Afoali Ngwakum Akisa is a Montreal-based creative mind, storyteller, and founder of 9:16 Stories, a video production company specializing in emotionally resonant, goal-driven narratives. Inspired by her father’s love for capturing family memories, Afoali turned her passion for storytelling into a thriving career, helping businesses and creators cut through the digital noise with content that connects and drives results.

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Her work has delivered measurable impact across industries. Afoali’s expertise helped Swab the World raise over $232,000 through social media campaigns, secured $614,000 in funding for Sayaspora’s mission to empower African women, and supported Juno in raising $300,000 to innovate menstrual health solutions. Known for blending creativity and strategy, Afoali ensures that her clients’ stories resonate and inspire action.

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In her workshops, Afoali empowers participants to create engaging content that not only captures attention but delivers real results. By sharing practical techniques, creative insights, and actionable strategies, she equips business owners, marketers, and creators with the tools to stand out in today’s crowded content landscape.

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James Oscar is a writer, art critic, and exhibition curator whose work lies at the intersection of experimental critique and anthropological inquiry. As a researcher at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, his work has focused on cultural policy. His academic journey has been deeply influenced by his mentorship under Martinican philosopher Édouard Glissant and his collaboration with Ato Sekyi-Otu on the works of Frantz Fanon. <span>With 25 years of experience in contemporary art, Oscar has worked at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and served as Curator-in-Residence at Fonderie Darling (2022-2023). He currently leads the Musée des Arts Libres des Amériques et du Monde (MALAM), home to a significant collection of Caribbean art. His recent exhibitions include "Illuminations" (2024), "Le Langage Secret de l'Univers" (2023), and "Music for the World of Tomorrow".<br></span>

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As a civic researcher, he has engaged in dialogues with figures such as Cornel West and has contributed to major institutions, including Radio-Canada, the Canadian Museums Association, and the Canadian Centre for Architecture. As the founder of Montréal en Action, he spearheaded North America's first public consultation on systemic racism.

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His research explores artistic practices through the lens of critical anthropology across the Americas. His publication, "Imperial Amphitheatres", was launched at the Venice Biennale.

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Dejha Carrington is a practitioner and leader in the arts.

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In 2017, Dejha co-founded Commissioner, an art membership that helps peoplecollect the work of contemporary artists in their cities. She serves as ExecutiveDirector and has thus far introduced the program in Miami, Detroit, New York,Montreal, Mexico City, and New Orleans.

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From 2015 to 2022, Dejha served as Vice President of Strategic Communications for YoungArts, the national foundation forthe advancement of artists. Previously, she led public relations initiatives with Kimball Art Museum, the Medellin Biennial inColombia, and the National Film Board of Canada.

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Dejha is a board member of the national performance arts funder MAP Fund in New York, and The Black School, an experimental schoolhouse in New Orleans. She is also a professional advisory member of Miami-Dade Art In Public Places, New York University’s Center for Black Visual Culture, and University of Miami’s Center for Global Black Studies. 

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Dejha teaches the Business of Art at New World School of the Arts at Miami-Dade College.