Today we’d like to introduce you to Afumbom Okosun
Hi Afumbom, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born in the “black mecca” of the world, Atlanta, Georgia, to a Cameroonian nursing student, and Nigerian pharmacist, my intersectional, diasporic journey and archiving seemed to be predestined much prior to my earthly arrival. My name is Afumbom Okosun, and I am the founder of Sophistichet, a social design, B-corp, that has over a decade of public-private partnerships and past performance in the nonprofit sector in The American South, with clients across the country. Using socio-emotional learning tools, we have designed, piloted and managed over $673K in grant programming over the past decade working with leadership communities in Huntsville (AL), Chattanooga (TN), and Riverdale (GA) to name a few.
To truly understand the roots of my professional work, is to know the pages of my origin story. My desire for this interview is for it to be an introduction to my Sankofa journey, as a child of the Diaspora. An interrogation of popular culture through my eyes, in the experience that is “King Without A Crown”. Originally self-published as a self-help memoir in 2013, the upcoming fictional re-release coalesces southern Hip-Hop or “trap” culture, Gentrification & Urban Renewal, Indigenous Migration Patterns, sexuality & Gender expression, African Traditional Religion (ATRs), Black and Africana Studies, Epigenetics, Southern History, Neocolonial Africa, Black fraternal organizations & academic institutions, and Black masculinity.
Centering the black, cis-heterosexual masculine experience, in the deep, urban South, KWAC II is the non-linear, intergenerational interrogation & narrative of first-generation Nigerian-Cameroonian-Atlantan Afumbom Okosun. In this fictional re-telling, the southside metro Atlanta-native & descendant of both Cameroonian-Baptist missionaries & Esan-Yoruba traditionalists, takes the reader on a psycho-somatic, journey via “Mufa”, from his childhood through adolescence and young adulthood`, chronicling being raised in a intergenerational, matrilineal West African household on the southside of Atlanta by two, non-traditional, African single mothers, navigating the intersections of epigenetics, spiritual & mental illness, and redefining “manhood” through the lens of “trap therapy” while embracing the divine feminine during his multiple “dark night of the soul” experiences.
I utilize Mufa’s character in KWAC II as a personal diary, a portal of sorts, to “go back and get”, the wisdom and full pictures, I may have missed a decade prior, fresh off of professional heartbreak, as my dreams of professional football had now vanished. In KWAC II, interrogating, challenging and mentoring my younger self, Mufa offers further insight and details into my own turbulent, transformative healing journey over the past 8 years, grieving the loss of my biological father, personal identity and social belonging. All of this, for one intended reader: my (Mufa’s) daughter, Aniyah (Eseosa). Mufa’s unique perspective as a modern day psycho-spiritualist, living and working in the margins offers an untold perspective into what possibilities the diaspora may have for black masculinity when we completely detach from whiteness, and cis-heteronormativity. Included in KWAC II is the work of Fred Daniels III, renowned sports & lifestyle photographer & my creative director, detailing a decade of moments that truly paint a satiating picture for the reader. Oral histories, family photos, published articles on black masculinity, and mixed method research spanning three generations and two continents, this reflection of Mufa’s personal journey illuminates how our various methods of communication – specifically in the Black South – connect African Diasporan people from all over the world. You can check out my Instagram page @afumbom_ to experience the visuals, as well as excerpts from the book!
As a former all-conference Division 1 football player and 2-time graduate of a Historically Black College & University, Alabama A&M University (BS Urban Planning, ‘10, MS Counseling Psychology, ‘14), I utilized my collective expertise to design a socio-emotional curriculum, Co.Sessions, an emotional-awareness development model that allows individuals a safe space to identify, ideate and implement solutions to life’s challenges. Since 2015, through culturally relevant psycho-educational, life skills and entrepreneurship training, my company Sophistichet has utilized Co.Sessions to equip communities with the intersectional framework and tools to identify, unpack and address their greatest barriers to personal success.
Notable Past Clients include: The Company Lab/Causeway/The Enterprise Center, Chattanooga, TN (2015-17), Keep Riverdale Beautiful (2018), Alabama A&M University School of Business (2020), Oakwood University School of Business (2021), TRiO Educational Talent Search Scholars Program College of Lake County (Waukegan, IL) (2021), Alabama A&M Athletic Department (2023), Lee High School Women’s Basketball Team (2023), Village of Promise Freedom School (2024), North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless/Stepping Stones Men’s Recovery Housing SHINE Program (2023-2024).
From 2022-24, I successfully piloted my emotional awareness curriculum with student athletes at my alma mater, as well as a Freedom School digital equity pilot with 6th through 8th grade girls, all using constructs and text from KWAC II and look forward to introducing it to more communities. As a multidisciplinary creative and intergenerational storyteller, I believe I am the most suited to do this work, and tell this story, as I am the living embodiment of my ancestor’s wildest dreams, actively living in my purpose of helping black & brown people see ourselves fully, loving what we see. In 2025, my desire is for my curriculum to be utilized in marginalized communities, K-12, and implemented at the NCAA and professional level by athletic organizations who desire for their athletes to live full, quality lives.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to get to know me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
“on september 15th, 2016, your mama and i were just getting settled back home from a hike on top of Monte Sano mountain, and i get the call that changes everything.
