this: You didn’t build your hotel, guesthouse, or tour company just to make money. You built it to share culture.

To welcome people “home.” To create unforgettable experiences rooted in who we are.

But here’s the truth:

No matter how beautiful your rooms are or how amazing your tours might be…

If the right people don’t know about you, your business won’t grow the way it should.

Ready to Start? Check out our Story to Asset Framework at https://aclasses.org/asset/

13/07/2025

What Is the Wisdom in African Folktales? | The Diaspora Storytelling Series

Have you ever heard an African folktale and felt it pull at your heart? These age-old tales are always brimming with warmth, wisdom, and life lessons.

They have been the heartbeat of our culture, passed down to teach, heal, and uplift us across generations. See the full video at https://youtu.be/7sRSoTf6Pic?si=F0gOhPTdgnJMtgmU

Take Anansi the Spider, known throughout Ghana as a clever and cunning trickster. Anansi reminds us that wisdom belongs to all of us, no matter our size or status.

Think about the trickster tortoise in Esan folklore, a cheeky character whose antics teach us to use our minds in a world of giants.
What about the Orishas, powerful deities like Yemaya, popular among the Yoruba and Afro-Caribbean religions, particularly Santería and Candomblé? The nurturing sea mother and Oshun, goddess of rivers and love.

These stories bring ancestral guidance and spiritual power into our lives. Learn more about The Diaspora Storytelling Series at https://aclasses.org/diaspora-storytelling-series/

❤️ Why These Stories Matter to the Diaspora today
• They root us: keeping our connection to Africa alive, even continents away.
• They shape us: building pride and a sense of who we are.
• They guide us: offering gentle wisdom during life’s hardest moments.

A Curious Spark
Have you ever felt a story unlock something within you, a new insight, a forgotten truth? An African tale, centuries old, might speak to what you are facing today.

Here are 4 Simple Ways to Keep Our Stories Alive
1. Share, then ask: Post a clip, a retelling, or a written snippet. Then ask:
“How would you act if you were in the story?”
2. Host storytelling circles: Whether virtual or in person, let people of all ages gather, share, and reflect.
3. Bring folklore to work: Start meetings with a short story—resilience, cleverness, community—with a quick takeaway.

4. Celebrate African storytellers: Follow and amplify authors, podcasters, artists, and creators who refresh these tales for today.
🎤 Join Our Storytelling Community

Join our African Diaspora Storytelling Series every two weeks, a free webinar where we share personal narratives rooted in African traditions. Learn more https://aclasses.org/diaspora-storytelling-series/

💬 Your Turn to Inspire
What African folktale touches your heart, or changed how you see life?

Share it below—let’s build a circle of storytelling and soul.
Let’s keep our stories breathing by telling them, honoring them, and living them.

Stay tuned for the next episode of African Diaspora through Storytelling.

11/07/2025

What is Inside Tanzania’s Tourism Scene? Mzee Patel’s Story from Dar es Salaam.

A new episode of The Obehi Podcast you won’t want to miss. Have you ever wondered what it really takes to run a successful tourism business in one of Africa’s most vibrant cities? Listen now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1_J_QeROGo

In our latest episode of The Obehi Podcast, I sit down with Mzee Patel, a passionate tourism entrepreneur based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

His journey is packed with lessons, whether you are a traveler, a business dreamer, or just someone who loves discovering new cultures.

Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Obehi Podcast! In this edition, we chat with Mzee Patel, a tourism business owner in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Dive deep ...

08/07/2025

Do you know that Africa’s historical legacy spans millennia? Yet for centuries, much of its story has been marginalized or misrepresented by colonial narratives, the transatlantic slave trade, and global displacement.

Today, however, a powerful movement is underway members of the African diaspora are increasingly seeking to reclaim their connection to the continent.

In this resurgence, cultural and heritage tourism is proving to be more than travel; it is a dynamic educational journey into identity, history, and belonging.

Read more at https://aclasses.org/africas-historical-sites/

07/07/2025

Exciting Progress at WeDiasporan! We just wrapped up a productive session with our team, focused on the second pillar of our WeDiasporan initiative: Knowledge Transfer. Join us today https://wediasporan.com/collaborators/

Our goal? To build a minimum viable product (MVP) that delivers real, accessible learning to diasporan communities around the globe.

We have selected our first-course topic, mapped out a clear timeline, and are steadily moving forward.

But now, we are opening the door to collaboration.

We are looking for passionate volunteers to join us in this mission.

If you or someone you know has skills or interest in any of the following areas, we would love to hear from you:

-Curriculum research & instructional design

- Video editing & content production

- Tech & learning platform support

This is an opportunity to be part of something meaningful, shaping a global learning experience that transcends borders.

If you are interested or can connect us to someone who might be, please reach out. Your support means the world to us and to the communities we serve. Join us today https://wediasporan.com/collaborators/

Warm greetings from the entire WeDiasporan team!

03/07/2025

Are you an introverted entrepreneur who wants to sell with confidence without compromising your faith or your personality?

See the full video interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIQVkI6fDAI

In this inspiring episode of the Obehi Podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing Andrea Anderson, PCC, a seasoned Business & Life Coach who specializes in helping introverted Christian entrepreneurs sell authentically and effectively.

We dive deep into:

✅ What “aligned” sales truly look like for faith-driven entrepreneurs

✅ How to ditch the pressure tactics and build trust-based client relationships

✅ Ways to integrate your faith into your business journey without burnout or overwhelm

✅ Spiritual encouragement and practical strategies to help you grow with grace

Andrea brings clarity, compassion, and powerful wisdom for anyone building a business God’s way.

See the full video interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIQVkI6fDAI

03/07/2025

What happens when a journey becomes more than a destination? For members of the African diaspora, a trip to the continent is far more than sightseeing; it is a pilgrimage, a reclaiming of stories, and a bridge across centuries of separation.

In an era where global Black identity is being reshaped through art, culture, politics, and economics, cultural tourism is fast emerging as a vital force in restoring connections between Africa and its diasporic descendants.

Read more about Why Tourism is Key to Rebuilding Connections at https://aclasses.org/diaspora-cultural-exchange/