African Roots and Heritage Foundation

Roger Ebanga was born June 15, 1975 in Ntui. His nationality is Cameroonian and currently residing and working in the State of Pennsylvania of the USA. He directly descends from the Central Region Cameroon Son of the Lekie Department and also the nephew of the Betis Root Department (Mbam and Kim).

He is currently working as a Civil Engineering technician. His educational endeavors include the Study of Philosophy, Systematic Theology and Christian Missionology. With such wisdom, he is also a Missionary Pastor in Pennsylvania.

Pastor Ebanga is the author of, “Explosion Through Prophetic Prayer” and “Les Secretes d’une vie Chretienne Victorieuse”. He also is a teacher and teaches Theology Systematic and Missionology.

He recently joined the African Roots and Heritage Foundation and has proven to carry the torch of unity among African Americans and Africans in Pennsylvania furthering our mission and vision. Because of his infectious enthusiasm in rallying the citizens we are obliged to elevate his efforts as an ARHF Recruitment Ambassador.

Tokeshia “Keshia” Dieng comes to join the African Roots and Heritage Foundation as the Ambassador to the State of Ohio. She first joined ARHF in 2010 as a mentee and later became a volunteer for the organization. Over the years she has proven her faithfulness with various assignments fulfilling them with all dedication.

Tokeisha is a dedicated advocate for homeless youth and adults, a seasoned entrepreneur,an emerging herbalist, and a compassionate Birth Doula. She possesses an unwavering commitment to helping individuals lead their best lives while fostering the growth of local communities worldwide.

In her role as the founder of Nzuri Watu Beauty & Wellness, Tokeshia extends her support to women in Africa by directly sourcing raw ingredients from local artisans and producers. Her belief in the potential of every individual drives her passion for sustaining local small businesses, ultimately contributing to the vitality of our communities.

Mrs. Dieng's profound affinity for all things African led her to create Nzuri Watu Beauty & Wellness, where she meticulously formulates and handcrafts a range of bath, body, and hair products utilizing ingredients sourced from various African countries.

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Tokeshia is widely recognized for her impactful work as a homeless advocate. Her approachable demeanor, quick wit, and benevolent nature have earned her a reputation for establishing authentic connections with clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Whether sharing insights about their cultures, preparing a meal, or sharing a cup of coffee, she consistently demonstrates a profound ability to relate to people from all walks of life.

While connecting individuals to vital resources is invaluable, Tokeshia's personal touch is exemplified through her practice of sharing love through homemade meals and genuine interactions, leaving an enduring impact on those she encounters. She has facilitated countless connections for young adults, linking them to housing, government benefits, employment opportunities, hygiene essentials, and more. Additionally, Tokeshia holds the distinguished titles of Notary Public and Licensed Life Insurance Agent in the State of Ohio.

Outside her tireless advocacy for the homeless, Tokeshia finds solace in her kitchen, where she enjoys preparing meals and spending quality time with her husband, parents, siblings, and a host of nieces and nephews. She is a multi-faceted individual known by various names. When gracing the stage to perform poetry or share her musical talents, she adopts the persona of MoZaic Star. Her husband bestowed upon her another name, Mame Diarra Bousso, inspired by her generous and sweet character, five years ago—a name honoring the mother of Senegal's esteemed prophet, Cheikh Amadou Bamba, affectionately known as Serigne Touba.

Professor Anita M. Diop is the Executive Director of a small staff and volunteers who are committed to the vision and mission of the African Roots and Heritage Foundation. Professor Anita M. Diop is currently teaching African American and American History at Hopkinsville Community College and serves as the Adviser for the Minority Student Union and the History Club. She is also the Founder and Executive Director for the African Roots and Heritage Foundation (ARHF). ARHF is a non-profit organization with a mission to share African Culture through public programs such as the African Roots and Heritage Festival which drew 19 African Nations together to plan and participate building the bridges between the Diaspora and the African continent. Their Motto is “Celebrating Our Heritage, while confronting the Challenges of being Black”.

Professor Diop specializes in the Culture and Arts and her scholarly works, include, Katherine Dunham: An African American Cultural Icon and various essays and articles. Professor Diop also is a travel photographer and has exhibited her photographic essay, entitled Eyes of the AfricanPrincess, at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and many other government sites, colleges, and universities. To her credit she is also an award winning short film Director and Producer of “Concrete Roses”.

