Ifagbemi Sangodare, Nana Kwaku Berko I, Bejana, Onebune
Sakhu Shetist, Scholar, Author, Lecturer
Current Projects
AFRICAN AMERICAN MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS HUB
The call for an African American Wellness Hub is to recognize and effectively achieve the desired goal of addressing the mental health needs of people of African Ancestry in Alameda County. The desire is to systematically respond and properly address the quality of care given to African American populations through the support of an African American Holistic Wellness Hub Design, Research and Planning initiative that will be guided by the utilization of culturally congruent, holistic approaches to service. The singular vision and sole purpose of this initiative is to create, design and develop an African American Wellness (Mental Health) Hub. The proposed Hub will, in turn, serve and guide the improvement of current services and expand the creation of needed services for the African American community. The Hub will be grounded in the direct application and implementation of the science of Black psychology, the cultural wellness methodologies found in African American traditions and the best of other culturally congruent therapies and practices in behavioral health care.
JOINT EDUCATIONAL TASK FORCE
Starting with the recognition of both continental and diasporan African )Black)psychologists, that the paradox of our time was that to simply apply Western psychology to Africa and her children (both continental and diasporan) is to turn a blind eye to the role Western psychology has played in the dehumanization of African people and adopt that which is logically and spiritually unacceptable. The establishment of “Association of Black Psychologists and Forum of African Psychology (ABPsi/FAP) Joint Educational Task Force” was to, in part, disrupt the blind importation and application of Western thought to the understanding of African human functioning and to advance the restoration of African people as self defining, self-sustaining, self-affirming healthy, and whole people.
Starting with a critical examination of Black Psychology developed in the United States and a systematic review and utilization of African-centered resources and materials, the joint task is charged with advancing the worldwide examination and development of a Pan African Black Psychology and support the implementation of healing programs and services throughout the African world. Through this global initiative, African (Black) Psychologists will co-create opportunities for teaching, trainings, continuing education, workshops and seminars, professional consultations, in addition to supporting ongoing discussions on the philosophies, theories, therapeutic intervention, research orientations, methodological approaches for the overall implementation, and dissemination of a Pan African Black Psychology.
Past International Studies & Projects
PROFESSORSHIP & RESEARCH SCHOLAR - BRAZIL
Served as a Visiting Scholar (Researcher) to the Afro-Brazilian Studies Group of the Federal University of São Carlos (NEAB/UFSCar) for one month. Delivered a series of seminars on Black Psychology, African Centered Education and culturally congruent (African Centered) community-based research to educators and scholars in Brazil as well as activists in the Black Communities of Sao Paulo, São Carlos and Tobete.
CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN & DIASPORAN SCHOLARS & INTELLECTUALS
Participated in both the Conference of African and Diasporan Scholars and Intellectuals (2004) and FESMAN, the major intellectual component of the 3rd World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures (2010) in Senegal, West Africa. At Fesman, a large delegation of more than 200 American leaders participated in the 3rd World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures in Dakar, Senegal from December 9 to 17, 2010 at the official invitation of the President of the Republic of Senegal, Maître Abdoulaye Wade. As part of the official U.S. delegation, he participated in round table with artists, intellectuals, elected officials of the Diaspora and President Abdoulaye Wade. His remarks were entitled, “Shattered Consciousness and Fractured Identity: The World-wide Memetic Conversion of the African Mind."
THE ENYIMNYAM STUDY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Designed and annually guide an international study-development project called Enyimnyam Study - Development Project. Enyimnyam was designed to allow or give African Americans an opportunity to simultaneously offer a service gift based on their particular skills and expertise and to experience first hand the “living experiences” of the people of Ghana while learning about various work and play activities in Africa. See the brochure with the full project descriptions
GHANA FEDERATION OF TRADITIONAL HEALERS
Designed the "African Healers Association Covenant" that was designed to guide the mutual commitment between the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) and the Ghana National Association of Traditional Healers (GNATH) in the promotion and advancement of traditional African healing sciences and the mutual exchange of skills, techniques and experiences relative to the healing of Africans in Ghana and the United States.
SENEGALESE NDEPP TRADITIONAL HEALING
Participated in Coumba Lamba, Ndeppkat annual healing Ceremomny at Rufisque in Senegal with MAAM FATOU SECK in 1990 and again in 1996 when the Cosaan Foundation in association with the Morehouse School of Medicine sponsored Coumba Lamba USA, an 8-day Lebu (Senegal) healing ceremony on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. This Coumba Lamba was the first and only authentic African healing ceremony ever held in North America
SOUTH AFRICA, SACRED TEACHIINGS: ADVANCED LEGACY STUDIES IN TRADITIONAL AFRICAN WISDOM
Helped organize, design and participate in Sacred Teachings: Advanced Legacy Studies in Traditional African Wisdom with Baba Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa in Kuruman, South Africa. The sacred teachings introduced African American scholars and practitioners to the process of performing holistic (spiritual and physical) as well as symbolic forms of healing. Healing that is embedded in a profound and deep understanding that the ancestors from the spirit realm give instructions, guidance and advice for healing illness and the elimination of social disharmony and spiritual degradation was discussed relative to contemporary applications in the African American community in the USA.
SIMBA SIMBI: A DEEP INSIGHT RETREAT INTO TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SYSTEMS OF HEALING
Helped organize, design and participate in this 3 day retreat which was designed for those interested in rescuing and reclaiming traditional African health and healing practices. The Simba Simbi provided specific instruction and explanation of healing rituals and ceremonies wih specific teachings in traditional African philosophy, the use of Kongo deep healing insights, rituals and ceremonial applications. Simba Simbi was instructed by the late Dr. Kimbwandende Kia Bunseki Fu-Kiau, one of the great scholars of the African religion, and a leading authority on the Bantu-Kongo civilization. He was also a genuine practitioner of the Kongo spiritual tradition and was intiated in the three "secret societies" Lemba, Khimba and Kimpasi. Lemba is the foundation for several African based religious practices including Palo Mayombe (Cuba), Vodou Petro (Haiti) and Candomble Angola (Brasil).
CONGO, DESIGN CONSULTATION FOR THE PAN AFRICAN UNIVERSITY
Provided leadership in designing a plan for a full service service, technology and scientific futuristic Pan African University
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Participated in Nyon Nyor Nyan, a community development lecture series. Presented foundational lectures: Re)Memering & Resurrecting Who We Are and Seeking the Sahku: To Be African, To Be Family, To Be Awesome to advance the theme: “Nyon Nyor Nyan,” (“Who are we?” in Wolof) to The Indaba Project which began as an afterschool program for the youths of that community and has grown to be a force in the Bahamas dedicated to empower African people around the world to resolve their own issues and network with others with a similar goal.
UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
Language Study: Middle Egyptian (Hieroglyphs), 1985
CASABLANCA, MOROCCO
Independent Study Tour, 1983
Black Moors and Islamic Contribution to North African Culture
GRANADA, SPAIN
Independent Study Tour, 1983
Moorish presence in development of Spanish World dominance
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS
Invited conference presentation
Mass Communication on Mythic Consciousness: The Role of Language and Culture in International Development, 1983
MADEIRA, PORTUGAL
Invited Delegate, 1983
Conference of Scholars and Theologians concerned with emerging religious theologies