Queen Mother Sêmévo I: A Journey of Ancestry, Revolution, and Pan-African Unity

Maria Tanwa 

Her Royal Majesty Queen Mother Dr. Dòwòti Désir—known as Queen Mother Sêmévo I—is much more than a traditional spiritual leader. A Pan-Africanist and cultural diplomat of Haitian and African-American descent, she carries the weight and pride of her ancestors with grace and purpose. Since her enthronement in 2020 as Kpodjito, or Mother of the Leopard, she has served as Ambassador-at-Large for the High Council of Kings of Benin, a role she assumed in 2022. She is also the visionary founder and Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Corps Agoodjié of the African Diaspora, an organization dedicated to fostering social justice and cultural renewal among women of African heritage worldwide.

Queen Mother Sêmévo I’s story begins in a household steeped in revolutionary ideas and rich cultural heritage. Born to a Cuban mother and a Marxist physician father, her upbringing was shaped by political discourse and spiritual practice. Yet her identity transcends conventional borders. “Am I African-American, or am I an African in the Americas?” she asks, emphasizing the deeper, geo-spiritual connection that defines her existence. For her, identity is not limited to nationality but is a bridge between continents, cultures, and histories.

Her Haitian-American roots reflect a proud legacy of African resilience and activism. Haiti’s historic role in supporting liberation movements across the Americas is a source of deep pride for her family. Her maternal lineage traces back to Cuba, with DNA from Cameroon and Congo. But it is on her father’s side that the direct link to West Africa is most vivid—through her great-grandmother, who hailed from the Kingdom of Danxomé, present-day Benin.

The stories she heard as a child of the Dahomeyan kings—Glele, Ghezo, and Béhanzin—left a lasting impression. “Even at four years old, I vowed never to forget those names,” she recalls. When her family moved to the United States, her father pointed to Dahomey on a map of Africa and said, “This is where our people are from.” This moment became a defining one in her life, forging an unbreakable bond to the land.

Spiritually, Queen Mother Sêmévo I is a High Priestess, or Manbo Asogwe, of Vodou—a tradition she has faithfully served for nearly three decades. Her connection to Benin is not only ancestral but deeply spiritual. Over more than 25 years, she has visited Benin many times, embracing it as her ancestral home.

Her commitment to cultural preservation and Pan-African unity recently led her to collaborate with Stories by Roots, a cultural advocacy organization dedicated to reshaping the African Diaspora narrative. Led by cultural strategist Brekwald A. Degoh III, Stories by Roots challenges the traditional tales of forced displacement by highlighting the voluntary return of Afro-descendants to Africa. Their work connects scientists, artists, and scholars tied to the Kingdom of Danxomé, reminiscent of Ghana’s transformative “Year of Return” in 2019.

As a brand ambassador for Stories by Roots, Queen Mother Sêmévo I aligns her efforts with those of the Royal Palace of the African Diaspora, fostering dialogue and cooperation between Africans on the continent and their Diaspora counterparts. She envisions a future built on cultural dignity, economic collaboration, and mutual respect.

This vision gained momentum with Benin’s historic 2024 law granting citizenship to Afro-descendants worldwide. Signed into law on September 2, 2024, the legislation marks a milestone in reparative justice, offering legal recognition that extends beyond symbolic gestures. Queen Mother Sêmévo I applauds the law but also cautions that it is just the beginning.

“Citizenship must come with political rights, access to civil service, land, and business opportunities,” she explains. “We must not romanticize repatriation. True integration requires embracing local languages, spiritual practices, and cultural norms—social acculturation, not assimilation.”

She stresses that Beninese citizens also need to understand the diversity within the Diaspora, which is far broader than popular media often depicts. Many returnees bring valuable skills, investments, and a sincere desire to contribute to their ancestral homeland.

The Queen Mother advocates for a strategic, intentional approach to Pan-African unity, one that demands hard work and clear governance. For her, Pan-Africanism is not merely an ideal but a shared responsibility requiring dialogue, infrastructure development, and civil liberties.

Even if physical return is not possible for all, she believes the Diaspora must actively support African initiatives through cultural exchange and economic partnership. To that end, during her first year as Queen Mother, she founded the Imperial Corps Agoodjié of the African Diaspora, an initiative empowering women through education, leadership workshops, and spiritual pilgrimages. With programs already held in the U.S. and Benin, plans are underway to expand to Colombia and Cameroon in 2026.

Queen Mother Sêmévo I’s journey is a testament to the power of ancestry, spirituality, and revolutionary thought to shape a vibrant, connected future for Africans and their descendants worldwide.