What We Do
About Us
Shidaa African Culture Project is a West African organization specializing in conducting workshops in schools and community organizations throughout Vermont and New England as well as the entire Northeast US to promote diversity through drumming, dance, fabric printing with Adinkra symbols, drum making, beading, and cooking.
We believe and specialize in teaching traditional West African culture through drum/dance, fabric printing using Adinkra symbols, drum making, beading, and cooking.
Meet Us
Jordan Mensah, MBA
Jordan started traditional African Drumming at age 9 in Ghana. He grew up in Bukom, a suburb of Accra, a community where drum and dance played an integral part of all community activities.
He is a Juried Artist listed with the Vermont Arts Council, and has organized Onion River Arts and Community Connections sponsored residencies in elementary and high schools across Vermont, as well as workshops for adult community groups in Adamant, Barre and Plainfield. He is a resource person on African Traditional studies.
Heather Preis, MBA
Heather Preis is an accountant by profession, and the coordinator of the Ghana project. She ensures that shipments from Vermont to Ghana reach the needy.
Prosper Kuardio
Prosper is from La Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). A pioneering member of the Koteba National Dance Ensemble of La Cote D’Ivoire, he has performed all over the world. He has collaborated with Jeh Kulu drum/dance company. He is enthusiastic about teaching others African culture through dance and drums.
Julie Hunter, PhD
Julie, a native of Vermont, studied ethnomusicology at Brown University and completed her Ph.D. in 2011 with a specialization in the music of Africa.
She has studied a variety of West African drum and dance repertoire since 2001 and has performed with the Shidaa African Culture Project, Dromonaa Drum and Dance Group in Accra, Ghana, and Brown University’s Ghanaian Drumming and Dancing Ensemble. She has had the opportunity to work with expert performers including Martin Obeng, Gyane-Kwame Ahima, Daniel Atiso, Stephen Atiso, and Manavi Deku. Julie’s research focuses on the rise of women’s drumming in Africa, performance of gender in Ewe traditions, and use of music as a tool for community change. She is a lecturer of music at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Team Ghana
Following our deep passion for reaching the needy and less privileged in Ghana where various ethnographic challenges are confronted (not to mention the ongoing challenges the Covid-19 has created), the need for a strong, stable, & well organized local team is paramount. The Shidaa projects Inc. is represented in Ghana by Team Ghana, a three member group of dedicated individuals with various philanthropic, human-centered, & customer-oriented project experiences. The team serves as a reliable bridge between shipped consignments from the Shidaa Projects Inc. (USA), and the designated recipients (schools, children, students, families) in Ghana 🇬🇭 🇬🇭
Dolly Naa Abrahams (MBA)
Dolly heads Team Ghana of Shidaa, which has facilitated the clearing, storage, and distribution of shipped items from the US since 2019. She is, primarily, a Senior data management officer of Ghana’s Social Security & National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
With an MBA in human resource management, and over 13 years of work experience in accounts management, shipping/clearing logistics, marketing strategies, and a variety of communication, supervisory, and management skills, Dolly Abrahams has been a vital collaborative component of Team Ghana’s collective leadership, as well as in her own personal leadership initiatives.
In a patriarchal society like Ghana, women in leadership stand tall in qualitative administration and results achievement. The Shidaa Projects, Inc. is profoundly appreciative of Dolly’s role in Ghana.
Abraham Nii Tetteh Djarbann
Abraham Tetteh Djarbann is an educationist and school administrator. He has managed numerous educational institutions, including Modern Sch of Draughtsmanship (Accra) where he was Headmaster for over 20 years.
Mr. Andrew Ajetunmobi
Mr. Andrew Ajetunmobi is an IT specialist of the Unique Insurance Company, Ltd. (Ridge, Accra), where he has gathered more than a decade’s experience in computer related solutions to organizational operations.
Additionally, he has several years of experience in staff welfare management, including the enacting regulatory framework covering his employer’s social responsibilities towards employees in periods of maternity, sickness, and/or bereavement.
Having served as Chairperson of the staff association in his workplace, Andrew has spearheaded many philanthropic projects of Unique Insurance for the benefit of the Osu Children’s Home and many other orphanages in Accra.
In Team Ghana, Andrew’s organizational skills have been invaluable in navigating ethnographic challenges in Ghana, and delivering services to the needy.