Tamkara Adun and her community are reshaping the way African language and history are taught

Find out how the the creator Tamkara Adun built an engaged learning community and educational products to help teach people who have been decolonized African the history of Africa and its languages.

After Tamkara, her husband, as well as her two children moved from Nigeria to the Netherlands, everything changed. The family was immersed into the culture of another country, Tamkara left her career in HR, and her children began attending a new primary school.

Tamkara noticed that in their current course, her kids were learning history from the European perspective that didn't cover all of the African stories, achievements, or civilizations.

She recollects "They were able to learn a bit about African historical events, but it was history written in a colonized story which did not mention the incredible ancestors of their people. I did not want them to be so absorbed by other's stories that they lost their individual. I wanted them to be well-rounded but also understand their African history in a way which was authentic and believed in by them."

To fill the need, Tamkara decided she would teach them herself. She started reading influential African writers, chatting with relatives, and digging into the internet's archives. "As I started teaching my students, I realized that there was a lot I didn't know," she remembers. "In the process of educating the students, I was in the process of educating myself."

Tamkara knew that if she and her family needed this information, others might too.

"It was a long and difficult journey for me. When I began, I realized that there was no way around. The more you understand what you've learned, the more you don't know. I wanted to keep learning and taking in this latest information, however I also wanted to share. The gift of knowledge is to share it with others. Don't save it just for yourself."

This belief inspired Tamkara to create an online business named Odunife  meaning "Year of Love" in Yoruba as well as to build the concept of reciprocity in a group. Many were keen to relive the past by using the African lens, and the more she spoke, the more her audience was able to teach her.

Their questions and contributions as well as her work led to education courses and eBooks. an illustrated children's book , a language school , and the 1:1 coaching program that expand the world's knowledge of African history.

A collaborative and supportive community for knowledge

Community is the heart and soul of Tamkara's venture which began by creating an Twitter account . She wanted space to document her learning experiences, even if it wasn't visible to a few users. "It was like an echo," she recalls. "I was putting content out there, and there was no response."

However, gradually Tamkara became acquainted with other people interested in African history in a non-colonial, Africa-centered viewpoint. The more content Tamkara published and shared, the more people reacted, reposted, and added their own friends to the list. The followers also began sharing their own knowledge and experiences and creating a learning environment.

"It's an exchange of information that I'm sharing and I'm still studying."

"I publish some thing  that I want to share, and the people who read the comments will expand on the concept," she explains. "It's an online community of knowledge where we're building our knowledge about the past and what happened which have occurred during the past."

Tamkara gained momentum through connecting with other creators in her field, guest blogging, and leading with passion.

In the beginning, Tamkara contacted thought leaders she liked via remarks or directly messages. Tamkara informed them that their content struck her as relevant and she shared the content of their followers to amplify their voice. She would frequently check her out and then follow her in a spirit of reciprocity.

In the end, viewers could tell she was committed to her work. "People will know when you love what you're doing. It creates trust and builds loyalty. My focus was on creating good content that people are naturally inclined to share and put me in front of more individuals," she explains.

Within two years, her Instagram account increased from 50 followers to over 24,000.

Tamkara's social network has served as the foundation of her efforts all the way. Together with her followers, they have created a positive feedback loop in which all participants can learn and share their knowledge with each others. With such a wealth of knowledge, Tamkara knew it was time to go bigger and develop her own product.

Create a community by bringing together products

"I always pay attention to what people say. A lot of times, especially on Instagram, people say what they're looking for. If something that we both are seeking isn't available I'm forced to make an offer."

She also wrote a children's book called Osasu and it was titled the Great Wall of the Benin Empire . It told the story of African ingenuity she wanted her kids to remember and she knew that many families in her community would love a book celebrating African tradition.

"It's amazing to learn about the other cultures that are part of various parts of the world However, African kids must have a grasp of their past as well. It builds self-pride and creates confidence in oneself," she elaborates. "I consider that each tale, each and every story deserves its space in the spotlight."

The next step was the language school.

"Many people have said that they want to learn African languages, particularly our brothers and sisters living in diaspora, whose grandparents were removed by the African Maafa and then had their language removed."

Then she started facilitating groups of people for sharing her language in a casual learning environment. "Anyone could join Zoom and join in. It was fun. It was a lot of laughter. I could see the difference and some excitement."

So Tamkara connected with language instructors across Africa for the purpose of creating an online school of language .

When audience members approached her asking questions with complex answers, Tamkara created a 1:1 coaching offer.

"A majority of my readers send me with questions. I would love to make an effort to reply to each of them. But certain questions require more time, thought, emotional energy as well as research. The coaching packages let us talk about the whole issue."

Through her work with the communities, Tamkara constantly identifies the needs of her community and then fills them with items that share information, love, and joy.

: A versatile platform for multi-passionate entrepreneurs

With multiple passions as well as a constant list of ideas, Tamkara needed a place to store her ideas. This was the reason she chose .

"I searched for a platform that would offer flexibility," Tamkara reflects. "I wake up in the morning and have numerous ideas running through my head. I wanted a platform that would allow me to have all my ideas on one platform."

"Having my team on hand for any technical issue removes the pressure and burden of trying to figure it all out on my own. I feel like has not only just supported me but partnered in building my business," she shares.

"I'm passionate about communicating and enjoy having multiple touchpoints for my friends to chat. If I'm online, I can talk to them right away. If I'm not available I'll receive an email alert so that I can reach out. It's also possible to send emails broadcast to my whole viewers or to a group of people interested in one of my services. It's changed the game."

The simple answer is that creators require equipment that allows them to do the best work. Like Tamkara says, " eliminates the technical tension and frees me up to concentrate on my artistic projects, which is exactly what I excel at. It's a place where I can get help and assist me. That is priceless."

Tamkara's adviceis to get assistance and pursue your goals

In the process of building Odunife, Tamkara learned how important it is having a supportive system and make bold moves. Tamkara advises others to take the same approach.

Concentrate on your strengths and don't go it alone

It's common for entrepreneurs to wear ten hats however Tamkara emphasizes to creators that nobody can accomplish it all on their own. "You can't do everything," Tamkara emphasizes. "Figure out how you can do it best , and then put your effort there. In the areas where you're not quite as skilled, get people to help you."

Do not wait around for things to become perfect

Do you have something that you would like to share to the rest of humanity? Tamkara is adamant about taking that leap and becoming a better person along the way.

"Don't expect everything to be perfect, since they'll never be perfect," Tamkara says.

"The process of learning lies in the doing. If you have an idea, go for it. It's impossible to predict what's going to result from the idea. The original concept will evolve, and you'll have numerous iterations. However, if you put off trying to achieve perfection, you'll not even begin."

You'll discover what you want to do and learn strategies to make it happen when you begin.

"We can learn how to cut the tree by cutting." -"African Proverb

Everything Tamkara knows about being an artist, she acquired from her job. It's a bit daunting to start at square one however nothing can happen until you've completed your first steps .

"A majority of people couldn't recognize my vision, however I had that deep belief that this was something I have to do. Most of the time, our intuition knows things we may not have a physical sense of. If your subconscious is insisting that you take action, or your heart will be urging you to do some thing, investigate that thought and go on that journey."

Are you prepared to begin your own journey? We'd be delighted to journey with you on your journey. Sign up for a free account now.