“Mufa, your father is dead.”
babygirl, what you need to understand about my relationship with my father is that it began and ended nothing like your relationship with your father did or will. To share with you that grandma had to leave me at the house as the responsible guardian at age 5, tells you some of what you need to know about the nature of my father. there was no “drop the kids off with their dad” or “daddy is coming to get you” until I was at least 14-15 years old. what my father, your grandfather was, was a chief and a “boss”. a very Nigerian man who was stuck in a country that took way more from him than he saw in return and turned him cold to the people that loved him the most. my daddy was a genius and master of anything he put his mind to (bout like yo old man lol) and what i learned is that his love for people is ultimately the thing that hurt him the most at the end of the day.
imagine learning things about me that your first cousins know better than you? imagine strangers in a foreign land calling you ”niece” and “daughter” when for years, you never knew they existed outside of your imagination? my fathers love for his family, and life, in Nigeria, ultimately created a situation where culture trumped love. culture was love. understand my love, my father was not married to my mother. just like your father was not married to your mother when he had you. so what was the difference?
my father, PaMufa, and my mother, grandma Grace, were raised in very traditional, but very different households. while you know my mama’s Cameroonian background, let me fill you in on the Nigerian blood that flows through your veins.
my father’s father, your great-grandfather’s, name is Johnson Osarieme Onaiwu, to my knowledge, he was a carpenter by profession. crazy to think one of my granddaddies was a preacher, and the other a carpenter. Jesus much? shit really is crazy. now what I’m about to tell you, is something you’ll probably hear or read about but not truly understand. your great grandfather had a very big family. he had 19 children. yes baby. nineteen. that’s a lot of kids for one family right?! well stay with me. he also had 5 wives.”
excerpt from KWAC II: Letters 2 Eseosa, coming SPRING 2025
My father owned one of the first Eckerd’s pharmacists in Atlanta, off Boulevard, in the early 90s. He was a young millionaire, that by the time I was old enough to be a big brother, had lost it all to a spiritual psychosis that led him to living in and out of hotels, and homeless shelters. My father’s death in 2016 opened up a portal of unanswered questions, and a very shocking revelation that my father’s father, a multi-millionaire furniture maker in Sapele, Nigeria had died, by suicide.
Not knowing MY TRUTH has been my BIGGEST, AND ONLY, obstacle.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a published author & former associate licensed counselor in the state of Alabama, and have been working as a psycho-spiritualist & social design consultant in private practice for over a decade in the Deep South. As a former Division-1, all conference linebacker (Alabama A&M) and B.S. in urban planning, I am actively working on a working on a CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Coach) Certification and the intersection of my expertise and past performance lies in designing safe spaces for marginalized communities, rooted in emotional awareness.
In Spring 2023, my company Sophistichet contracted with Alabama A&M University’s Athletic Department as their Lead Wellness Consultant. With the support of Head Athletic Trainer Jessie Zucnick-Kumbigwe, we successfully held 8 workshops servicing over 10 different varsity sports teams. 95% of attendees reported wanting to attend more workshops, as well as an overall enjoyment of the information presented. We also assisted in the design of the initial wellness pilot program for the school’s athletic Department.
Co.Sessions, my culture based curriculum, is rooted in design thinking, ancestral interrogation, archival, and epigenetics. We offer two unique pathways:
Trap Therapy 4 Black & Brown People – a psycho-educational, emotional development program aimed to instill radical self awareness in Black people, ages 12-35, through culture & trauma-informed, self-dialogue and ego transformation.
Design Your Degree – an intersectional design-thinking course, developed to interrogate and integrate the infinite pathways to personal and professional development.
At this time, it is my desire to work with top athletic programs to teach and integrate these essential skills, especially for young black and brown men who, like myself, were forced to survive before they learned to thrive. I am the most proud of my title of “Daddy Longlegs” to my only child, and babygirl Aniyah Sanai-Eseosa (10), and look forward to sharing our journey with the world!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
“november 2020
honest to God baby, writing this book has been the only way your pops has been able to journal and process all the stuff that’s passed through my body these past 32 years.
my main impetus for getting this done and completed is because i know that things are going to change even more for us in the upcoming years. you’re upstairs asleep in your Grandma’s bed and i can honestly say that i’m proud of me. i’m proud of us. regardless of how the back and forth with your mama has had my emotions messed up, we always find our way back to us. back to daddy and baby. i’m thankful that i chose to show up. to hit the road and make sure that you KNOW that your life has options. that your reality isn’t limited to one side of your family.
God has been working on daddy in a number of ways. the other night i respectfully told your grandma how everything and everybody has me messed up. respectfully. how my restraint and composure transformed into apathy and insecurity once my relationships broke the hell down and i felt how alone i actually am in this life. i had to express to the woman who gave me birth that i was tired of upholding a culture and tradition that never embraced me or felt the need to love me back. i had to let her know that my love could no longer hold me hostage.
i had to let my mama know that i was finally choosing me.
your daddy is so blessed.
your daddy found real love again.
your daddy found himself again.
your daddy never gave up on himself.
your daddy prays you forgive him for falling short.
your daddy will always walk with you when you’re scared.
and your daddy will also let you know when you’re giving up on yourself and need to suck that shit up.
your daddy is a child of Olodumare AND covered in the blood.
your daddy is a leader and loves the hell out of life and himself.
and guess what?
you yo daddy’s daughter.
walk in your lane, put that stuff ON and never let them forget WHO THE HELL YOU COME FROM.
love you Shawty Lofus.”
excerpt from King Without A Crown II: Letters 2 Eseosa
Being vulnerable writing about your own failures and mistakes as a black man in America, is the ultimate risk. Doing this interview and leading with my unpublished work is a risk. One that I am willing and ready to take because the world has yet to see somebody like myself, and the time is RET NIE for them to witness me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/hoodbaba
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afumbom_/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afuokosun/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@office_our
Image Credits
Fred Daniels III
