Masankho arrived in the United States in 1987 and earned a degree in Theatre and Dance Arts from the College of Wooster in Ohio. After graduating, he turned down an invitation to study at the Shakespeare School of Acting in New York, opting instead to devote his life to using dance, theatre, music, drumming, and storytelling to inspire people of all ages to work together to bring about peace, social justice, and cultural understanding. In addition to this BA, he now has a master’s degree in Culture & Spirituality from the Sophia Centre at Holy Names University in Oakland.
Currently he is a Consultant with Creative Events Consulting & Investments and is on the Board of Directors of Pathways to Peace, an International Peace Building organization, is a member of the National Association of Black Storytellers and a member of the National Storytelling Network. Masankho is also an International Certified Interplay Leader. He has performed his stories and led workshops in USA (in all 50 States), Australia, Mexico, Malawi, Italy, Croatia, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Germany, South Africa and Brazil just to name a few. In 1997, he founded UCanDanc’ African Healing Arts to bring his passion for dance and storytelling to communities around the world. He works tirelessly to establish a worldwide legacy of peace messengers. The people he meets, teaches and performs for learn the power of choosing peace over conflict and are forever touched.” For his work around the world and all over the United States Masankho was awarded the “Unsung Hero of Compassion“ commendation by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in May 2001. He is currently living in Lilongwe, Malawi and Oakland, CA where he continues to work for peace, justice & cross-cultural understanding using the Arts.
His qualifications:
- MA in Culture and Spirituality
- BA in Theatre and Dance
- Certified Interplay Leader and Coach
- Master teacher of dance, drums and storytelling (public speaking)
- Master Storyteller and Drummer
- Culture Keeper and Ambassador
- Facilitator and Workshop Leader
- Cross Cultural Communication Facilitator
- Leadership and capacity building trainer
- Team-Building facilitator and trainer
His topics:
- Diversity & Cultural Competency – Shining the Light and Healing Community
- Teams working together to achieve common goals
- Working together across cultures and national identities
- Cross cultural communication in the workplace
- Entrepreneurship
- Peacebuilding
Training languages: English and Chichewa (Malawian language)