AfrobeatJournal

Eddison Ade Skerritt – President

Eddison Ade Skerritt is an educator, poet, and journalist. His work is centered around community health and development in the African diaspora. Ade was born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where he was educated up to the secondary level. He moved to New York City in 1970; there he continued his education, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees at New York University, and Teachers College, respectively.

Ade’s work in Journalism, in the Caribbean, and in New York City, provided him a comprehensive understanding of contemporary media, and how these could inform and advance the interest of specific communities.

His work as a secondary school language educator, in NYC, has provided a broad perspective on the vast array of issues and challenges confronting contemporary urban youth. This work has also given insight into how unhealthy attitudes and behaviors could be addressed in the advancement of the interest of youth in the African diaspora.

As a poet/creative writer, Ade has considerable skill and understanding of language, and its power to enhance individual lives, and to promote dialogue between disparate communities. Ade is honored to be part of the managerial team at Afrobeat Journal/AfrobeatRadio. He is proud to be working on the development of this advanced technological platform for the promotion of global African values, art, history, and social and technological advancements.

Robin Semple – Member

Robin Semple has decades of non-profit and development experience working in international, arts, and higher education fundraising. Robin has a B.A. in Middle East and Black Studies from Fordham University and has traveled internationally.

A professional Genealogist, who holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, and Graduate Certificate in Forensic Genetic Genealogy from The Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science at University of New Haven, Robin spends much of her time researching, writing, and helping others discover their family stories. She is the Co-President of the Richard B. Dickenson Chapter of the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society (AAHGS); one of two New York chapters focused on researching African American history and genealogy.

Robin Semple is a Vice President for Development at The Rutgers University Foundation and serves as Vice Chancellor for Development at Rutgers University-Newark. Robin is also the former Board Secretary of Cave Canem, which is known internationally as a home for Black Poetry.

Ségun Ògúntólá – Board Secretary

Ségun Ògúntólá is a co-author of Black Session (ReadThis Books, New York, 2023); the author of Bewitchment (ReadThis Books, New York, 2020); editor of Another World Is Possible: Collected Writings of Omóyelé Sówore (ReadThis Books, New York, 2020); and author of In Celebration of All that Burdens Us (Seaburn Publishing Group, New York, 2006). He lives in New York City.

He believes Literature wants to sing to us anew about existence, the human condition, our unsettling societal and personal concerns, and strives to be its conduit.

He is currently working on a multi-book literary novel. More about Segun: https://segunoguntola.com/

Wuyi Jacobs Vice President, CEO 

Wuyi Jacobs is the founder of AfrobeatRadio Inc. and the executive producer and co-host of AfrobeatRadio on WBAI 99.5 FM, a weekly African public affairs, news, and music program broadcast on Pacifica Radio since 2008. With over two decades of experience in the Information Technology sector, Wuyi combines his technical expertise with his passion for media and culture.

As the executive director of AfrobeatRadio Inc., Wuyi oversees a nonprofit multimedia network that includes a radio station and Afrobeat Journal a current affairs based social network, and a multi-channel repository. Wuyi’s multifaceted career also includes roles as a documentarian, archivist, and educator. In the IT sector, Wuyi is a goal-oriented professional who has provided a wide range of services and solutions, specializing in the unique needs of not-for-profit entities and social service organizations, as well as small and medium-sized businesses. 

Wuyi Jacobs holds a BA in English and an MS in Management and Urban Policy from The New School.