Arikana Chihombori-Quao, a medical doctor and activist, is known for her roles as a public speaker, educator, diplomat, founder of medical clinics, and entrepreneur. Having spent many years in Zimbabwe, she later relocated to the United States. Chihombori-Quao is the CEO and founder of Bell Family Medical Centers in the US and previously served as the African Union representative to the US from 2017 to 2019. She holds a bachelor's degree in General Chemistry, a master's degree in organic chemistry, and a Doctor of Medicine degree. In Tennessee, she specialized in family medicine and practiced for 29 years in Murfreesboro.
Chihombori openly discusses the repercussions of the 1885 Berlin Conference held in Germany. She educates on the lasting effects of the territorial divisions in Africa resulting from the conference. She believes these divisions are responsible for certain ongoing issues in Africa. Her goal is to bring together African nations, the African diaspora scattered due to historical events like slavery and colonization, and the intra-African diaspora.
In January 2019, Chihombori-Quao initiated the "Wakanda One Village Project", which is set to commence in Zambia and Zimbabwe with land offers from both countries. The project aims to involve Africans in the Diaspora and will establish five African Centers of Excellence across the continent. These centers will serve as hubs for development, featuring advanced healthcare facilities, hotels, residential areas, shopping centers, and more. On October 7, 2019, she was informed via letter that she was no longer the African Union ambassador in Washington, as her efforts to empower African nations towards self-sufficiency were deemed contrary to the national interests of the USA. Subsequently, an online petition was launched advocating for Chihombori-Quao's reinstatement.
Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao is recognized as a highly influential Black leader, often likened to Martin Luther King, Jr. Her impassioned message advocating for the economic liberation of Africa and Black communities globally is a constant in her speeches. Dr. Chihombori-Quao prioritizes youth leadership, education, and economic empowerment, alongside emphasizing the importance of historical accuracy and truth in global Black/African history, as well as the self-reliance of African nations.
European colonizers exploited Africa's people, resources, finances, and power through slavery and colonization. Dr. Chihombori-Quao, also known as "Mama Africa," criticized the misrepresentation of African nations by countries like France in her speech at the Women's Panel of the Afro United Festival. She denounced France's exploitation of African countries' resources without benefiting them or the environment, while seeking to maintain military power and influence. Dr. Chihombori-Quao firmly opposes any new colonization attempts in Africa through violence, coercion, or subversion, highlighting the irresponsible debt imposed through aid that only serves puppet leadership. She stresses that Africa's pursuit of economic independence, food security, intra-African trade, and sustainable energy is not and has never been a coup.
Dr, Arikana believes it is the African youth that will lead the rrest into a prosperous and sustainable future. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, and Peter Obi jointly rallied the youth in Ghana and Africa to remain resilient and “help build the Africa we want.” "Realizing the power of a combined effort to raise black economics, health, and education and recast Black history can do an immeasurable amount of good for us across the globe. Lastly, investing back into the motherland can provide business opportunities and create wealth for us that has been difficult to obtain and sustain in our respective countries across the diaspora. I, for one, can’t wait to learn more about ways I can’t invest in the motherland to increase the quality of my life..." Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao
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