Yvonne Onakeme Etaghene
Poet In Residence 2020
Based in California, Yvonne is an Ijaw Urhobo Nigerian poet, performer, author, dancer, playwright, visual artist and fashion designer. Throughout the 2020 school closures Yvonne was our poet in residence, engaging our educators on line and designing community based poetry programmes.
Remi Vaughan-Richards
Film Programme Mentor and Curator
Remi Vaughan-Richards is a vibrant and versatile director and the recipient of several awards, most recently the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards for her documentary ‘Faaji Agba’. Remi’s mission is to create a slate of cutting edge feature films and documentaries that will focus a sharp lens onto Africa.
Toni Kan
Poetry Programme Mentor and Curator
Author of 5 critically acclaimed works of fiction and poetry including The Carnivorous City, Nights of the Creaking Bed and When A Dream Lingers Too Long, Toni Kan has ghost-written 5 biographical works.
Maryam Bukar Hassan
Poet, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur
Maryam Bukar Hassan (a.k.a Alhanislam) is a renowned poet and an exponent of the spoken word, who has performed at major festivals and events both locally and internationally. An indigene of Borno state, born on the 25th December 1996 in Kaduna State, Maryam has performed in various high level events including the Ake Arts and Book Festival, the Kaduna Book and Arts Festival, TEDx Argungu, NEXT Level U.S.A and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) conferences.
Brenda Uphopho
Performing Arts Mentor and Curator
Brenda Uphopho is an arts manager and professional arts administrator with experience in both festivals and theatre for the last 10years. Brenda is a partner and resident Producer for the Performing Arts Workshop and studios and has produced over 100 live events all over Nigeria.
Vivian Ngozika Aghamelu
Drama therapist, Performing artist and Empowerment activist
Vivian Ngozika Aghamelu’s work focuses on the expression of inner, social and interpersonal processes through movement, embodiment and play. As a young therapist and activist, her vision is to empower people to be actors of their own story.