Come check out this incredible line up of Bay Area artists facilitating movement and words workshops in December.
uzo nwankpa
Public Health and the Healing Arts @WINTEC NZ by Uzo Nwankpa
The Uzo Method Project in Nigeria

I (Uzo) have been in Africa for the past few months traveling through cities and countries surveying the region for possible social and economic development opportunities. While in Enugu visiting my parents, every morning, I jog around the infamous Okpara Square in Independence Layout.
To my pleasant surprise, there is a large number of people who come out to exercise. The park is closed to the public however, the people have been resilient through police raids, arrests, tear gas pollution and other attempts to remove them from public property. The motivated locals set up as early as 6am daily on side walks to conduct their fitness business.
Rad Jogging club that uses live instruments as a “pod piper” to draw people in to jog with them
They even use gravel filled recycled water bottles for weights and prayer mats for floor work. I approached Emeka, one of the fitness coaches and asked if he would be willing to share his group with me. I explained that I have numerous years of group fitness experience and would love to volunteer my time supporting motivated people in my hometown. He agreed to test it out. It has been 6 weeks now and the participants are enjoying themselves.
Fitness Coach Emeka
One participant stated “I was attracted to this group because I have not yet seen a female coach around here”. This was exciting for me to see and observe her feedback. She was right. There were many independent groups (mostly women participants) led by men who they call sports coach but no female instructor in sight.
The amazing team ” Rockstars” that allowed me to crash their training session
We meet daily at 6:30am for an hour using AFAA standards. The format that I use is as follows
- Warm up and stretch
- Low impact, low intensity exercises
- Low impact, high intensity exercises
- High impact, high intensity exercises
- High Impact, low intensity exercises
- Low impact, low intensity exercises
- Weight training and Floor Work
- Cool down and stretch
The participants are also connected via the app “Whatsaap” to remind their friends to attend or to update the team on their progress.
This positive experience with Enugutians has inspired me to move forward with my dream of expanding the Uzo Method Project into Africa.
I have been thinking about this for a while and I have decided to move forward with this burning desire.
The Uzo Method Project Nigeria
Vision
To promote wellness and prevent illness from a human ecology perspective.
Mission
To create the opportunity for education using the appropriate knowledge and skills necessary to stay healthy in the mind, body and spirit.
This project in the Nigerian region will focus on wellbeing using fitness, nutrition, the arts, indigenous practices and economic sustainability practices. We need to work at wellbeing at the individual, family, community and societal level. It takes the individual to spark the change needed but the environment has to be conducive and supportive to thrive.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this process, please contact Uzo at nwankpa@gmail.com for more details.
Post War Trauma- A time to heal
Post War Trauma- A time to heal
The voice of an Igbo woman in the Diaspora
Speech presented by
Guest Speaker – Uzo Nwankpa, MSN-PH, BSN, RN
The Osisioma Foundation is dedicated to the Economic, Social and Political Agenda that TOUCH LIVES.
Wednesday Mar 23rd 2016
@ Standard Plaza, Opposite Crunches
Onitsha- Enugu Express Way
Awka, Anambra State
Nigeria, West Africa
Love & Lan{d}guage- A fundraiser evening of community art, music and poetry
When:Saturday Jan 16th 6:30pm- 8:30pm Where: Bellamys Gallery, 495 Portobello Rd, Macandrew Bay, Dunedin New Zealand
Donation: $5.00
You are invited to attend the arts exhibition, poetry and music fundraiser at the Bellamys Gallery in Macandrew Bay.
Come gain some insight on the behind the scenes of Dunedins very own 2015 recipient of the Caroline Plummer community dance fellowship. Sharing her paintings, music and poetry that captures her journey from Africa, to the Americas landing in Dunedin. This event includes various collaborations including Singer song writer Kira Hundelby, Bongo Lion, King Leo’s very own Stevie Rice, Wyeth Chalmers and more. The funds raised for the art sales will support Uzo’s journey to continue to research the effects of community music and dance on wellbeing.
Come prepared to make art and engage in co creation by the community.
For more information please contact Uzo at nwankpa@gmail.com
Nga Maia ki Tamaki Makaurau
NAU MAI HAERE MAI KI TE HUI A NGA MAIA KI TAMAKI MAKAURAU
KAUPAPA FOR OUR NEXT HUI
WHERE: NZCOM Auckland Region Resource Centre,
Yarnton House, 14 Erson Ave, Royal Oak, Auckland
WHEN: Wednesday 9th December 2015, 1800 – 2130
1800 – 1930
Committee meeting and regional business hui
Nga Maia ki Tamaki Makaurau members welcome
1930 – 2130
Regional hui and guest speaker presentation
All midwives, students and whānau welcome
Christmas Hui – Highlights of 2015, looking forward to 2016 and special end of year Guest Speaker
UZO NWANKPA
MSN-PH, BSN, RN and 2015 Caroline Plummer Fellow
“The Uzo Method for Therapeutic Movement, Song and Dance”
Please bring a plate of kai to share
Enquiries to
Megan Tahere: 027 3669358 or Kaniwa Kupenga: 021 02891937
Community Dance Classes Dunedin New Zealand
One of the most exciting things I get to do is bring the flavor of my homeland to New Zealand. For 8 weeks starting next week, we will move and groove to the rhythms of Africa to stay warm in cold Dunedin. I cannot wait to dance with you all. See you there.
Wednesday Afrobeats July 15 @ 4pm
Friday Afro-Dizzy-ak (Aphrodesiac)
July 17th @12:10pm
665 Cumberland Street
3rd floor dance studio
Cost: Koha (Donation)
African inspired healing through live drumming and dance Auckland, New Zealand
Come and experience self transformation facilitated by Uzo Nwankpa, a global figure who is merging ancient knowledge with innovation in collaboration with Jimmy Dale from Drumtalk.
For booking call Jimmy Dale at 846 9663 or 012 123 2037
$20 when you book in advance by June 21st. $30 at the door. www.drumtalk.co.nz
Reflections and gratitude- The journey of the 2015 Caroline Plummer Dance Fellow

I am finally here in Aotearoa!!!!!
I am ecstatic about this moment. I remember when I was informed about this fellowship and I thought to myself ” This is perfect for me and I must go for it” and then the self doubt began. Am I good enough? What about my full time job? What about my living arrangements? Would they care for what an African woman living in the U.S has to say? Would they care that I am not a trained classical dancer? Would they care that I am not a stick figured dancer? What if they don’t understand my accent? Are there black people there? (this was before I found out the meaning of black in Aotearoa is different from where I live). I pushed through all the doubts and moved forward with the application. The application process was much simpler than I had expected. I had to send in a proposal about what I planned on doing through a paper and an unedited video. I had so much anxiety around making the video. I looked through youtube and could not find any previous winners of the fellowship posted. I had one week left to go before the deadline and no video. A friend suggested the interview style I used which made it less nerve racking and it worked. I had sent in numerous proposals which all got rejected so why would this time be different? sent it in with crossed fingers hoping they wouldn’t judge all the background noise and my hair (its a black girl thing to be worried about the perception of the hair). It was less than perfect but because of the timeline, I sent it in anyway. I prayed that it would be selected. I envisioned myself jumping up and down from hearing the good news. Once it was submitted, the anxiety dissipated and all I had control over was my mantras, visualizations and positive thoughts.
Kids Fit Life- Video

Kids Fit Life Fall Program- HAPPY organization
This is the after math of the wonderful experince I had with the HAPPY organization. What a blast. We danced, we laughed, we told stories and moved. I love working with these young people. Their energy was inspiring and I am honored to have had that moment. Enjoy.
Uzo