In 2010 Anita was elected at the Ohio Representative for the Sixth Regional Diaspora Caucus and later became the International Representative to the African Union. She has sat on the 3rd and 4th Pan African Cultural Congress, and the 3rd Minister of Culture (CAMC3) and the Youth, Culture, and Sport (STC-YCS2). Her most recent accomplishment includes participating in The 1st African Union Pan African Writer's Conference, and was elected as representative of the Diaspora for the Bureau's Meeting.

She is known as the Spirit of Africa because of her passionate works on bringing cultural awareness and participating in the ongoing Africana Renaissance and uplifting African people no matter where they dwell.

To read more click here 

Diaspora hears the Voice of our Ancestors 

AU Appoints ARHF Executive Director, Professor Anita M. Diop as a member of ALWCC 

ARHF Partners with University of Yaounde to Launch the Anita M. Diop Scholarship of Excellence 

ACALAN unveils the African Languages Week Logo 

Professor Anita M Diop was elected to lead the Activities and Key Message sub-committee 

ACALAN-AU Launches African Languages Week 

The Executive Director participates in the Uganda Program, TWENDE 

ARHF Partners with CERDOTOLA for CIC 2022 

Dr. Mbu Dora Nyuykighan is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of African Literature and Civilisations, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon. Prior to this, she has taught in some Universities in Nigeria, Federal Univeristy Lokoja (2012-2020), and Kaduna State University (2009-2011). She is a holder of a BA English from the University of Buea, Cameroon, M.A. Literature, Ahmadu Bello Unviersity Zaria, Nigeria and a PhD in African Literature, Univeristy of Yaounde I, Cameroon. She holds a PGD in Peace and Conflict Studies. Dr. Mbu is an author and has published a number of scholarly articles in preferred journals as well as presented various well-researched papers at both local and international conferences.

She is a member of several Professional bodies and Associations such as:

The Nigerian Folklore Society

Linguistic Association of Nigeria

English Scholars’Association of Nigeria

Her research activities are currently multiple and engaging the students: The first explores the domains of African Literature, Gender Studies and African Oral Literature. The second advances the call for a return to our African roots and heritage through the valorisation of the African culture and languages. The third is the restitution and preservation of African artefacts.

As an Educator, Dr. Mbu’s passion to share her findings with youth gives the students the opportunity to visit several Kingdoms in different regions of Cameroon to study and know more about: 1) the African artefacts, 2) identify those stolen during the colonial period, 3) clamour for their return to their abodes of origin as well as 4) the different ways to preserve sacred objects and artefacts. As the Assistant Director of ARHF, this is the bridge between classroom methodologies and fieldwork.

Knowing that our children are our future, she feels her contribution is to work hand in hand with the students, engaing them to strive to do the best for themselves and Cameroon at large. In the spirit of African Renaissance, her activities fosters reconnection with the youth in our ancient traditions and customs. As a researcher, she advocates for traditional peace and conflict resolution in our communities. With this body of knowledge, professional repertoire we welcome Dr. Mbu as the Assistant Director of the African Roots and Heritage Foundation Cameroon branch.

Husband, father, entrepreneur, industry leader, fitness

icon, philosopher, author, artist, athlete, thought leader

Siphiwe Ka Baleka comes to joining the ARHF Team as a Board of Director. He is currently residing in Guinea Bissau, where he traced his roots and repatriated to his lost homeland.

Siphiwe Baleka is the founder of Fitness Trucking, LLC and is recognized as the #1 Driver

Health and Fitness Coach in the world. The Atlantic called him "The Fitness Guru to the

Trucking Industry." In 2017, Baleka won a Sports Emmy for “Outstanding Short

Feature” for the Fox Sports documentary “Changing Lanes: The Siphiwe Baleka Story”.

Raised in Chicago by a single dad, he graduated from Yale University and is the first African

American ever named to the First Team All-Ivy League Swim Team. He missed qualifying

for the 1992 US Olympic Swimming Trials in the 100 freestyle by just 0.8 seconds! Since

then, Baleka has become one of the best Masters Swimmers in the world. He has won

thirteen US Masters Swimming National Championships, set three US Masters

Swimming National Records, and has won four FINA Masters Swimming World

Championship silver medals. He has served as the Director of the African Union 6th

Region Education Campaign and currently serves on the National Coalition of Black for

Reparations in America (N'COBRA) International Affairs Commission, its Health

Commission, as well as the International Civil Society Working Group for the Permanent

Forum of People of African Descent at the United Nations. He is the author of several

books, including five volumes on 21st Century Black Prophetic Faith and Pan African

Diplomacy, three volumes on the history of the Balanta people and the landmark book,

4-Minute Fit (Simon & Schuster).

