Tamkara Adun and her community is changing the way African histories and languages are taught.

Learn how the creator Tamkara Adun built an engaged learning community as well as an educational product line that teaches the decolonized African history and languages.

When Tamkara and her husband and her two young children moved from Nigeria in the Netherlands, everything changed. The family was immersed into the culture of another country, Tamkara quit her job in HR, and her children started attending a new school.

Tamkara was concerned that with the new school program, the children were learning history from an European perspective that didn't cover all of the African stories, achievements, or civilizations.

She says "They were able to learn a bit about African historical events, but it was history written in a colonized story that didn't talk about the importance of their ancestral ancestors. I didn't want them to become so swallowed up by other's stories that they forgot their personal. I wanted them to be well-rounded yet also comprehend their African history in a way which was authentic and true to them."

To fill the space, Tamkara decided she would learn them by herself. She began reading influential African authors, conversing with relatives, and digging into internet archives. "As I began to teach them, I realized there was much I hadn't been taught," she remembers. "In my process of instructing them, I was also in the process of educating myself."

Tamkara realized that if and her family required the information she had, other people might as well.

"It was a journey for me, and once I began, I realized there was no going around. As you learn more, the more you realize you don't know. I was determined to continue studying and absorbing this new information, but I also wanted to share. The gift of knowledge is to share it with others. You shouldn't keep it for yourself."

The belief in this premise prompted Tamkara to build an online company named Odunife  that translates to "Year of Love" in Yoruba, and cultivate a community centered on reciprocity. Many were keen to relive history with an African lens. The more she spoke, the more her audience taught her in return.

Their contributions and questions together with her studies, culminated in education courses and ebooks, an illustrated children's book , a language school , and one-on-one coaching programs that expand the world's knowledge of African history.

Building a collaborative community of sharing and learning

Community is at the center and the soul of Tamkara's company, and it all started with an easy Instagram account . Tamkara wanted to record her learning experiences, even if the content was just visible to a few followers. "It was as if it was an echo" she remembers. "I put the content on the internet, but there was no response."

Then, slowly, Tamkara became acquainted with other people who were interested in African history from a decolonized, African-centered perspective. The more content Tamkara published, the more people engaged with her, reblogged, and even added their own friends to the list. People who follow Tamkara also started sharing their knowledge and experience to create a mutual learning space.

"It's an exchange of information in which I share, but I'm also learning."

"I write something , and people in the comments can expand upon the concept," she explains. "It's an educational community that helps us gain a better understanding of history and things which have occurred in the past."

Tamkara became popular by connecting with the creators of her niche, guest posting, and leading with passion.

In the beginning, Tamkara contacted thought leaders she liked via comments or direct messages. She told them their posts resonated with her and reshared their content to amplify their voice. She would frequently go to her website and keep following her in the spirit of reciprocity.

In the end, viewers were able to tell that she was enthusiastic about what she did. "People are able to tell that you are passionate about what you're doing. This builds trust and loyalty. I focused on posting good material that people would naturally want to share, putting my name in front of more people," she explains.

In just two years, her Instagram account increased from 50 followers to 24,000.

Tamkara's social network has been the backbone of her endeavors throughout the process. Together, she and her followers have built a positive feedback loop where all members can learn and share their knowledge with each other. With so much knowledge circulating, Tamkara knew it was time to go bigger and develop her own product.

Make up for the missing space with community-driven solutions

"I always take note of people. Many times particularly on Instagram the users say what they're looking for. If something that me and you are searching for doesn't exist, I feel compelled to try to create that opportunity."

Also, she wrote a children's book titled Osasu and the Great Wall of the Benin Empire . It was a story of African ingenuity she wanted her kids to remember and she knew that many households in the community would appreciate a book that celebrated African cultural heritage.

"It's wonderful to be able to recognize other histories that belong to various parts of the world, but African kids must have a grasp of their history too. It helps build self-esteem and confidence in yourself," she elaborates. "I consider that each story, every history, deserves its space on the screen."

The school for language was next.

"Many people have said that they want to master African languages, particularly our sisters and brothers from the diaspora who's ancestral ancestors were evicted during the African Maafa and then had their language stripped away."

She started leading free group language sessions in order to teach her mother tongue in a relaxed learning environment. "Anyone could join Zoom and attend. It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of laughter. I saw the difference and an excitement."

So Tamkara got in touch with instructors of language across Africa in order to create an online language school .

After that, as the audience members approached her and asked questions that required complex responses, Tamkara created a 1:1 coaching offer.

"A number of people send me with questions. I'd like to find time to answer all of them. However, others require more effort thinking, energy, and research. Coaching packages allow us to talk about the whole issue."

Through her work with the community, Tamkara continuously identifies need and fills them with products that share information, love as well as joy.

: A versatile platform for multi-passionate entrepreneurs

A wide range of interests and an endless list of ideas, Tamkara needed a place for her creative work. It brought her to .

"I wanted a platform that would offer my versatility," Tamkara reflects. "I wake up each day with numerous ideas running through my head. I wanted a platform where I could have everything in one spot."

"Having an experienced team member when I encounter technical issues takes away the stress and burden of trying to figure it all out on my own. I feel like has not only just supported me but partnered with me in the development of my business," she shares.

"I'm big on communicating and love having different touchpoints with my family and friends. When I'm online, they can chat with me right away. If I'm not there, I'll get an email notification so I'm able to reach them. It's also possible to send broadcast emails to my full viewers or to a group of people interested in one of my services. It's been a game changer."

Simply put, creators need tools that free them up to do the best work. Like Tamkara states, " eliminates the technical tension and frees me up to focus on my creative projects, which is exactly what I excel at. Someone is there to assist and support me, which is invaluable."

Tamkara's suggestion: Find support and chase your dreams

As she built Odunife, Tamkara learned how important it is having a supportive system and make bold moves. Tamkara advises others to follow the same advice.

Concentrate on your strengths, and don't do by yourself

There is a common practice for business owners to wear ten hats, but Tamkara insists on the fact that there is no way to be able to do everything on their own. "You can't do everything," Tamkara emphasizes. "Figure out how you can do it most effectively and focus your efforts into it. When you're not quite as skilled seek out help from others who can assist you."

Do not wait around for things to become perfectly

Do you have something that you would like to share with the world? Tamkara is adamant about taking that leap and becoming a better person along the way.

"Don't expect everything to be perfect, because they'll never be perfect." Tamkara says.

"The journey of learning is in the doing. If you've got an idea, take it to it. It's impossible to predict what's going to result from it. Your original idea will change, and you'll have several iterations as you go along. But if you wait to get it right, you'll likely never start."

You'll discover what you want to accomplish and discover ways to achieve it when you begin.

"We can learn how to cut the trees by cutting them." -"African Proverb"

Every thing Tamkara knows about being an artist, she acquired on the job. It's a bit daunting to start at square one But nothing is going to happen until you've taken that first step .

"A majority of people couldn't see my vision, but I was able to trust my inner conviction that this is something I have to do. More often than not intuitively, we know things we may not have a physical sense of. If your subconscious is telling you to take action, or your heart will be urging you to do an idea, look into it and take that step."

Are you prepared to begin your own personal journey? We'd be delighted to journey with you. Grab your free account today.