About Kustawi Institute

Kustawi is a knowledge institute that begins from the groundation that, having been formed in the image and likeness of the Grantor of Dominion (GoD), African descent boys and men will thrive by reclaiming their unalienable rights to create and live as self-aware, healthy, self-reliant and spiritual beings in the human community. Kustawi aims to be a space of awakening and re-membering (i.e., putting together that which was broken) through knowledge dissemination, personal development and professional training to facilitate the actualization of African descent boys, men and those who love them to experience with real-eyes (i.e., realize) how they can stand in the power of their inner selves endowed by GoD. They will shed the trauma of ‘Be-Lacking’ and ‘Being the Lack’ (i.e., black or Black) to experience and live the power of the creative force of the GoD within themselves.

The idea for Kustawi comes decades of dialogue, observation of trends and from my ongoing research into sexual tropes, trauma, resilience and recovery in the lives of African descent boys and men. The Institute answers an urgent need for bold and honest thinking, problem solving, access to research and community and societal dialogue.

As important as publishing the results of my research may be, the Kustawi Institute has been launched because neither the research contributors, myself, nor, indeed, the public should have to wait for the published results. In fact, given the sensitive nature of the research and to avoid what sociologist Martin Nicolaus calls “social espionage”, the publication of findings must, of necessity, lag behind concrete steps that will contribute to the thriving of African descent boys and men in Canada. To, therefore, avoid further harming the image of African descent boys, men and those who love them, carefully curated publications will follow. Until then, other forms of knowledge dissemination and concrete steps for their thriving are needed. Kustawi aims to be a resource and space that will to contribute to that thriving.