Ome’lika is a native of Brooklyn, NY and a graduate of Spelman College. She is the proud Daughter of Osban W. Bynum, Jr. and Phyllis Zanaida McKinney Bynum. Ome’lika has two beautiful Children, Zanaida Wakatama and Akumba Ashanti and is the loving Grandmother of six amazing Grandchildren. She has studied under master dancers and percussionists including Abdulaiye Camara, Chuck Davis, Marie Basse Wiles, Assane Konte, Youssouf Koumbassa, Naomi Diouf, Mabiba Baegne, Zak Diouf, Abdu Kunta, Taffa Cisse, Mahiri Keita, and Weedie Braimah in United States and Senegal, West Africa. Her other career highlights include performing during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, teaching and choreographing at Trollwood Performing Arts School in North Dakota, and teaching percussion and choreographing in Stuttgart, Germany, Hastings, England and Bermuda.
Ome’lika began her professional artistic journey in 1990. She is a dancer, choreographer, musical arranger, cultural arts educator, Founder/CEO of Sistah With A Nia, LLC. (The Black SWAN) and CEO of Black SWAN Geeks, LLC. She served as Founding Artistic Director of the award winning ensemble, Giwayen Mata, for twenty-five years. She is an instructor of African Dance Forms and West African Rhythms & Dances at Spelman College, directs Ashietu, the Sisters Chapel African Dance and Drum Ministry at Spelman College, AileyCamp Atlanta, and also taught African Dance at Emory University. Ome’lika is listed in Who’s Who in Black Atlanta. In addition to awards that she received with Giwayen Mata, her awards include the Kuumba Award from East Point/College Park Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Atlanta African Dance and Drum Community Award for Favorite Director, a Community Service Award from the Atlanta Chapter of the Spelman College Alumnae Association, Outstanding Georgia Citizen from the Secretary of State, the Phoenix Award from the City of Atlanta, the Cultural Soul Award from Pamela D. Franklin Cultural Center for the Performing Arts, the Change Maker Ebon Dooley Arts & Social Justice Award from the Arts Xchange, and the Arts Pioneer Award from ViZion Dance, Inc.
A ground-breaking female djembe player in Atlanta, Georgia, Sis. Ome’lika Kuumba has had the honor of working and performing with a plethora of artists. She currently directs Metropolitan Atlanta African Dancers & Drummers, accomplished and zestful artists presenting performances and workshops in African drumming and dancing. Her experiences with music across a wide musical spectrum include jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, reggae, neo-soul and gospel. She’s also worked with recording artists including Spelman College Glee Club, Dionne Farris, Laurnea, Rahbi, Saidah Nairobi, and Tasha Larae. She was a member of S.OL. A.R. and Monty Montgomery and the Aposse. Soaring High: a coterie of artists presenting dance and music with lyrics that are inspiring, joyful, timeless and thought-provoking, is her lateness artistic venture. She is excited to be sharing this new part of her artistic journey. She released her first album, “Soaring High” in 2022.
Ome’lika is a member of Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society at Spelman College, the Atlanta Alumnae Association of Spelman College, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., East Point/College Park Chapter. She is blessed to have learned from, taught, worked with and performed with so many beautiful spirits. She hopes she’s contributed to their lives in as many positive ways as they have to hers.