The Culturalist Team

Cultural Elder & Scholar​

Dr. George Brandon

Dr. George Brandon is a multidisciplinary cultural worker straddling the domains of art, science and spirituality through his work as a musician, anthropologist and integrative sound and music practitioner.

Education & Technical Background

He obtained a BA in literature and anthropology from Reed College. And, following summer study at the University of Ghana (Legon), went on to MA and Ph.D. degrees from Rutgers University (New Brunswick) and did further work in medical anthropology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. From 1982 to 1989 he taught in the African American Studies Department of the University of Maryland at Catonsville, then moved to the City University of New York’s Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education (now City University of New York Medical School) where he taught for 25 years before retiring as professor emeritus in 2014. Throughout his academic career the core of Dr. Brandon’s research interest has focused on African, African American and Afro-Caribbean religions and spirituality, and their roles as healing systems. He has published on African American spiritual healers, Santeria and Yoruba religion, traditional African medicine, and the medical practices of the Jamaican Maroons. He has done field research in the United States, Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Brazil and Suriname.
                       George Brandon has also been artistic and cultural consultant to dance companies, museums, research and interfaith organizations, and provided programs to professionals in psychiatry, social work and public education. George Brandon was certified as an integrative sound and music practitioner by the New York Open Center’s Sound and Music Institute in June 2015. His integrative sound and music practice focuses on chanting; composition, performance and improvisation; facilitating sound meditations; the healing power of storytelling; and the therapeutic use of Himalayan singing bowls, all within a framework rooted in Asian, African and African diasporic cultures.

Program Director, Yoruba Language Program

Sinmisola Kareem

Sinmisola Kareem serves as the Program Director of the Yoruba Language Program, an online educational initiative dedicated to teaching Yoruba language and culture to the African diaspora community. With a robust foundation in systems thinking and technical innovation, Sinmi bridges the gap between traditional cultural preservation and modern digital education.

Education & Technical Background

Sinmi holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from the University of Michigan (December 2020). His technical expertise spans software development, automation, and cloud infrastructure, with professional experience at BlackRock as a Program Analyst to Associate (2021-2024) and currently as a Systems/Application Specialist at Creative Technical Solutions LLC.

Cultural Leadership & Language Education

As Program Director of the Yoruba Language Program, Sinmi has developed a comprehensive 12-unit curriculum that takes students from foundational greetings to advanced Ifá studies and Yoruba history. The program serves students across the United States through structured weekly classes, cultural immersion activities, and partnerships with traditional temples. He mentored under his teacher in Nigeria, deepening his understanding of authentic Yoruba language instruction and culture.

Community Impact

Sinmi’s commitment to community empowerment extends beyond language education. He spearheaded the BlackRock HYPE Scholars Program, creating support systems for young Black women in computer science. Through the BLK 2023 Hackathon, he developed innovative applications to improve organizational communication and transparency. As a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (Delta Rho Chapter), where he served as Chapter President, Sinmi facilitated critical discussions on community policing and earned the "Spirit of Connectedness" award for bridging divides between community systems and local enforcement.

Vision & Mission

Sinmi’s work with the Yoruba Language Program embodies his belief that cultural preservation and technological innovation can work hand-in-hand. By making the Yoruba language accessible through modern online platforms while maintaining traditional authenticity, he creates pathways for African descendants to reconnect with their ancestral heritage and linguistic roots.

Contact Email: sokareem@umich.edu

Senior Global Ambassador of Ifá & Asoju Awo Agbaye Ile Oodua

Chief Àràbà Awodiran Agboola

Àràbà Awódìran Okanlawon Agboọlá is a world-renowned custodian of Ifá tradition, a prolific author, and a high-ranking traditional leader. Known as the **Àràbà of Oworonsoki Kingdom** in Lagos, Nigeria, he serves as a vital bridge between the ancestral wisdom of Yorùbáland and the global Diaspora. His work is defined by a commitment to demystifying Ifá and presenting its complex metaphysics as a coherent philosophy of life.

