Ọdúnìfẹ́: Amplifying African Voices & Traditions

Our Work

At Ọdúnìfẹ́, we indigenize and amplify African history, languages, and wellness practices, connecting historical events with current realities. Inspired by the African proverb, “Until the lion learns to tell its own history, the hunter will always be the hero,” our mission is built on three foundational pillars:

  1. Decolonizing + Amplifying African History: Through research and knowledge dissemination.

  2. Preserving African Languages: Via language preservation and advocacy, cultural exchange, and connecting learners with qualified language tutors.

  3. Amplifying Indigenous Wellness practices: Bringing wellness modalities into personal, professional, and collective domains through breathwork.

Contact us to customize a workshop, presentation, or experience for your organization’s needs.

Preserving culture, amplifying voices, and celebrating African heritage

At Ọdúnìfẹ́ Global, we believe that understanding and embracing cultural heritage and language is key to building stronger communities, organisations, and individuals. Our resources provide insights into African history, languages, and storytelling traditions — connecting people to their roots while fostering appreciation and respect across cultures.


What We Offer

Language Learning Resources
Access to over 18 African languages, with guidance from expert tutors to support
fluency, communication, and cultural understanding

  • Cultural Heritage Materials
    Curated resources that explore African history, traditions, and storytelling, helping organisations and individuals connect with rich cultural narratives

  • Workshops & Experiential Learning
    Interactive sessions that bring language and heritage to life through storytelling, rituals, and communal practices

Advisory for Organisations
Support for embedding cultural heritage into corporate initiatives, DEI strategies, and community engagement programs


Why It Matters

Language and heritage are more than academic subjects — they are living tools for connection, identity, and resilience. Understanding cultural roots strengthens empathy, fosters inclusion, and preserves knowledge for future generations.

By integrating heritage and language into learning and organisational practices, individuals and teams gain:

  • Deeper cultural awareness and cross-cultural competency

  • Stronger communication and connection across diverse communities

  • A sense of identity, pride, and continuity

  • Tools for storytelling, engagement, and knowledge preservation

    Next Steps

    Explore our Heritage & Language Resources or book a session to bring cultural learning into your organisation. [Book Tamkara here]


𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 E-𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬

African History is World History

  • African History: Discover African history through a decolonized lens and an African-centered perspective, with courses for both children and young learners.

  • Language Courses: Self-guided e-courses are available for Yoruba, Swahili, Igbo, Amharic, Twi, and Hausa, taught by skilled tutors.

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Whether reconnecting with roots, decolonizing language, or preparing for business in Africa, our professional language tutors are ready to support you.

We pride ourselves on matching our learners with the most qualified language tutors who are knowledgeable, passionate, and kind.

Available: Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, isiXhosa, Kiswahili, Twi, Akan Setswana, Wolof, Shona, Luganda, Lingala, Hausa, Esan, Benin, Bemba, Kimbundu, Amharic, Tigrinya, Chichewa, Tshiluba, Mende, Doula, Pidgin, Kikongo, Runyankole, and more.....


Sign up for a 12-week, 6-week, or 4-week language learning plan.What are you waiting for? 


Our tutors are keen to meet you!
For custom workshops on cultural awareness and cultural immersion, workshops:  Email tamkara@odunife.com

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝙁𝙪𝙣𝙢𝙞 𝘼 (𝙐𝙆)

Igbo Language Session

It was a really good lesson! For feedback, I would say I liked how he broke things down and was very patient with the fact that I’m a beginner. It was just the first lesson so hopefully, as we go along I can learn more about how to structure sentences in Igbo. But overall, it was really good and helpful and I’m excited to learn more.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙖 (𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨)

Yoruba Language Session

For me it was a positive experience. Mr. Babatunde was relaxed and easy going and made it comfortable for me to get started with the material. it was nice that he also talked a bit about the context of the language. I think it was good that he adapted to my way of learning quickly and had sight for where to speed up or slow down, and didn't stick to a fixed way of teaching.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝘿 (𝙐𝙆)

Twi Language Session

Nathaniel comes across as a good and patient teacher whom promoted and gave time to each of us which was appreciated. He was very encouraging and the lesson was fun and informative. It is good to know that future lessons will also include some time spent on learning more about Ghanaian culture.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Client Review + sneak peak into a language session!

Heres what one of our happy language clients had to say :-)

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐩-𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢 𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨

There is nothing more we love than a great success story.
Our learners Chaka and Axsal communicate in Swahili with the lovely people of the DRC.
Compare their starting journey and their language progress after only 6 months of learning with one of our awesome Swahili tutors - Brenda!
See the great work they are doing on the DRC after the Volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, Goma, DRC occurred in 2021 rendering many homeless. See their work here and here.

