Faculty Highlight: Dr. Chenzira Davis-Kahina

UVI Faculty often wear many hats, serving in multiple roles across the University. This month we highlight an innovative Professor of Communications who recently returned to the helm as the Director of the Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC), the Caribbean Culture Queen Mother, Dr. Chenzira Davis-Kahina.

Who is Chenzira Davis-Kahina?

Griot | Educator | Creative Artivist | Communication Technologist | Ordained Priestess | Author| Cultural Heritage Researcher | Global Cultural Ambassador | Visionary | University Administrator | Holistic Naturopathic Therapist | Mother | Grandmother

Chenzira Davis-Kahina, respectfully known as “Dr. Chen,” is a multifaceted professional who creatively integrates her 40 plus years of technical, pragmatic, research, counseling, and teaching experiences in education, communication, leadership development, nonprofit organizational management, holistic health, wellness, Caribbean and Afrakan Indigenous Studies, eclectic technologies and education alongside related interdisciplinary areas of natural midwifery, drug addiction reduction therapies, vegan/plant-based nutritional lifestyle services, reproductive wellness care and complementary medicine services. Academic studies include Rutgers University (NCAS), Pepperdine University (CA), University of California San Diego (Graduate PhD Fellow), and other global research and teaching credentials from institutions of higher education. As the inaugural founding director of the Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC) and an Assistant Professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), Dr. Davis-Kahina has dedicated over 40 years to embracing culture, healing, arts, technology, and education.  Dr. Davis Kahina is the co-founding director of the not-for-profit NGO Per Ankh (House of Life)©and the creatrix of ANUPerAnkh©, pioneering Culture, Healing, Arts, Technology, and Spirituality for Life, Inspiration, Freedom, and Education (CHATS4LIFE©). Her work fosters a holistic approach to community empowerment and cultural preservation that invigorate systems transformation of Culture, Healing, Arts, Technology and Spirituality for Life, Inspiration, Freedom and Education – CHATS4LIFE©.

With experience and expertise in mediation and conflict resolution management services as a certified PULSE professional and trainer, community engagement and facilitation of cultural sustainability frameworks are streamlined with successful outcomes that are beneficial to work and sustainable funding for the VICCC. 

Through communitarian and humanitarian work projects and collaborative partnerships, Dr. Davis Kahina serves as a Executive Council Representative of the Caribbean Pan African Network and CARICOM Reparations Commission; Ambassador of the AIDO Network; Advisory Council  Representative of the Non-Profit Consortium of the St Croix Foundation for Community Development; and collaborates, partners and leads among diverse thought with action-leaders and homegrown communities nationally, regionally and internationally in alignment with her framework of #actionabledeliverables 

Dr. Davis Kahina creatively provides ambassadorial consultation and integrates culture, healing, arts, technology and spirituality for creating environments for maximal holistic wellness care, sustainable cultural heritage traditions, and complementary communitarian support services one person and one family at a time.

#RemainInspired

“Through my work in education, culture, technology, creative arts, and interdisciplinary studies, I strive to inform and empower communities to respectfully reconnect with their heritage, traditions, history and spirit to strengthen a living foundation for future progress.”

Dr. Chenzira Davis-Kahina

When did you discover your love for Communications and the Humanities?

My passion for Communications and the Humanities was ignited during my formative years through the guidance of my parents nd immediate relatives born and socialized in the Dominican Republic with family linkages and work histories within the wider Spanish, Dutch, English and French speaking Caribbean islands of St. Martin, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Cuba,  Aruba and other parts of the Caribbean Americas.  My research, teaching, performative productions, and engagement with various cultural heritage education histories, educational technologies, and narratives enhanced my love of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Holistic Natural Sciences and traditional practices throughout my life in a multiplicity of ways.

It was my involvement in community events and regional to international humanitarian services that truly illuminated how powerful communication, creative arts, holistic transformative wellness, and technology can be in shaping identities and promoting cultural understanding, thus inspiring my commitment to these interdisciplinary fields and disciplines.

What made you decide to make education your career path?

Education has always been a fundamental pillar of my philosophy and living practices. I believe in education’s transformative power to uplift communities, foster intrinsic personal growth, and strength positive relations among our shared humanity globally. My choice to pursue a career in education and complementary disciplines comes from a deep commitment to nurturing the next generation of eclectic stewards, trailblazers, futurists, leaders and cultural custodians, which I see as essential for preserving our heritage and advancing our more harmonized and principally unified societies for generations upon generations.

What is the VICCC and how does it support UVI’s mission to empower the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, and the world?

The Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC) serves as a vital hub for preserving and promoting Caribbean heritage and arts. This center supports UVI’s mission by fostering cultural awareness, facilitating community engagement, and providing educational resources that empower individuals across the U.S. Virgin Islands and beyond. Through hosting programs that highlight our unique cultural identity, the VICCC inspires the next generation of leaders.

