Dr. Ramatu Afegbua-Sabbatt is a native of Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria, and a proud descendant of the Royal Family of the Afegbua tribe in Okpella. Her passion for the arts began early at just 14, she was already performing on Nigerian state television in classics such as Wedlock of the Gods by Zulu Sofola and The Gods Are Not to Blame by Ola Rotimi.

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In 1988, Ramatu immigrated to Atlanta, Georgia, bringing with her a deep commitment to sharing African culture. A graduate in Business Administration with a major in Marketing, she has also served as a teacher through Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). She later earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Saint Leo University, Florida, in 2012, in addition to diplomas in Insurance and Education.

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For more than three decades, Dr. Afegbua-Sabbatt has been a driving force in preserving and presenting authentic African dance in the U.S. She has performed with leading cultural dance companies across Atlanta including Extensions of Africa, African Dance Connections, Uhuru Dancers, Barefoot Ballet Manya, Giwayen Mata, and Ballethnic Dance Company’s renowned Leopard’s Tale. She co-founded Barefoot Ballet Manya and later founded Giwayen Mata (“Elephant Leaders of Women”), the first all-female African percussion ensemble, breaking barriers in a tradition historically reserved for men.

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Her impact extends beyond the stage. Listed in the Fulton County School Arts Program and the Georgia Council for the Arts’ Residency Directory, she has also contributed to Young Audiences/Woodruff Arts Center. For the past 17 years, Dr. Afegbua-Sabbatt has taught in the Atlanta Ballet’s Dance Education Program, inspiring new generations of artists while keeping African traditions alive.

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Through Manga African Dance, she continues to blend education, performance, and community engagement—carrying forward the rhythms, stories, and spirit of Africa for the world to experience.