# Dòwòti Désir

Her Royal Majesty (HRM) Queen mother Sêmévo 1st is a spiritual leader academic, human rights advocate, and cultural figure known for her work within the African Diaspora and her leadership in Afro-Atlantic religious systems.
She is the Queen mother of the African Diaspora of the Benin Republic and serves as an ambassador for African cultural and spiritual traditions.

## Background

Before her enthronement, Queen mother Sêmévo 1st was known widely as Dr. Dòwòti Désir. She was born to Cuban and Haitian parents in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This background reflects her interconnectedness of the African Diaspora, as her heritage is rooted in both histories shaped by enslavement, liberation and African heritage.
In 2022, Dr. Dòwòti Désir was formally enthroned as Queen mother Sêmévo 1st at the Royal Palace of Agonlin in Benin. In her role as Queen mother, she serves as a cultural ambassador and a member of the High Council of Kings of Benin (Haut Conseil des Rois du Bénin), an institution that represents the traditional monarchs of the region.

## Advocacy & Career

As part of this role, Queen mother Sêmévo 1st works to promote connections between the African continent and its Diaspora, focusing on cultural exchange, education, and leadership. She is the Founder and Commander-In-Chief of the Imperial Corps Agoodjié of the African Diaspora (ICAAD) a women's leadership and education program. She holds the traditional title of Kpodjito (Mother of the Leopard) and is building the foundation of the Royal Palace of the African Diaspora. Her work is aligned with the UN International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024, and the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.
As the Kpodjito of the Royal Palace of the African Diaspora, the Queen Mother works in partnership with various entities to generate public-educational programs, scholarship and documentation intended to serve heads-of-state; government/non-government organizations; and various institutions who are building bridges and scaffolding ties between the worlds of Africa and her Diaspora.
Also, she has worked in cultural advocacy and arts administration, particularly in the areas of African-American and African Diaspora cultural preservation. She was the first executive director of the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial Educational and Cultural Center in New York, and has been involved with organizations such as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Studio Museum in Harlem.
In addition to her leadership in cultural and spiritual areas, Queen mother Sêmévo 1st has held academic positions at various institutions, including Dutchess Community College, Brooklyn College and City University of New York (CUNY). She holds a Doctorate in Ministry from The New Seminary in Interfaith Studies, and her academic work focuses on human rights, Afro-Atlantic religious systems, and social justice. Her writing includes works on reparations, African heritage, and Afro-Atlantic spiritual practices.
Queen mother Sêmévo 1st is the author of several books and essays on topics related to Afro-Atlantic spirituality, human rights, and the African Diaspora. Notable works include Essays in Human Rights: A Vodou Priest's Perspective, Réparations: Une exigence urgente pour l’Humanité, and Wanga: Haitian Hoodoo (2022).

## Research

Women traditional leaders such as Queen mother Sêmévo 1st are being studied in a University of Ghana project titled "Women and Political Participation in Africa: A Comparative Study of Representations and Roles of Female Chiefs", which is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. In this project, a mixed-methods approach is adopted to comparatively study women's representation in the institution of chieftaincy and their influence on women's rights and wellbeing in Botswana, Ghana, Liberia, and South Africa.
Lead researchers on the project, Peace A. Medie, Adriana A. E Biney, Amanda Coffie and Cori Wielenga, have also published an opinion piece titled "Women traditional leaders could help make sure the pandemic message is heard" in The Conversation, which discusses how women traditional leaders can educate their subjects on COVID-19.
Funding from the British Academy has enabled Peace A. Medie to continue working on the project.