Editor-in-Chief:
Dr. Ibis Fro
Dr. Ibis Fro
Ibis Fro is the founding Editor-in-Chief of De’ Calabash, a Pan-Afrikan journal tuned to Afrikan Voices and Global Frequencies. A writer, curator, and cultural strategist, Fro is devoted to amplifying the voices, visions, and vernaculars of the Afrikan world. With roots that stretch across oceans and archives, her editorial work bridges the ancestral and the avant-garde—carving space for radical imaginings, rigorous thought, and rhythmic storytelling.
Under Fro’s editorial direction, De’ Calabash gathers voices from every corner of the Afrikan world, inviting contributors to draw from the deep well of history while dreaming boldly to advance liberation, normalize joy, rest, and laughter, and promote transformative legacies.
Fro is a daily dismantler of policies, practices, and paradigms. She is the author of transformative curricula and a fierce advocate for a united global Afrikan community—one that controls its resources and is enriched through our macro and micro recognition and consistent affirmation of ourselves and each other. Passionate about collaboration, empowerment, essential internal critiques, and cultural sovereignty, Fro is dedicated to our collective ascent and the systemic transformation of the world—on the Afrikan continent and throughout the global Afrikan diaspora—for our children to inherit.
Senior Writer:
Ochieng Owiti
Ochieng Owiti
Born When the Sun Shines.
Bringer of Clarity in Chaos.
With a name that calls forth the sun and another that means to intervene, Ochieng Owiti walks with the ancestral mandate of illumination and repair. A griot of global commerce, his storytelling rises from the trade winds, the warehouse floors, the customs queues, and the boardrooms where policy meets profit. In chaotic markets and logistics crises, he brings not just clarity, but vision.
Ochieng sees every supply chain as a story and every disruption as a call to action: to advocate for greater transparency, to demand accountability, and to design new connections between the Afrikan Diaspora and the Afrikan Continent that are principled, strategic, and mutually beneficial.
His voice stands firm against toxic, parasitic capitalism—refusing systems built on exploitation and championing economic practices rooted in reciprocity, repair, and long-term sustainability. Through his words, the marketplace becomes more than metrics—it becomes a space where truth is spoken, injustice is named, and futures are forged in the sunlight of truth, so that clarity may transform spaces that have descended into unnecessary and unproductive chaos.
De’ Calabash is an online magazine and blog site catering to the African diaspora and equity and justice minded individuals. The site aims to provide a platform for insightful content and discussions. Our goal is to foster a community where diverse voices can be heard and celebrated. We strive to bring thought-provoking articles, personal narratives, and in-depth analysis on various issues affecting our community and the world at large.
About
De'
Calabash
About
De'
Calabash
What We Believe
Bold Ideas. Brave Stories. Boundless Afrika.
At De’ Calabash, we gather the vibrant voices of Afrika and its global diaspora into one resonant space—an open vessel of ideas, debate, and creative expression. We are more than a journal; we are a movement. Rooted in bold thought, fearless storytelling, and a deep commitment to progress, De’ Calabash is unafraid to challenge, curious enough to explore, and creative enough to captivate.
We create to understand. We speak to connect. We publish to pursue steps to realize our inevitable ascent.
History
The calabash, in many Afrikan traditions, is more than a vessel—it is a symbol of life, sustenance, creativity, and community. Used across the Continent for everything from gathering water and storing grain to making music and sharing stories, the calabash embodies the interconnectedness of culture and survival. By naming this journal De’ Calabash, we invoke that legacy: a space to hold knowledge, pour truth, and echo the wisdom of generations past and future. It is our reminder that what we carry—and how we carry it—matters. Our past, present, and future. In every corner of the world.
Our Mission
Grounded in truth, powered by innovation, and committed to the process that drives transformation, our mission is threefold:
1. Highlight Innovation
We spotlight pioneers, visionaries, and grassroots changemakers reshaping industries. From ancestral crafts to cutting-edge tech, De’ Calabash celebrates those redefining how we think, live, work, and connect. Innovation here isn’t just invention—it’s reimagining what’s possible, unlearning what no longer serves us, and laying the foundation for our collective elevation.
2. Advance Policy Solutions
Our pages are spaces for rigorous dialogue and visionary thinking. We engage urgent policy questions—spanning economics, education, climate, governance, and culture—that shape the futures of Afrikan and diasporic communities. Our goal: to inform, provoke, and inspire action that leads to just and lasting change as we rise together.
3. Employ Satire and Creative Storytelling
We wield satire with purpose—critiquing power, challenging norms, and reflecting truth through wit and irony. Through fiction, essays, and imaginative narratives, we offer stories that entertain, unsettle, enlighten, and stir. This is storytelling with substance—and soul—propelling us toward the heights we are destined to reach.
Our Vision
De’ Calabash is a digital gathering place where the Continent speaks and the Diaspora reverberates. We envision a Pan-Afrikan media ecosystem that is intellectually rigorous, artistically vibrant, and globally relevant—a space where thought leaders, artists, and everyday visionaries co-create the future with courage, clarity, and craft.
Together, we pursue the steps to realize our inevitable ascent — toward liberation, excellence, and enduring impact.
