Connecting Leaders Across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean
Second cohort of fellows includes 12 cultural leaders from nine countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Jamaica, and Brazil
The 12-month fellowship builds on Yale’s broader Africa initiative committed to strengthening long-term partnerships, knowledge exchange, and collaboration
To date, the program has had 16 fellows, trained more than 80 professionals, and supported the establishment of eight conservation centers across Africa.
Yale University’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) has selected the second cohort of the Yale Directors Forum (YDF), an international fellowship program for cultural heritage leaders. The cohort includes 12 leaders from nine countries across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
YDF is a global network of accomplished leaders working to preserve, protect, and share cultural heritage in both tangible and intangible forms, including artworks, photographs, archives, and other cultural collections, as well as living traditions such as cuisine, music, and practices passed across generations.
“This cohort reflects the breadth and depth of leadership shaping the cultural heritage sector globally,” said Charlotte Ashamu, Director of International Programs at Yale IPCH.
“The fellows represent institutions ranging from community-based heritage sites and cultural centers to leading museums, as well as practitioners working to sustain rich traditions in areas such as cuisine and textile design. Together, they bring perspectives from institutions stewarding cultural collections and those preserving living traditions in their communities, enriching the exchange between Yale and cultural leaders worldwide.”
Now in its second cycle, the 12-month fellowship builds on Yale’s broader Africa initiative and reflects a strategic commitment to strengthening long-term partnerships, knowledge exchange, and collaboration across Africa.
Through convenings, workshops, and engagement with Yale faculty and peers, fellows deepen expertise in cultural heritage leadership and expand professional networks while strengthening their institutions’ capacity to care for collections such as photographs, artworks, and historical documents.
To date, the program has had 16 fellows, trained more than 80 professionals, and supported the establishment of eight conservation centers across Africa. The second cohort further strengthens connections between Africa and the African diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through YDF, Yale is expanding its global engagement in cultural heritage by building sustained relationships with leading institutions and practitioners across regions, creating opportunities for deeper knowledge exchange, collaboration, and shared learning.
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About Yale’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage: The Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) was established in 2011 at Yale University. It is dedicated to advancing the field of preservation through art, science, and human connection. The Institute’s mission is to preserve and promote cultural heritage through interdisciplinary research, conservation, and educational opportunity across Yale’s campus and around the globe. IPCH Programming promotes collaborative partnerships across Yale’s collections and strengthens the cultural heritage community of practice through partnerships and programs in the Global South and beyond.
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Yale Directors Forum 2026 Fellows
Africa
Nigeria
Aisha Adamu Augie — Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC)
Leads an institution dedicated to preserving the arts, history, and culture of Africa and its DiasporaNigeria
Fu’ad Lawal — Founder, Archivi.ng
Develops digital archives preserving Nigerian newspapers and historical records for public access.Ghana
Sylvia Arthur — Founder, Library of Africa and the African Diaspora (LOATAD)
Leads a library and research institute dedicated to preserving the literary heritage of Africa and its Diaspora.Kenya
Iona McCreath — Director of Special Projects, KikoRomeo
Leads initiatives preserving East African fashion and textile heritage.Democratic Republic of Congo
Jess Kilubukila — Founder, Kilubukila Cultural Projects
Works with communities in the DRC to preserve Kuba textile heritage and knowledge systems.South Africa
Batana Vundla — Executive Director, Eyethu Heritage Hall
Leads a cultural institution rooted in one of South Africa’s earliest Black-owned cinemas.South Africa
Wandile Mabaso — Founder, Les Créatifs
Chef preserving South African culinary heritage through contemporary cuisine.Togo
Silvia Rosi — Archivist, Dans les Yeux de Chantal Kponton Lawson Association
Preserves the photographic archive of Togo’s first female photographer.Caribbean
Jamaica
Kirt Henry — Director, African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica / Jamaica Memory Bank
Stewards national collections and intangible cultural heritage across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.Jamaica
Faith Anderson — Director, Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey
Leads Jamaica’s only museum dedicated to Marcus Garvey’s life and legacy.Latin America
Brazil
Raquel Barreto — Chief Curator, Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro (MAM Rio)
Curator at one of Brazil’s leading modern and contemporary art museums.Panama
Ana Elizabeth González — Executive Director, Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá - Leads a museum documenting Panama’s interoceanic history and global maritime connections.©Higher Education Media Services.
