Kuumba Arts and Crafts Program

Ms. Afrika Abney conducted free fine arts workshop for children ages 7 - 10 which were being offered by the D.C. Department of Recreation (Emery Recreation Center, Parkview Recreation Center, Hamilton Recreation Center and Upshur Recreation Center) from 1997 - 1998 and A - T Seban Mesut (1995- 1998). She is an alumnus of the Corcoran School of the Arts.


Ms. Abney taught students techniques of drawing, finger painting, sponge painting, abstract design, clay work, collage designing and monoprinting.


Sponsored by Ms. Afrika Abney and funded by the D.C. Commission of the Arts, Arts Education Grant Program


Goals:





D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities sponsored one of Ms. Abney's visual arts workshops which took place from 1995 - 1998. During that time, she was a college student.


"First established in 1968, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) is an independent agency in the District of Columbia government that evaluates and initiates action on matters relating to the arts and humanities and encourages programs and the development of programs that promote progress in the arts and humanities. "


The District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation


The DC Department of Parks and Recreation allowed Ms. Abney to use several of their facilities to operate one of her visual art workshops for students from 1995 - 1998.


"The District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation is an executive branch agency of the government of the District of Columbia in the United States."


"At-Seban Mesut - At-Seban Mesut (School for the children of Ausar) was founded in 1982 by the Ausar Auset DC, under the leadership of Ur-Aua Hehi Metu Ra Enkamit


At-Seban Mesut was established to provide children with African (Kamitic) centered spiritual education, while ensuring students met city and nation-wide curriculum standards.


Providing education to youth from Pre-k-8th grade, At-Seban Mesut has graduated hundreds of students in the DC metropolitan area for over 25 years. "


"Ur Aua (Paramount King) Hehimetu Ra Enkamit, has since 1975 been a member of the Washington D.C Traditional Area of Ausar Auset Society International. Ur Aua is responsible for overseeing the programs, projects and activities of AASI's member in DC, Maryland, Virginia, Bermuda and Toronto Ca. In DC that "self-help" philosophy, has under Ur Aua's leadership, manifested as the establishment of two schools, which spanned a period of 27 years, Senbeb natural foods, the oldest continually running black

owned business of its kind, Senbeb Cafe serving vegan food for over 25 years, Suwale African Boutique operating over 20 years and The Oracle of Tehuti classes providing spiritual training in the Kamitic way of life for over 35 years.


On African Culture. In Washington DC, Ur Aua has officially hosted Ghanaian Royalty in the US including, but not limited to Otumfou Opoku Ware II, Asantehene, Otumfou Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, Nana Akouko Sarpong, Omanhene of Agogo, Nana Okotor Kofi III, Omanhene of Nkonya, Barima Kwame Nkyi, Omanhene of Asin Manso, Nana Abena Serwaa, Queenmother of Agogo, Nana Serwaa Aygemanso, Queenmother Tepo, Nkonya and Naba Azumah Ndagu representative of Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Bawku Naba.


Ur Aua has traveled and led Tour Groups Internationally to the following:

Ghana -1885, 1986, 1988, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010-2018

Benin - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010-2018, Ivory Coast 1985, Sierra Leone 2012, 2013, 2014,

Guinea 2012, Gambia 2013, Nigeria 1992, Brazil -1993, 1994


Ur Aua has also coordinated the society's contribution to different infrastructural projects in Ghana, including, but not limited to the, donation of over $300,000 USD worth of medical and education equipment and supplies, 200,000 saplings for a Reforestation project in Agogo, over $10,000 USD to Otumfou's E ducation Fund, the donation of the 1st computer to Manhyia Palace, donation of computer equipment to computer training school in Agogo, donation of Computer equipment to Nkonya computer center, donation of Computers, calculators and textbooks, to Nkonya Secondary School, development and construction of a 3 year weaving and sewing training program, is currently in the construction phase of The Agogo Community Library, has contributed teaching equipment, materials and supplies to the Presbyterian Medical School in Agogo, has contributed medical equipment and supplies to the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital and health clinics in Nkonya and Atonkwa Elmina, has plans to support further development in the Agogo, Nkonya, Bawku and Assin Manso Traditional Areas and has given assistance to students in Agogo, Assin Manso, Bawku, Nkonya and other places.

Ur Aua has a BA in African American Studies, Masters in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology all from Howard University and a Ph.D. in African Art and Culture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi Ghana. In addition to serving as the representative of Shekhem Ur Shekhem Ra Un Nefer Amen I in Asante, Ur Aua has been enstooled in his own right as Nanai Kweku Yobba Oboapo I, the Abontendomhene of Nkonya Kingdom, enskinned as Naba Amalteng I, Chief of Development Affairs in the Kusaug Kingdom, Bawku Traditional Area and Naba Anongnerib, Development Chief of Upper Easterners in the Ashanti Region.


Additionally, Ur Aua has been officially received and recognized in Asante, Fante, Akwapim, Nkonya, Bawku, and the Assin Manso areas of Ghana and in the Kingdom of Quidah, Benin. He currently has two books in print African Names, the Ancient Egyptian Keys to Unlocking Your Power and Destiny and Divine Kingship of Asante: A Model for Sustainable Development of Self and Community. He also serves as the US correspondent for The Royal Magazine published in Kumasi Ghana."