The VICCC hosts several special collections, can you tell us more about them and how others can contribute?

The VICCC houses a variety of special collections, including artifacts, documents, and multimedia resources that reflect the rich tapestry of Caribbean culture and history. Contributions are welcomed from community members, artists, and scholars who wish to share their artifacts, stories, or research. By collaborating and contributing, individuals can help enrich our collections and foster a deeper understanding of our cultural heritage. Contributors & Patrons of VICCC Collections include the following yet are not limited to:  Estate of Dr. Gene K. Emanuel; Estate of Dr. Robert V. Vaughn; Estate of Dr. Marvin Williams; Dr. Simon B. Jones-Hendrickson; Island Resources Foundation (IRF)-Helen Auble Collections; Dr. Henry L. Gates, Jr.; Dr. Arnold Highfield; Professor Olasee Davis; Dr. Virgie Broussard-Pradia; Dr. Gloria I. Joseph; Dr. William White; Professor Audre Lorde; Dr. Nicholas Faraclas; Dr. David L. Horne; HE Ambassador David Comissiong, Esq.; Dr. Denise Bennerson; Dr. Dannabang Kuwabong; Rev. Dr. George A. Franklin; Allen Youngblood; Dr. Ivy Shadiah Hylton & Baba Saleem Hylton; Paul Youngblood; Dr. Alicia Odewale; Dr. Max Hilaire; Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; Dr. Patricia Turnbull; Lasana M. Sekou; Dr. Wilfredo Labiosa; Dr. Ayana Flewellen; Choco; Francisco “Cisco The Artist” Davis; Dr. Maria Isabel Guzman Vendrell; Dr. Justin Dunnavant; Other Cultural Heritage Stewards & Scholars Resource Donations Welcomed! More to share!

Key goals with action deliverables of the VICCC include S.I.P. (Support. Investment. Promoting) yet are not limited to:

• Support for producing, developing, collaborating, managing and cooperatively instituting state-of-the-art multi-platform media; creative industries; academic exchanges and community research partnerships; publications; regional, national & international conferences/symposia;

• Investment in Culture, Heritage and Education (CHE) collections, archival and digitalization resources, museum exhibitions, cultural performing arts productions, eco-heritage tourism developments, cultural entrepreneurship, and Interdisciplinary Caribbean Cultural Studies (ICCS) and the new UVI Ph. D. in Caribbean Studies (pending faculty and administration approval) programs; 

• Promoting the nurturance, cultivation, teaching, researching and respect for the foundations of culture within Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Engineering (STREAM), cultural competency frameworks, courses, workshops, certifications, degrees, innovative academia and more! (Davis-Kahina: 2019)

If you could curate the Queen Mother Dr. Chenzira Davis-Kahina VICCC Collection, what are five of the pieces it would be comprised of?

If I were to curate this collection, it would include:

1.          Bamboula Exhibition Resources and Publications

• Recognizing the cultural significance, creative arts, and technology through the VI Caribbean traditional framework of the Bamboula. Photograph series entitled “Bamboula Journeys 3.”

2.          Historical Documents in Multiple Formats

• Virtual historical documents capturing stories, creative narratives, music and immersion videos of traditional, contemporary and futuristic contributions and achievements of Virgin Islands Caribbean Global Civilization.  Digital Archive “VI Caribbean Legacies: Past, Present and Future” with Open-Source Access with philanthropic and sustainable support.

3.          Artworks by Caribbean Global Artists

• Celebrating the voices and experiences of artists in our Caribbean Global culture. “Arts of Our Caribbean Zone of Peace.” 

4.          Video Documentation of Creative Legacy Narratives and Cultural Festivals, Carnivals and Heritage Celebrations

• Showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of Caribbean celebrations, history and cultural creative art and sciences. “Queens of the Virgins: An Ethnodocumentary” written, directed, narrated and produced by Dr. Chenzira Davis-Kahina.

5.          Educational Materials on Holistic Healing and Traditional Cultural Practices

• Exhibitions and archives of interdisciplinary traditional knowledge systems that foster health and well-being grounded in cultural traditions of the VI Caribbean. “Traditional Herbs and Medicines of the Caribbean” publication and interactive traveling exhibition of holistic wellness practices and natural healing herbs.

If you could liken yourself to one Caribbean rhythm/musical genre & one Caribbean dance-style what would they be and why?

Bamboula is the Caribbean creative arts genre that resonates deeply and organically within me inclusive of being a rhythm, a form of communication, a dance traditional style, and spiritual tradition. 

“Bamboula represents more than a dance step style for performance and public entertainment.  It represents a socio-cultural, socio-political and psycho-spiritual engagement that fuses body, mind, spirit and consciousness with sacred traditions, inspirational vision and freedom from physical, mental and spiritual bondage on a multiplicity of dimensions.” (Davis-Kahina: 2009)

Bamboula transcends and signifies freedom with honorable respect for traditional ancestral intelligence- the authentic AI, embodying my living practices and dedication to cultural preservation, historical legacy, interdisciplinary cognitive technology with memory, creative performative arts production, and passionate spiritual expression through dance, theatre, visual arts and music.

