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The Team
Awuor Onguru
Editor-in-Chief
Awuor Onguru is a distinguished writer, performer, and cultural critic whose work weaves together the intricacies of Black diasporic experience, poetic memory, and sonic experimentation. A graduate of Yale University, where she earned a BA in English with Distinction and was awarded multiple honors for her contributions to the arts and literature—including the Charles P. Howland Fellowship for Public Service and the Gordon Summer Fellowship for longform journalism—Awuor is set to continue her academic journey in Fall 2025 at the University of Oxford. There, she will pursue an MSt in World Literatures in English as a prestigious recipient of the Mastercard Foundation AfOx Scholarship, a highly competitive award supporting African scholars dedicated to transformative impact across the continent. Awuor’s writing has been published in Teen Vogue, Menacing Hedge, and is forthcoming in Cake Zine and other notable outlets. Her work has been nominated for Best of the Net and has garnered attention from global media, including The New York Times, for her innovative contributions to the intersections of literature, youth empowerment, and performance. As the Editor-in-Chief of Diaspora, a literary magazine amplifying transnational African identities and experiences, Awuor continues to shape conversations at the nexus of culture and critical discourse. A classically trained opera singer, Awuor has graced the stages of the Lincoln Center, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, and the Nairobi Music Society. Her vocal practice, marked by emotional depth and technical prowess, informs her interdisciplinary exploration of voice, silence, and the politics of sound. In 2025, Awuor was appointed to the artist residency at Radio Oroko, where she is developing an experimental audio project that investigates the resonances of poetry, oral memory, and sonic intimacy across African and diasporic landscapes. With a body of work spanning literature, performance, and cultural commentary, Awuor Onguru stands at the forefront of a new generation of African artists and thinkers redefining the global narrative.
Michael Chièdoziém Chúkwúderà
Content Editor
Michael Chièdoziém Chúkwudera is a writer and community builder. His works have appeared in Jalada, Republic, Afrocritik, Witsprouts Anthology, Kalahari Review and elsewhere. He is the author of the novel, “Loss is an Aftertaste of Memories” and the curator of Eagle Nest Literary Foundation and Umuofia Arts and Books Festival.
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Mercy Item
Assistant Editor
I am a journalist and radio news anchor based in Nigeria. I’ve worked for Family Love 99.9 FM, 106.9 Gouni Radio and presently, 100.3 Udoka FM, all broadcasting from Enugu State, Nigeria. I was a co-host and analyst of Top 9 Stories before 9 on Family Love 99.9 FM, a program centered on topical socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. I’ve also anchored Health Coach where amongst many issues addressed, radio interviews were conducted with the National Aligned HIV/AIDS Initiative on the increase in ‘HIV/AIDS’ within southeast Nigeria. I have been a producer of a literary art radio program called The Book Show. Currently, I host a program called Southeast iReport, a citizen-reporting platform for residents in southeastern Nigeria to share verifiable and authentic reports, observations and complaints within their localities. The program is used to influence the accountability of public officeholders to the people. Passionate about women’s rights and development, I also host a program called Femini where issues of women in today’s society are discussed. In 2017, I freelanced as a research assistant for the Centre for Memories Enugu, a history and art museum focused on Igbo cultural identity. I was a volunteer lecturer for the National Open University of Nigeria’s Prison Lecture Scheme in 2019. In 2020, I served as media adviser to QuickChop Services in Umuahia, Abia State. I obtained my Bachelor's degree in mass communications from Godfrey Okoye University in Nigeria.
Stephanie Margaret Klutse
Social Media Manager
Stephanie is a digital marketing strategist and storyteller passionate about amplifying African voices across digital spaces. With a strong background in social media management, content creation, and brand storytelling, she brings a blend of creativity and strategy to DIASPORA’s online presence. Her work centres on building meaningful connections with diverse global audiences, especially within the African diaspora. She is deeply inspired by stories that reflect identity, migration, and cultural heritage, and she believes that social media is a powerful tool for preserving and promoting these narratives. At DIASPORA, she collaborates and leads the development and execution of digital strategies that increase engagement, spark conversations, and grow the platform’s readership. Outside of work, Stephanie is an advocate for African women in tech and creative industries and enjoys exploring the intersections of culture, technology, and community. Stephanie was born and raised in Ghana.