Nationwide — Diallo Sumbry, an HBCU graduate of the University of DC, and Dr. Ashley Milton, an HBCU graduate of Florida A&M University, have made history as the cultural architects behind African Liberation Day. On Monday, May 25, 2026, they held an engaging online webinar launching the State of the Africa Diaspora Report, a groundbreaking research initiative examining how Africa and its diaspora engage across systems, capital, skills, and institutions. The webinar lasted for 1.5 hours and featured remarks and support from the Head of UNESCO Ghana, Mr. Edmund Moukla, H.E. King Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, Special Envoy to the Caribbean, Office of the President and H.E. Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett, Founder and Head of Mission at the Diaspora Africa Forum.
Based in Accra, Ghana, Diallo Sumbry is the President & CEO of The Adinkra Group and founder of the Black Star Center for Resource & Repatriation, and Dr. Ashley Milton is the Founder & Managing Director of She Grows It and Editor-in-Chief.
Their State of the Africa Diaspora Report is a continental grounding initiative examining the systems shaping Africa and its global diaspora through research, lived experience, policy dialogue, and data collection designed to strengthen long-term coordination, mobility, investment, and institutional development across the African world.
The central question: What are the ground-level economic realities, system gaps, and readiness conditions on the continent for diaspora engagement to be productive, equitable, and sustained?
The Accra convening – hosted by The Black Star Resource and Repatriation Center in partnership with the Diaspora African Forum and African Communications Agency, endorsed by the UNESCO Ghana Office and Office of The President, Special Envoy to the Caribbean, brought together over 130 participants including business leaders, government officials, civil society representatives, community leaders, youth, women entrepreneurs, and informal sector workers virtually for the launch.
“This is not a symbolic event,” said Diallo. “We are doing serious work to understand our own systems, our capital needs, our barriers to scale, and our institutional readiness – before asking the diaspora to engage. That’s a completely different conversation from what has been attempted before.”
The Research Innovation – The State of the Africa Diaspora Report breaks new ground by:
• Starting with African reality, not diaspora assumptions;
• Mapping ground-level intelligence on what continental economies need (capital, skills, systems, market access);
• Assessing readiness in specific sectors and communities;
• Identifying barriers to productive engagement (not just lack of capital, but governance, supply chains, technology, institutions);
• Defining non-negotiables that continental Africans will not compromise on in diaspora partnerships;
“Africa doesn’t lack capital,” said Dr. Ashley Milton. “Africa lacks systems. Our work is understanding what those systems are and what conditions must be in place before external investment can be absorbed productively.”
What Happens Next
Immediate (Next 2 – 4 weeks):
• Identify leads across Africa & the Global Black Diaspora to engage them in training and alignment on data collection, aggregation and synthesis
• Continue to share the State of the Africa Diaspora Survey (2026)
• Host a virtual call for Potential Partners
June 19, 2026 (Juneteenth) – Report Exposure Draft Launch
Alongside the High-Level Consultative Conference on the Next Steps to the Landmark UN Resolution on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Office of the President.
Location TBA
Short-term (Next 6 months):
• Launch of 2,000-participant Africa-diaspora survey
• Ongoing working groups to track readiness progress
• Sector-specific networks (agriculture, creative, tech, etc.) begin quarterly convening
1st & 2nd Quarter 2027:
• State of the Africa Diaspora Report 2027 (flagship publication)
• Policy briefs for government
• Investment readiness guides for diaspora and development finance institutions
• Establishment of ongoing systems for Africa-diaspora coordination
About the Initiative
The State of the Africa Diaspora Report is a continental research and engagement platform focused on understanding and strengthening Africa-diaspora systems through rigorous data collection, facilitated dialogue, and coordinated action.
For more information:
Black Star Resource & Repatriation Center
+233 59 893 3851
+233 50 690 5990
blackstarcenter@theadinkragroup.com
FOR PRESS CREDENTIALS or INTERVIEWS:
Ms. Keren Johnson
+233 50 754 8033
theafricadiasporareport@gmail.com