You have championed the University, Territory, and Caribbean region globally in many capacities and on many platforms. How important is UVI’s unique position as the only Caribbean-based HBCU in raising up the next generation of champions?

UVI’s unique status as the only Caribbean-based Historically Black College and University (HBCU) is paramount in cultivating a new generation of leaders prepared to implement 21^st century actionable deliverables (Davis Kahina: 2008). This unique HBCU representation UVI has maintained since 1986 has and continues to expand the potential to enable students to engage with their rich heritage while receiving a quality education with exemplary standards of excellence, strengthen long-lasting human relationships and networks, be empowered with creative leadership and communication skills to advocate for human rights, equity, social justice and sustainable community development within homegrown (local), national, regional and international environments. 

Define Success

Success is the holistic achievement of one’s potential to inspire and uplift others while contributing positively to self, family, community and the world. It is measured not by personal accolades but by the impact one has in manifesting sustainable skills and expertise for thriving in life; fostering empowerment with equitable social justice; respectful appreciation and mindful cognitive awareness for cultural heritage knowledge with ancestral intelligence; and integration of Ma’at Ubuntu spirituality principles and practices in one’s life. [Ma’at= truth, justice, order, balance, divine righteousness, reciprocity, and harmony][Ubuntu: The divinity and unity in me respects, honors and sees the divinity and unity in you.] 

What are your hopes for the VICCC & the University at large moving into the future?

I envision the VICCC as an evolving center for cultural research, economic development, creative heritage education, intergenerational dialogue, living histories, and interdisciplinary production, continuously expanding its collections and programs with sustainable funding resources to reflect, honor and document the accurate historical and contemporary narratives of our people within and respectful of the Virgin Islands Caribbean global environs. For UVI, I hope it solidifies its role as a beacon of excellence in research, community engagement, and cultural preservation, affirming our Caribbean identity and heritage.

Why does what you do matter?

What I do matters because it helps to preserve, reframe, strengthen, celebrate with authenticity and respectful accuracy the unique cultural identity of the Virgin Islands Caribbean beyond institutionalized erasure and blatant negligence of the essential and important legacies of the Caribbean global region with the Virgin Islands in the geographical center of thriving and sustainable Caribbean civilization (Comissiong: 2004). Through my work in education, culture, technology, creative arts, and interdisciplinary studies, I strive to inform and empower communities to respectfully reconnect with their heritage, traditions, history and spirit to strengthen a living foundation for future progress.

What advice would you give to someone passionate about the region, culture, and the arts and is interested in charting a career path in those interests?

I would start with providing supportive counsel to encourage the person to seek within herself for clarity on where is the source of her passionate interests first.  Advisement without assessing and gathering the intrinsic desires and sacred intentions that energize a person’s passion may become futile hypnosis interfering with a person’s free will.  I would encourage through a GHOST™ framework [GHOST = Gentle. Honest. Open. Specific. Talk.] for the person to immerse themselves in mindful self-reflection, active engagements within her communities, seek aligned and harmonious mentorship, and actively interact and join with cultural heritage education organizations. Building a network and gaining practical experience will be invaluable.  Remaining curious and open to learning can lead to transformative opportunities that benefit both themselves and their community.

Where can we follow your work?

The holistic perspectives of Dr. Chenzira Davis Kahina’s philosophy, work, visions, and aspirations, underscoring the impact of my significant contributions to Virgin Islands Caribbean Global legacy, research, publication, creative arts production, cultural empowerment and heritage technology education is interdisciplinary with extensive internal and external networks, collaborative partnerships and linkages beneficial for UVI, the VI, and Caribbean Global communities. Irrespective of the institutional erasure, ostracization, and systemic institutional neglect of Afrakancentric Indigenous historical narratives and cultural heritage of the VI Caribbean Americas, that I too have experienced and spent intensive time defending within my research, publications, productions, and projects, the work implemented, documented and archived require increased sustainable funding resources and facilities to be authentically and professionally exhibited with permanence for inclusion in the cultural heritage institutions essential for the preservation of presence with identity for the VI Caribbean Americas and globally.  

A great way to start to explore and follow the work being done at the VICCC at UVI is by scheduling an appointment for a tour and visit to the VICCC on the UVI Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, Virgin Islands. The VICCC website at https://www.uvi.edu/academics/lib-arts-and-sciences/research-and-outreach/viccc/ and social media platforms are being upgraded for the relaunch in February 2026. Aspects of my work in professional and communitarian environments may be explored on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where I share updates on my projects, programs, creative productions and cultural heritage education initiatives.