Diaspora studies | The Harriet Tubman Institute

Feisal Farah

rebsl — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:23:04 +0000

Feisal Farah is a Teaching Assistant in History at the University of Toronto and was previously an instructor at the American University of Nigeria. He is affiliated with the Wilberforce Institute for the �첥��Ƶ of Slavery and Emancipation (WISE) at the University of Hull and the Harriet Tubman Institute at �첥��Ƶ.
Farah has expertise in database building and specializes in the Horn of Africa, with particular focus on contemporary Somalia–Kenya relations. He earned his BA (Honours) in Political Science and African Studies and his MA in History from �첥��Ƶ, Toronto, Canada.
His doctoral research at the University of Hull, England, is titled:
“Not Quickly Cleansed: Bids for Freedom by Former Slaves in Mombasa and the Coastal Strip of Kenya, 1895–1945.”

Farah has also contributed to the Boko Haram Islamic Protest and National Security Project as a specialist on Kenya and Somalia.
Selected Publications
• “The Metamorphosis of Slavery in Colonial Mombasa, 1907–1963,” in Nadine Hunt and Olatunji Ojo (eds.), Slavery in Africa and the Caribbean: A History of Enslavement and Identity Since the 18th Century.
• “Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, The Evil Twins of the African Continent: The Historical and Contemporary Social Context That Led to Their Birth,” in Paul Lovejoy and Melchisedek Chétima (eds.), Boko Haram and Political Distancing (Trenton: African World Press, Harriet Tubman Series on African Diasporas).
• “The Abolition of the Legal Status of Slavery on the Coast of Kenya: The Cases of Sadiki and Kiroboto.” Slavery & Abolition 46, no. 3 (2025): 647–670.

Keywords: African history, Slavery and post-emancipation societies, Diaspora studies, Islam and colonialism, Indian Ocean history

Daniel Richardson

rebsl — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:04:54 +0000

Daniel Richardson is a Ghanaian filmmaker and multimedia professional with over a decade of experience in television and video production. He is fascinated by the African story and narratives that have the potential to positively impact humanity. He holds a BFA in Film and Television Production from the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), Ghana, and an MA in Media Management from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ). He is currently pursuing an MFA in Film at �첥��Ƶ, where his research and creative practice explore the intersections of identity, history, and memory. His current project, A Symbol of Remembrance, engages with audiovisual archives through an essayistic and experimental lens, mobilizing Sankofa both as a cultural symbol of return and recovery and as a framework to interrogate the politics of naming and renaming public space in diasporic and postcolonial contexts.

Keywords: Cultural memory, Diaspora studies, Urban cultural geography, Public memory, Postcolonial identity, Symbolic politics, Essay film

Bashir Munye

rebsl — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:43:28 +0000

Chef Bashir Munye is a Somali-born, Italian-raised culinary educator, food advocate, and co-founder of the African Food �첥��Ƶ Centre. With over 25 years of experience, he is committed to decolonizing culinary practices and promoting food sovereignty.

Bashir has served as a culinary professor at George Brown College, where he designed inclusive curricula and mentored future culinary leaders. As a community advisor, he played a pivotal role in the development of the Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan, approved by City Council in 2021, addressing systemic barriers to food security for Black communities.

Through his work at Black Creek Community Farm, Bashir developed sustainable food initiatives that merged cultural relevance with economic viability, strengthening community engagement. His efforts emphasize culturally appropriate foods, equitable systems, and the celebration of African culinary traditions.

Bashir’s interdisciplinary approach aligns with the Harriet Tubman Institute’s mission to advance research on African and diasporic histories, fostering a deeper understanding of social justice issues. His advocacy for food justice and sustainability continues to inspire systemic change, making him a leader in advancing inclusive culinary practices and community empowerment.

Keywords: Afrofuturism, Decolonization, Culinary Education, Food Sovereignty, African Foodways, Sustainability, Diaspora Studies, Culturally Appropriate Foods, Social Justice, Ancestral Knowledge, Community Engagement, Anti-Colonial Practices, Food Systems Equity, Interdisciplinary Research, Performative Learning

Ola Mohammed

rebsl — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 19:29:22 +0000

Ola Mohammed is an Assistant Professor of Black Popular Culture in the Humanities Department at �첥��Ƶ. Her research is in the areas of Black Studies, Black Popular Music, Sound Studies and Diaspora Studies. She specializes in interdisciplinary research exploring Black cultural production, Black social life and Black being as sites of possibility.