Dòwòti Désir

Dr. Dòwòti Désir, also known as Queen Mother Sêmévo I (sometimes written Séminvo), is an interfaith leader, academic, and advocate for human rights. She is a prominent figure in Afro-Atlantic spirituality, serving as a Manbo Asogwe in Haitian Vodou. She is a member of the High Council of Kings of Benin and holds the ceremonial office of Queen Mother of the African diaspora in the Republic of Benin. She founded the Royal Palace of the African Diaspora, a symbolic institution designed to represent the global African diaspora and to advance the preservation of its cultural heritage.

Background and education Désir was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to a Cuban mother who practised Catholicism and a Haitian father who identified as an atheist. She later earned a Doctor of Ministry in Interfaith Studies from The New Seminary.

Enthronement and titles In 2020, Désir was enthroned as Queen of the African diaspora in the Republic of Benin.

On 19 February 2022, she was formally admitted to the High Council of Kings of Benin as Queen Mother Sêmévo I. In this role, she also serves as Ambassador-at-Large, working to strengthen ties between the Republic of Benin and its diaspora communities.

Advocacy and career As Queen Mother, Désir established the Imperial Corps Agoodjié of the African Diaspora (ICAAD), an organisation dedicated to cultural and historical preservation. She also holds the traditional Fongbe title of Kpodjito (Mother of the Leopard).

In 2005, she became the first executive director of the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial Educational and Cultural Center in New York.

She has also held teaching and research appointments at institutions including Dutchess Community College, Brooklyn College, and the City University of New York (CUNY). Her academic and professional work addresses human rights, Afro-Atlantic religions, social justice, reparations, African heritage, and Afro-Atlantic spiritual practices. Wanga: Haitian Hoodoo (2022)