The Chief Operating Officer of AfroFuture, Akosua Ayim, Is a Soror of Delta Sigma Theta

Behind every cultural movement that scales with power and purpose, there’s a strategist ensuring the vision becomes reality and Akosua Ayim is that force at AfroFuture Festival. As Chief Operating Officer of AfroFuture Festival, Akosua has helped steer one of the most important cultural platforms in the African diaspora, blending strategic brilliance with a deep sense of purpose. A native of New Jersey by way of Ghana, her work is grounded in legacy, leadership, and a commitment to Black excellence, values deeply reinforced by her membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Akosua was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. through its Rho Chapter at Columbia University in Fall 2008. For her, Delta wasn’t just a choice, it was a calling.

“I looked around at the women on campus that inspired me and soon realized they all had one thing in common — Delta Sigma Theta. Since joining my sorority, I’ve learned the true value of sisterhood, dedication and the power of community impact. Delta has taught me (and continues to teach me) how to be in service to others, but also how to invest in the best parts of myself.

My sisters push me, support me, love on me & hold me accountable — they often see things in me before I do. Both professionally and personally, the women and ideals of Delta remind me to keep on striving, keep on building, and to do it with a beautiful balance of confidence and grace.”

That balance shows up in every role Akosua steps into. She began her career on Wall Street, managing hedge fund forex portfolios as part of JP Morgan’s Foreign Exchange Prime Brokerage team. She later earned her MBA from the University of Cambridge in the UK and has gone on to become a champion for small businesses and multicultural entrepreneurship.

Since its founding in 2017, Akosua has been a core part of the AfroFuture team. While she now serves as Chief Operating Officer, her contributions span everything from operations to partnerships. That same year, she also launched Meraki Africa, a boutique creative agency dedicated to serving the African diaspora through branding, strategy, and events — with a mission to support multicultural start-ups and amplify creative voices often left out of the mainstream.

Akosua met AfroFuture CEO and brother of Phi Beta Sigma, Abdul Karim Abdullah in New York City. Both had joined their respective orgs, she at Columbia and he at Syracuse, and their friendship was cemented through years of cultural events and shared community vision. Along with Kenny Agyapong Jr. (also a member of Phi Beta Sigma), the trio represents the executive leadership of what would become one of the most dynamic cultural platforms in the world.

AfroFuture began with a powerful intention: to build something rooted in pride, creativity, and community. It started as Afrochella in 2017, launched at Accra’s Polo Club with a crowd of over 4,000, nearly double what they anticipated. From that moment, the team knew they had tapped into something bigger than themselves.

Since then, AfroFuture has exploded into a global movement — spotlighting emerging artists, investing in Black communities, and partnering with some of the world’s most recognizable brands. It’s been featured in CNN, Vogue, Essence, BBC, and more. In 2022, the team was named Goodwill Ambassadors to Ghana, a testament to their cultural and economic impact on the continent.

Now, they’re bringing that energy to the United States — to Detroit.

“Bringing AfroFuture to Detroit isn’t just about launching a festival, it’s about building a cultural movement that lives in the city long before the first stage is set,” said Abdul Karim Abdullah, CEO & Co-Founder of AfroFuture. “We’re building excitement from the ground up and our countdown events are a reflection of our commitment to engaging with the community, celebrating the diaspora, and creating spaces where creativity, connection, and culture thrive.”

On August 16–17, 2025, AfroFuture Detroit will transform Bedrock’s Douglass Site into a global stage — featuring performances from Davido, Kaytranada, Ludmilla, Gims, Flavour, Lojay, and Tee Grizzley, along with DJs, curators, and party-set hosts like DBN Gogo, Juls, DJBJ 3525, Lana LaDonna, Jerk X Jollof, Obi’s House, and Toasted Life.

This isn’t just a festival, it’s a full-circle moment.

AfroFuture is a platform built with intention and its leadership reflects that. With co-founders Abdul and Kenny as proud brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and Akosua representing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Black fraternity and sorority culture is deeply embedded in its DNA. These organizations shaped their leadership, their discipline, and their vision — and now, that vision is taking root on both sides of the Atlantic.

With Detroit as the next chapter, Akosua Ayim continues to be a force for elevation, innovation, and impact, embodying what it means to lead with both strategy and soul.

Click here to learn more about the festival and to buy tickets.