Dr. Ahmad Bello is the Youth/Student Coordinator and Essay Contest Judge for French Speaking Students for our Global Day of Community Service. He is native to Cameroon.

Mrs. NDZEHNGAH JEANNETTE Epse Fongwen, is the Administrative Assistant at the African Roots and Heritage Foundation office in Yaounde, Cameroon. She obtained a degree in History with an emphasis with International Relations. Jeannette also possess a Diploma in Business Planning and Management. She has experience in administrative works and is an entrepreneur selling baby's items and professional cake designer and baker. 

My name is KWENKEU TONDJI Tatiana Mélissa, and I am a Cameroonian coming from the town of Bangangté, in the west region. Academically, i have two master degrees to my credit, one in Iberian Studies and the other in Corporate Communication. It is pride for me to be a member of the African Roots and Heritage Foundation, as an interpreter from English to French and vice versa. I am passionate about cultural tourism and the African and Afro descendant's history, and being part of this community gives me the opportunity to realize on of my dearest dream by participating in the reconstruction of the bridge between African and Heritage Diaspora.

In the year 1992, Feb, 22nd, a visual artist and creative being was born in a small poor family of 6 siblings living a few miles away from the capital city of Uganda-Kampala in a small village Rubaga. The grandson to the great Masoolita Paul, Kahimbara Ibrahim, Yosiya Kateeba and a son to Byaruhanga Charles and Aidah Byaruhanga, a Murungu Mutooro born in vain from home in the dark with the help of a local midwife from the neighborhood bungalow house . Raised and groomed by a number of amazing hands, (Nabana isaack founder Ramon Film productions Nateete-Uganda, Mr. Ssentuuya Godfrey, Pr. James Kato founder Jesus Worship Center, Atuhaire Gavin and Mwesiga Alex founders Kyuka youth outreach, Ssendege Paius-DJ and Hamfrey Nabimanya founder reach a hand Uganda). Grew up in different evironments, sarrounded with different atmospheres through which he was inspired to try out a lot of things due to the desires he had in his mind. Watching action movies in slum cinema halls, riding wooden bicycles, making handmade toy cars in wires and recycled wastes, climbing trees and summer saulting in wood saw dust. These, were preparing him for a great journey of his life.

Schooled from local government primary schools and later finished his journey of education in high school level 6.Unfortunately he lacked enough funds to contribute to his higher institutions/ universities. He chose to use his God given special ability of drawing and sketching to at least find means of earning a living and as well giving support to his family.

As it is said “if you want to take the island, you burn the boats”, he literally had art as the only tool of surviving in life. Through his entire life he has been admiring and aspiring of doing great art pieces and projects with the inspirations drawn from the legendary artists he could bench mark with i.e. Leonardo Davinchi , Felix Lubega, and Taaga.

Through daily inspirations,a self taught artist himself Kateeba Joel was made. Facing criticms and challenges from art industry, he instead ignored and focused on the big fish.

In the year 2019, traveled to Guajarat State –INDIA as a one of the chosen artists to represent Africa and its culture in the Mahatma Gandhi Art camp- saputara hotel and some of his pieces featured in the Global art festival -same state. In the same year partnered with ARTOLUTION International organization based in USA basically to extend love through art in refugee camps and coming up with murals for public transformation of lives in Northern Uganda and west Nile region. He taught and skilled teaching artists in different parts of the nation mostly Yumbe district and Arua. Using his creative mind, he started up an art business KateebAfro Paints Art generated from his sur name Kateeba and the fact that he is an African. Came up with an art platform (MUNZE) “Meaning within me” for artists to exhibit their works, sell, exchange ideas and showcase their own created skills. This later advanced in to a company limited by shares with an aim of seeing creative communities able to set up sustainable income sources using their strength of art.

In the year 2019, represented his area of expertise in the Artizen international ambassadors conference that took place at UNCC (Uganda National Cultural Center)-Kampala.

