American-Born Dynast Amir is an Entrepreneur, International Realtor, African Travel Expert. Film Maker, Author, globe-trotting, and philanthropist who has a passion for promoting African culture and tradition, researching and documenting Africa for present and incoming generation to find their ancestral link and roots back to Africa. He was born in Albert Horton Hollis II in Sacramento, CA but considers himself a displaced African and decided to take a bold step reconnecting his ancestral home.
Dynast attended Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, with hobbies in track and football earning 1st team Parade and USA Today High School All-American honors in football. After graduating from Christian Brothers, he also displayed his gift and talent at the University of Georgia, where he earn a degree in Agricultural Business.
After a while within entertainment industry, modeling and acting, he breezed out to join the Corporate America for sales promotion spanning over 500 companies organizations, Aflac and Cintas where he carved a niche for himself and also decided to focus on full time on implementing several much needed initiatives geared towards improving infrastructure on many levels as well as bridging the gap between the diaspora and Africa.
In an exclusive interview with Adewale Adenrele of Dotolive News Magazine, Dynast speaks about his journey to African spirituality through a deep African American studies from Slave trade and reconnecting Diasporas to ancestral root. His mission to promote Yoruba culture and tradition is top notch as he received adopted Yoruba name “Dynast Abefe Adewale Amir “currently serves as the Omo Oba, Prince in Yoruba, of Ororuwo, Osun State. Nigeria.
Below are excerpt:
Researchers put forward a new narrative explaining the variations in African ancestry in the Americans and how the transatlantic trade shaped these variations, how have you and many others changing the narrative for development?
The benevolent dictator model is what’s needed for now that’s exist in capitalist model with socialist safety nets
DNA test have helped the diaspora trace their tribes of origin and many have reconnected with this newly found info. For me example I’m Mende Sierra Leone Yoruba Nigeria and Balanta Guinea Bissau so I’ve connect to my Yoruba and Mende roots still working on Guinea Bissau.
When I first came to Africa, the first country I went to was Tanzania and after that first visit I wanted to learn more about my roots and where I come from. And in doing so, it would afford me a sense of freedom.
As Black Americans, we’re taught that our origins began when we first got off of slave ships. But, the origins run much deeper than that – way before we got off any slave ships. I wanted to find out the origins of myself, family members, and friends.
Many African nations are fashioning their democracy after the West, yet we exist in some level of neocolonialism. Is there a way to localize democracy that will fit the African context
My answer is I support benevolent dictatorship. Capitalism with socialism safety nets
You attended the Osun Osogbo festival with your group and other people from different parts of the world such as; the USA, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba, and more were in attendance during the festival. Can you share with us your experience?
Love the Osun festival love the pageantry and the culture been coming since 2018. I focus on authentic cultural immersion and with festivals like the Osun festival you can experience this
The festival continuously engages in by promoting the Yoruba Cultural agenda towards a veritable socio-economic and political emancipation of our people globally as a yardstick towards global development. How would you use your visit and experience to motivate other Americans who are of African descent, especially Nigerians-Americans to join you?
They are of the black diaspora who are interested and or participate into the Ifa traditions.
You frequent to Africa for tourism purposes among other adventures, tell us the destinations you have visited in Africa.
I was doing quite well in corporate America so I wanted to take a vacation. I was originally going to go to Brazil, but the person that was going to host me in Brazil let me down, so a good friend of mine Yitshaq Abraham convinced me to go to Tanzania, and I have been hooked ever since.
I’ve been to 13 African countries roughly my favorite countries are Senegal, Nigeria and Sierra Leone I’m a citizen of Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
What was the inspiration and motivation that drove your spiritualism in visiting Africa?
My motivation was knowing that Islam, Christianity, Judaism aren’t indigenous to Africa so I want to research what we practiced before these religions were introduced to Africa.
Nigeria. I think Nigeria is the most diverse country on the continent that I have visited so far. Everything from the people, nightlife to the culture, Nigeria pretty much has everything.
You are the founder of Danfo Africa. Can you tell us about it and the aims and objectives of Danfo Africa?
Danfo is our travel brand. We’ve been curating experiences to Africa since 2019. Danfo lives at the intersection of African travel and culture. At Danfo we focus on building genuine connections with the local communities that we visit authentic cultural Immersion.
We don’t focus on boujee or ambiance, we want our experiences to be as Bona fide African as possible, but want to insure that people are comfortable. Also Danfo is named after the Danfo bus.
What are the challenges you faced while doing African tours and how did you overcome them?
Challenges are getting some people to understand that we are in Africa not America. And to come to Africa with an open mindset
African ethnic groups and tribes have customs and traditions that are unique to their culture. What do you like about African Culture?
African culture is uniquely ours and can’t be duplicated. I’m amazed everyday by it and it’s a blessing to be able to participate in it.
Dotolive News Magazine would like to partner with Danfo Africa for tourism promotion, cultural and festival coverage, research, documentaries, and adventures, would you support this development?
Of course I’ll support. If our goals align and vision aligns why not
Amazing memories are unforgettable; can you share with us the most amazing memory?
My most amazing memory is being coroneted as Omo Oba of Ororuwo, Nigeria and also receiving citizenship and also being sworn in by Maada Bio President of Sierra Leone and receiving citizenship there
What advice would you give the younger ones?
Advice for the younger ones is to learn as many languages as possible, save your money, buy bitcoin and real estate NFA and get a sales job if you plan going corporate or be an entrepreneur and put as many people as possible in position to feed their families as possible.
Thank you for sharing with DNM
