Manga Petel
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Maya Hawkins
Maiat Hunter
Zara Lewis
Zoie Lewis
Zyah Lewis
Nadiyah Lewis
Navina Lewis
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Manga
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Denisha Bunmi Abrams
Kristina Banks Diomande
Morris Ife Butler
Praise Ekeng
Urielle Joseph
Aisha Mahmud
Fatima Sabbatt
Myra Coman
Vincent Scott
Kokayi Postell
Shantel Dunnaville
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Manga Edeliegba
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Melissa Beverly
Ramatu Afegbua-Sabbatt
Manga Edeliegba & Manga
Ramatu Afegbua-Sabbatt
Artistic Director
Ramatu Afegbua-Sabbatt, founder and executive director of Manga African Dance, Inc.
Ramatu Afegbua-Sabbatt, is a native of Idah in Kogi State, Nigeria, and a descendant of the Okpella tribe’s Royal Family of Afegbua. Ramatu got her start in the fine arts at a young age when she began acting from age 14 where she appeared in state television programs in Nigeria.
Aisha Mahmud
Lead Artist Music and Dance
AISHA MAHMUD began dancing in Manga during its inception, as part of the children’s component of Barefoot Ballet Kids Ensemble. Read more
Praise Ekeng
Co-Assistant Artistic Director
Praise Ekeng is a native of Cross river state in Nigeria,
a prolific dancer, teacher, instructor, percussionist & choreographer. Read more
Kristina Banks Diomande
Dance Captain Manga & Manga Petel
Kristina started dancing with Manga African Dance in 2001. She enjoyed learning African dance, music, and culture so, that she continued dancing with Manga throughout high school.
Maimouna Hale
Musician
Maimouna Hale is an advanced drummer, experienced international music teacher and successful business owner who has completed both adolescent and adult musician education, including rites of passage in both the US and Africa.
Vincent Scott
Dancer and Musician
Manga African Dance
Urielle Joseph
Artist Dancer
Urielle is a proud native of Haiti. Her dance artistry began at the age of six when she started her formal classical ballet training with notable Haitian instructor Rachel Tavernier at the Rachel Jean Louis School of Dance. Read more
Denisha Bunmi Abrams
Artist Dancer
Denisha “Bunmi” Abrams is a performer originally from Hartford, Connecticut and has been exposed to the arts as long as she can remember. Read more
Morris Butler
Co-Assistant Artistic Director
Ife, a native of Chicago started dancing in 1968, at Malcolm X College, under the neighborhood Youth program. After the program, Ife joined the JULIAN SWAIN INNER DANCE THEATER as a dance. and then a male principal dancer. Read more
Fatima Sabbatt
Muscicien/stage
Fatima was born into African dance and drum through Manga. She enjoyed learning about African culture every year by having the opportunity to perform in the annual Osun festival. She graduated high school two years ago and is aiming towards her associates degree in college. She continues to drum with Manga African Dance company.
Melissa Beverly
Assistant director Manga Petel
A native of Milwaukee, WI Melissa Beverly attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1980 where she studied Social Work. As she traveled on campus to class, she stumbled on an African dance class being taught by Ferne Caulker from Sierra Leone, West African.
Kokayi
Artist Dancer
Manga African Dance
Shantell Dunnaville
Artist Dancer
Manga African Dance
Myra Coman
Artist Dancer
Manga African Dance
Manga Petel
Zoie Lewis
Maya Hawkins
Nadiyah Lewis
Maiat Hunter
Navina Lewis
Zara Lewis
Zyah Lewis
