A New Dawn for Africa’s Storytelling
History does not move forward in silence, it advances when voices gather, when imagination bends toward justice, and when courage transforms into collective action. Today, a new chapter has been written in the ongoing struggle for dignity, equity, and truth: the unveiling of the ONE Diaspora Creative Council. More than a body of names, it is a heartbeat, a declaration, a bridge connecting the pulse of Africa to the wider world. In its vision, the Council is a rebuke to outdated stereotypes and a testament to the continent’s unmatched creativity, resilience, knowledge and leadership.
On Tuesday, September 23, 2025 ONE will officially announce the members of it’s ONE DIASPORA CREATIVE COUNCIL.
ONE’s Legacy of Impact
For decades, ONE, founded by artist and activist Bono, has stood as one of the world’s most unrelenting voices for justice. From fighting extreme poverty to campaigning for health equity, from pressing world leaders to invest in Africa to elevating the power of African voices, the organization has been steadfast. It has turned moral urgency into political will, and political will into measurable change. Its legacy is written not only in policy victories but in the countless lives transformed through access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity.
The Power of Narrative
And yet, the work of justice is never complete. While Africa rises as a continent of innovators, visionaries, and cultural architects, the stories told about it too often remain trapped in frames of charity and lack. Narratives matter. They shape investment, public opinion, and even the future. It is here that the ONE Diaspora Creative Council steps into history, with the conviction that culture and creativity are not side notes to justice, but central instruments in its symphony.
Portraits of Influence: Voices of the Council
Danai Gurira: The Storyteller of Truth
Actress, playwright, and activist Danai Gurira has long used her craft to dismantle stereotypes and amplify the voices of women across Africa and its diaspora. From the Broadway stage to Marvel’s Wakanda, Gurira embodies the truth that art can be both entertainment and weapon. Her presence on the Council signals a commitment to storytelling as resistance, to narratives that honor Africa’s complexity rather than reduce it.
Patoranking: The Humanitarian Beat of Afrobeats
Few artists embody Africa’s global cultural influence like Patoranking, whose music has moved continents and whose humanitarian work has inspired a generation. As an award-winning musician and UNDP Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, he merges rhythm with responsibility. On this Council, Patoranking brings the sound of the streets and the spirit of the people, a reminder that music is not just melody, but movement.
Pops Mensah-Bonsu: From Courts to Communities
Former NBA player turned executive, Pops Mensah-Bonsu carries the pride of Ghana onto the global stage. Known for his grit on the basketball court, today he channels that same discipline into empowering African youth through sport and education. For the Council, Pops symbolizes Africa’s athletic brilliance and the power of using influence for collective progress. He proves that sports are not only about victories but about building futures.
Barkue Tubman-Zawolo: The Strategist of Global Bridges
As a global strategist and community builder, Barkue Tubman-Zawolo has dedicated her career to linking African talent with opportunities across industries. From Essence Ventures to Power WalkHer Global, she has championed women and elevated African voices in spaces where they were once invisible. On this Council, Barkue brings vision and , that creativity must be met with strategy to truly transform narratives.
Gwen Madiba: The Advocate Across Borders
Humanitarian, journalist, and cultural leader, Gwen Madiba embodies the bridge between Africa, the diaspora, and the world. Her work, from founding Equal Chance to directing global cultural platforms, has placed vulnerable communities at the heart of justice conversations. As Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone Africa, she ensures Africa’s stories are told not as footnotes but as headlines. Her role on the Council is both symbolic and practical: a commitment to amplifying voices that too often go unheard.
Chiney Ogwumike: The Athlete and Analyst
Two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN host Chiney Ogwumike personifies excellence in both sport and media. A proud daughter of Nigeria, she has shattered barriers on and off the court. Her seat on the Council underscores the importance of women athletes as role models and cultural leaders, shaping how the world sees Africa’s potential.
Alexis Belton: Redefining the Fairway
Professional golfer Alexis Belton stands as a symbol of representation in a sport where Black women are rarely seen. As a media personality and founder, she uses her platform to mentor, innovate, and inspire. On the Council, Belton reminds us that visibility itself is a form of advocacy, and her presence is a signal to the next generation of African and diasporic athletes: the world is your field.
Kiara Nirghin: Science as Liberation
A Gen Z technologist from South Africa, Kiara Nirghin became globally recognized for her groundbreaking work in STEM. Today, she is not only innovating but reimagining what it means for young African women to lead in science and technology. As part of the Council, she embodies the future: Africa not only as a consumer of innovation but as a producer of global solutions.
The Future of Global Partnership
The creation of the Council is also a reflection of ONE’s evolution. Long known for mobilizing policy, the organization now places equal weight on mobilizing imagination. If politics changes systems, storytelling changes hearts. And the future of Africa requires both. Whether through global summits like the UN General Assembly and the G20, or cultural moments in sport, fashion, and music, the Council will stand at the intersections where culture meets power, ensuring that Africa’s story is told by those who live it, and those who carry it within their bloodlines.
A Call Beyond Borders
At its essence, the ONE Diaspora Creative Council is more than a council. It is a call. A call to shift the lens, to demand dignity, to celebrate the brilliance of a continent that has given the world more than it has ever received. It is a reminder that Africa is not a charity case but a partner, not a shadow but a sun. And as long as stories shape futures, those stories must be told by the daughters and sons of the soil.
