Ahmeda Mansaray-Richardson is an de-colonial inter-sectional researcher at the University of Toronto, Emmanuel College. A natural born abolitionist, Ahmeda recalls her activism beginning in kindergarten when she took her teachers to task for picking on left-handed kids. Since then her work has continued through various organization where she leads and facilitates the cause for decolonized narratives and empowered change in African communities and elsewhere. She insists all marginalized people, especially persons of color and young people, be allowed the freedom to access their inherent power and voice.
Ask her and Ahmeda will tell you she is West-African. Born in Nigeria, raised in Togo and Ghana with Mandingo roots courtesy of her dad, she loves her heritage and her culture. She lives in Toronto, with her husband and 5 sons and every now and then speaks publicly for causes she is passionate about.
Also, she loves to climb trees, fly single engine planes, dream up App ideas, eat fried plantains and dance in the rain.
Ahmeda’s Academic Work
Ahmeda’s love for learning has propelled her to explore a cross section of academic fields. She holds a Bachelors in Microbiology from McGill University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Her passion for African Public Health issues and her desire to see African communities thrive lead her to undertake and complete a Masters of Public Health from Lakehead University and a Masters of Theological Studies in Urban Development from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto.
She is currently a PhD candidate at Emmanuel College (University of Toronto) in the Practical Theology department. Her research focuses on African expressions of Islamic and Christian liberation theologies and on Peace-building Spiritual Practices in African Muslim Christian interfaith dialogue. She is especially interested in how ancient African liberation practices can be re-interpreted and woven into current continent-wide emancipation and development paradigms and agendas.
“We live by a hope, but a reed never became an Iroko tree by dreaming.”
- Nigerian Proverb
Do Better.
Ahmeda’s Activism Work
Sage & Savant
Sage & Savant is Toronto’s first co-working space for children designed and equipped to help transform their socially innovative ideas into world-changing action. We provide programs that guide children to tap their inner genius and connect to their power as problem solving change agents and social justice advocates in their communities.
The Songai Institute
The Songai Institute is an African Policy, Research and Advocacy think tank. Songai was concieved as a vehicle to research and advocate for effective Development programs and strategies. Its mission includes fostering collaborative efforts across the continent of Africa to ensure a holistic development agenda for the future of Africa.
VOICES Global Collective
The VOICES (Voices Of Inspired Children Engaging Society) Global Collective, is a global health transformational development organization. We help activate personal and social change in young people living in urban communities challenged by poverty, by providing entrepreneurial training, curating leadership opportunities and igniting the belief that they are capable of becoming more than their circumstances.