In the year 2020, traveled to Tanzania and Zanzibar through an affiliation with the TAI ( Teaching Artist Institute) based in the USA and TAI TOURS as a curator and visual artist representing Uganda at the Tasuba school of arts Bagamoyo memorial place historically well known for slavery in early ages . Traveled to Kenya –Shianda town to share his art skills with the community duelers through an affiliation with Grow to Biuld Uganda organization lead by Sisa Mc wasswa based in Uganda –Kawempe Nkere.

In the 2021, he launched a book he wrote for a full year entitled “ART A SOLUTION”, In this book, his aim was to be a narrative that art can be the only solution to several questions of mankind. He discovered that humans go through a lot of emotional, spiritual and mental challenges that can be zeroed down with art as the solution. He went further to make a short documentation of some artists that have different art spaces, techniques and identities.

In the year 2021, he worked on one of his biggest art project entitled “WE ARE GOING TO MARS” doing prop designing and recycling of materials using his art strengths. In this project he worked alongside the official director of the whole production –Sylar Robert Ssempijja and Teflon films celebrating the African hero Edward Festus Mukuka Nkoloso of the Zambia National Academy of science Space and Research Philosophy (1960).

Art to him is like another way of living and a universal language to communicate to all creations in the universe.

Roger Ebanga was born June 15, 1975 in Ntui. His nationality is Cameroonian and currently residing and working in the State of Pennsylvania of the USA. He directly descends from the Central Region Cameroon Son of the Lekie Department and also the nephew of the Betis Root Department (Mbam and Kim).

He is currently working as a Civil Engineering technician. His educational endeavors include the Study of Philosophy, Systematic Theology and Christian Missionology. With such wisdom, he is also a Missionary Pastor in Pennsylvania.

Pastor Ebanga is the author of, “Explosion Through Prophetic Prayer” and “Les Secretes d’une vie Chretienne Victorieuse”. He also is a teacher and teaches Theology Systematic and Missionology.

He recently joined the African Roots and Heritage Foundation and has proven to carry the torch of unity among African Americans and Africans in Pennsylvania furthering our mission and vision. Because of his infectious enthusiasm in rallying the citizens we are obliged to elevate his efforts as an ARHF Recruitment Ambassador.

Tokeshia “Keshia” Dieng comes to join the African Roots and Heritage Foundation as the Ambassador to the State of Ohio. She first joined ARHF in 2010 as a mentee and later became a volunteer for the organization. Over the years she has proven her faithfulness with various assignments fulfilling them with all dedication.

Tokeisha is a dedicated advocate for homeless youth and adults, a seasoned entrepreneur,an emerging herbalist, and a compassionate Birth Doula. She possesses an unwavering commitment to helping individuals lead their best lives while fostering the growth of local communities worldwide.

In her role as the founder of Nzuri Watu Beauty & Wellness, Tokeshia extends her support to women in Africa by directly sourcing raw ingredients from local artisans and producers. Her belief in the potential of every individual drives her passion for sustaining local small businesses, ultimately contributing to the vitality of our communities.

Mrs. Dieng's profound affinity for all things African led her to create Nzuri Watu Beauty & Wellness, where she meticulously formulates and handcrafts a range of bath, body, and hair products utilizing ingredients sourced from various African countries.

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Tokeshia is widely recognized for her impactful work as a homeless advocate. Her approachable demeanor, quick wit, and benevolent nature have earned her a reputation for establishing authentic connections with clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Whether sharing insights about their cultures, preparing a meal, or sharing a cup of coffee, she consistently demonstrates a profound ability to relate to people from all walks of life.

While connecting individuals to vital resources is invaluable, Tokeshia's personal touch is exemplified through her practice of sharing love through homemade meals and genuine interactions, leaving an enduring impact on those she encounters. She has facilitated countless connections for young adults, linking them to housing, government benefits, employment opportunities, hygiene essentials, and more. Additionally, Tokeshia holds the distinguished titles of Notary Public and Licensed Life Insurance Agent in the State of Ohio.

Outside her tireless advocacy for the homeless, Tokeshia finds solace in her kitchen, where she enjoys preparing meals and spending quality time with her husband, parents, siblings, and a host of nieces and nephews. She is a multi-faceted individual known by various names. When gracing the stage to perform poetry or share her musical talents, she adopts the persona of MoZaic Star. Her husband bestowed upon her another name, Mame Diarra Bousso, inspired by her generous and sweet character, five years ago—a name honoring the mother of Senegal's esteemed prophet, Cheikh Amadou Bamba, affectionately known as Serigne Touba.