Testimonials


Odunife was a tremendous resource as we unearthed our connection to an Indigenous tongue. The workshops and sessions were incredibly engaging, thoughtful, and compatible with real life.

We loved that the facilitators were from different African countries - enriching us who are in the US with more cultural awareness and understanding.

The founder Tamkara, was present and delightful, every step of the way and made the experience one to remember always.

We truly appreciated partnering with you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ms. D. Malone | Programs & Facilities Manager, Purdue Black Cultural Center West Lafayette, IN 47907

𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐫í𝐤ì

Oríkì is the oral praise poetry of the indigenous Yórùbá communities of Western Africa.
"Orí" means head
"Kì" means to praise, or greet, or to offer accolades by way of a song or a chant. 
It's usually accompanied by a talking drum (gangan). Which echoes the tonality of the Yoruba language.
Listening to your Oríkì can be a deeply affirming and rewarding experience
We'd love to get to know you so that we can create a personalized Oríkì for you!!🧡 

𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧: 𝐎𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐮 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞

"Osasu & The great wall of the Benin Empire"  is told from the point of view of Osasu, a young Edo boy who lived in the ancient Benin Empire and enjoys the comfort and protection of the Great Wall of Benin that was built by his ancestors.

A must-read for every child interested in untold histories. Children of all nationalities will benefit from the exposure and expansion of their minds as they immerse themselves in this beautiful African History.You can download the worksheets directly here

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐮 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥

Kids love Osasu & The Great Wall of Benin Empire — a powerful story that brings African history to life and sparks young minds with pride and curiosity.

Image of Sankofa-A bird with feet forward but looking back to learn lessons from the past.

Our Core Values:

Respect, Honor, and integrity in historical narration.

Our values are rooted in the principle of “Sankofa, "an indigenous philosophy of the Akan people of Ghana. (see Sankofa image above)

"Sankofa" means “Go back and get it"

It is represented as a bird and expresses the belief that the past is a true guide for understanding the present and creating the future. 

Ways to engage with our work:

-Sign up for an African language session here

-Explore our E-Books and E-courses here

Buy "Osasu and the Great Wall of the Benin Empire" here

-Invite us to speak at your organization here

-Donate here

Read Tamkara's Creator Story

Learn how Podia creator Tamkara Adun built an engaged learning community and educational product line to teach decolonized African history and languages.

Chinua Achebe

"Nobody can teach me who I am. You can describe parts of me, but who I am - and what I need - is something I have to find out myself."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Who I've worked with

Open Society Foundations

Purdue University, USA

Podia

Booking.com

ACMN - African and Caribbean Medical Network

Aieloc

MM Creative Productions, Australia

Kidsville Academy Nigeria

Royal African Society, UK

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Support our work to Decolonize history?

We run programs, free E-courses, and language training to provide access to quality education on African history and language to under-served communities.
Every donation made, increases our impact and amplifies our reach. Thank you for being a part of our community!
You are welcome to make a one-time donation here.
Sign up to receive our free and reader-supported Biweekly Newsletter here

Osasu & the Great Wall of the Benin Empire

The Great Benin Empire was an empire kingdom in West Africa known for its great wealth, intricately planned cities, and beautiful bronze sculptures. This empire attracted visitors from far away lands.  It was well known for its great wall that stood four times longer than the Great Wall of China and that provided a sense of pride and security to its people. Osasu, a young Edo boy living in Benin City, finds comfort...

Layla F. Saad

Website

“Written for children but enlightening for readers of all ages, Osasu and the Great Wall of the Benin Empire provides a delightful view into a part of pre-colonial Africa. We are starved of these stories, and so desperately need to hear them. Tamkara’s wonderfully written story paired with beautiful illustrations give us an accessible way to understand African history and the history of European colonialism. And for those of us of African descent, it reminds us to be proud of our heritage and find strength in our ancestors.”

Explore all our African History and African Language E-courses.
More Courses are added monthly!

Testimonials

These history lessons are not taught in schools! I highly recommend this course to kids as well as their parents.
As a history lover, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the videos and challenging my perspectives of what I had thought to be historical facts versus myths.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dr. Rubina Rahiman

https://members.mepa.me/viewprofile.php?id=401

I just wanted to reach out and thank you for this great learning module on African History. My 4 year old and I are doing it together and I’m so happy this is now available for her. Now she gets to learn about things that I never really got in school when I was young. I’m telling all the moms at school about this too. 
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

J.F

I highly recommend it.

The course lays out the facts about African history, a history that our children can own and take pride in

 We Africans have a proud heritage, and it's time our children and their friends knew more about it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Olukemi Gbadegbo

Experience Breathwork infused with memory and sound for collective healing.

