Our #WCW today is Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, a trailblazing Zimbabwean-born physician, diplomat, and pan-African activist whose journey from rural Chivhu to global influence is nothing short of extraordinary. She emigrated to the United States in 1977, where she pursued higher education with relentless determination, earning degrees in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and medicine.
Her career in family medicine spanned nearly three decades in Tennessee, where she founded Bell Family Medical Centers and served as medical director for Mid Tenn Medical Associates and the Smyrna Ambulance Service. Beyond medicine, Dr. Chihombori-Quao emerged as a powerful voice for African unity and diaspora engagement.
She served as the African Union’s Permanent Representative to the United States from 2017 to 2019, becoming only the second person to hold that post. Her tenure was marked by bold advocacy, especially her outspoken critique of the Berlin Conference’s legacy and its lasting impact on African division and underdevelopment. She consistently called for the reunification of African states and the mobilization of the diaspora to rebuild the continent.
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Her leadership extended to chairing the African Union-African Diaspora Health Initiative (AU-ADHI), where she worked to connect African health professionals abroad with healthcare challenges on the continent. She also served as International Chair of the African Union-Diaspora African Forum Americas (AU-DAF), rallying support for African development from both citizens and allies. Her vision was rooted in empowerment, self-determination, and reclaiming Africa’s narrative on the global stage.
In 2019, Dr. Chihombori-Quao launched the ambitious “Wakanda One Village Project,” aimed at creating five African Centers of Excellence across the continent. With land offers from Zambia and Zimbabwe, the initiative seeks to build state-of-the-art facilities including hospitals, hotels, industrial hubs, and cultural centers — a bold blueprint for African renaissance driven by diaspora investment and innovation.
Despite her dismissal from the AU post in October 2019, which sparked public outcry and petitions for reinstatement, Dr. Chihombori-Quao has remained undeterred. She continues to speak globally, educate communities, and invest in African infrastructure.
Her work bridges continents and generations, inspiring African youth and diaspora communities to take ownership of their future. Arikana Chihombori-Quao has received numerous accolades, including the African Union’s Women of Excellence Award in 2015 and recognition from the late Nelson Mandela for her contributions to Africa. Her legacy is one of courage, intellect, and unwavering commitment to the continent she calls home — a true embodiment of leadership, resilience, and pan-African pride.
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