**Lineage & Initiation**

Born into the illustrious **Agboọlá family**—a lineage synonymous with high-level Ifá priesthood and the title of Àràbà—his training began in early childhood. He represents a patrilineal succession of Arabas, ensuring that the **Aṣẹ** he carries is anchored in multi-generational traditional authority. He was initiated and trained under the rigorous standards of the *Oworonsoki* and *Ile-Ife* traditions, eventually rising to become the *Asoju Awo Agbaye of Ile-Ife* (Ambassador of Ifá to the World) and the *Aara Awo of Lagos Mainland*.

**Notable Achievements**

Àràbà Awódìran is a distinguished intellectual within the traditional community. His notable publications include:

**Ifá: Ohun Ìjìnlẹ̀ Ayé (Ifá: The Philosophy of Life)***: A foundational text dedicated to elucidating the deep metaphysical principles of Ifá for a modern audience.

**Ifá Tuntun Contributions***: He has been a primary voice in the "Ifá Tuntun" movement, which focuses on the revitalization and systematic teaching of traditional knowledge.

**Global Diplomacy:** He has traveled extensively across Europe, the United States, and Brazil, establishing temples and providing spiritual oversight to ensure the sincere practice of Yorùbá spirituality internationally.

**Community Impact**

As the Àràbà of Oworonsoki, his leadership extends beyond ritual. He is a recognized advocate for **Ìṣẹ̀ṣe** (traditional Yorùbá belief systems), emphasizing that the culture is a living, breathing technology for human development. He is a scholarly member of the blacfoundation. He has led numerous initiatives to preserve Yorùbá linguistic nuances and has mentored hundreds of priests and students globally, fostering a community grounded in **Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́** (Good Character).

 **Program Relevance**

In his role as the **Senior Cultural Steward** for the Yorùbá Language Program, Àràbà Awódìran provides the ultimate seal of traditional legitimacy. He serves as the primary **Curriculum Authenticator**, ensuring that our linguistic and spiritual teachings reflect the authentic depth of the Oworonsoki lineage. His mentorship offers students a rare opportunity to learn from a sitting Àràbà, connecting their academic studies to the living pulse of traditional authority.

Journalist & Publizist 

Brother Doshon

Narrative Changer: Mr. Doshon Farad was educated at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ,  where he majored in Communications and African-American studies. and joined as a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Farad has been pursuing journalism since his freshmen year in college in 1996. He has  nearly twenty years of experience in broadcasting, TV and radio. Some of Mr.  Farad's influences include Gil Noble, Dr. Tony Brown, Ed Gordon, Tavis Smiley  and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.   Farad delves into issues affecting people of African descent across the world. He lectures on a wide range of topics ranging from history to politics to Hip­Hop to  World Affairs and economics to entertainment. And he appears on numerous television and radio programs such as News One Now with Roland Martin, The Michael Imhotep Radio show, Jesse Lee Peterson's Radio Show, NYC's Hot 97's Street Soldiers hosted by Lisa Evers.  He has served as the head columnist and host of the Movement Magazine a national new jersey based publication and web series that discusses literature, current events, and entertainment.  

His articles have been featured in print publications such as Experience Reality Magazine, New Black Panther News, the Amsterdam News as well as online sites such as The Grio, and The Black Agenda Report.   He travels across the country covering, moderating, and lecturing on subjects ranging from current events to politics to crime as well as from Hip­Hop to history to entertainment. In the past Mr. Farad co hosted a weekly live streamed internet  radio show called, "FYI: What the Hell is Going On?” a program which discusses  current events and entertainment.

​He also hosted “World Wide”, a public affairs show that airs on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network in New York City.  He recently hosted "Let's Build with Doshon Farad" an internet radio talk show on The Black Talk Radio Network" and now currently co-hosts "Change Makers" on New Jersey's 95.9 FM.  Currently he is a video reporter, writer, and commentator for Your Black World, a site which features black bloggers. Mr. Farad recently worked as a full-time news writer for Arise News a twenty-four hour black owned television news network. And he is also now a contributor for NewsOne.com.

My personal motto "I'm Just A Brother".​​