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  • €145

Let's create your Oríkì

  • Course
  • 1 Lesson


Oríkì is the oral praise poetry of the indigenous Yórùbá communities of Western Africa.

It is expressed by drums and chant in the Yoruba language which is spoken by over 40 million people in parts of West Africa (Nigeria, Benin, Togo) and Brazil.

"Orí" means head

"Kì" means to praise, or greet, and offer accolades by way of a song or a chant. 

Oríkì is usually accompanied by a talking drum (“gangan”). The drum reinforces and echoes the tonality of the chant.

 In the Yoruba culture, one’s identity is closely tied to the community. This is reflective of the African philosophy of "I am because you are".

And this philosophy is closely tied to the core and the essence of Oríkì.

Through the gift of Oríkì we speak celebratory words of praise in honor of the individual in his own right and also as a member of his community and lineage as we recount their personal exploits and that of their ancestors and forebears.

Listening to your Oríkìi is a deeply affirming and rewarding experience. One that has the power to elicit strong emotions and even goosebumps!

 Oríkì is an affirmation and a salute that speaks of your essence, your history, and your connection to something greater.

It's a prayer, a prophecy, and a major hype that increase your vibration by telling you who you are and why YOU can and will do great things.

 An Oríkì will essentially speak life into your being through carefully curated Yoruba words that tell of your past, present, and future. 

You deserve a specially curated  Oríkì 

 We'd love to get to know you so that we can create a personalized Oríkì for you!!🧡 

Curious to hear an Oríkì?

Click to listen to a celebratory Oríkì 

Oríkì Ibeji (Ẹ̀jìrẹ́)

Listen to Oríkì Ibeji (Ẹ̀jìrẹ́)
This is an Oríkì for the birth of twins.

Corporate/ Business Oríkì

If you would like to create an Oríkì for your business, event, or team, please email tamkara@odunife.com.

Testimonials

Dear Tamkara,

Thank you so much! 

My Oriki is absolutely brilliant. I will make sure to use your services again, and tell family and friends!

Rhaeyven Daye

Oriki for baby.
Grand Rising QueenSis!! 
Just listened to the Oriki! Wow just beautiful. 
The Chanters voice is soothing and powerful! 
This is so beautiful. We will do this for all of our children and eventually for ourselves too. Sending much love and light to you today!

Brittani B

Through the process of creating an oríkì, Tamkara has been professional, thoughtful, and delivered prompt service. The oríkì is exactly what I wanted and appropriately reflects me.

Petra Laptiste

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History

  • €12.99

African Flags Colouring Book with 54 African Countries!

  • Download
  • 1 file

African Flags Coloring Book: A Journey Through 54 Nations Unleash your creativity while exploring the vibrant cultures of Africa with this African Flags Coloring Book! Featuring the national flags of all 54 African countries, this book is perfect for kids and adults alike who want to learn about the diverse and rich heritage of the African continent in a fun and interactive way. Perfect as a gift or for your own use

  • €12.99

African History Colouring Book- 41 Great Leaders of African Descent

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  • 1 file

Learn about 41 Remarkable African Leaders in an Engaging and Educational Way Discover influential leaders like Imhotep, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Malcolm X, Shaka Zulu, Steve Biko, Mansa Musa, Queen Nandi, Samory Toure, Yaa Asantewaa, Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, Harriet Tubman, Kwame Nkrumah and others. Discover their powerful stories, contributions and enduring impact on history and culture.

Language

  • €9.99

Igbo Language Download- Basic greetings and Introduction with Audio!

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  • 1 file

Basic Igbo greetings and Introductions with Audio! Igbo Affirmations included!

  • €9.99

Kirundi Language Download- basic Greetings and Introductions with Audio!

  • Download
  • 1 file

Basic Kirundi greetings and Introductions with Audio! Kirundi Affirmations included!

  • €9.99

Lingala Language- Basic Introductions with Audio

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  • 1 file

Basic Lingala greetings and Introductions with Audio! Igbo Affirmations included!

  • €9.99

Swahili Language download- Basic greetings and Introductions with Audio!

  • Download
  • 1 file

Basic Swahili greetings and Introductions with Audio! Swahili Affirmations included!

Want to Learn an African Language?

Our African language classes are the perfect solution for your learning needs. We offer the perfect blend of personalized care, structure, and interactivity, empowering you to expand your vocabulary at your own pace, wherever you are in the world.

We teach: Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, isiXhosa, Kiswahili, Twi, Setswana, Wolof, Shona, Luganda, Lingala, Hausa, Kimbundu, Amharic, Tigrinya, Chichewa, Tshiluba, Mende, Doula, Pidgin, Kikongo, Fon, Bambara, Runyankole, Kirundi and more.....