Four centuries ago, this corner of Manhattan stood as a brutal gateway to wealth built on human suffering. Enslaved Africans were bought, insured, and exploited—turning Black lives into the foundation of modern finance.
On Day 2 of AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK®’s 6th Annual Summit & Charity Ball, hosted at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, that painful legacy was confronted—and reclaimed. A historic delegation, led by Dr. Mansa Suliman Al Kushi, Board Director of AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK®, stepped into the New York Stock Exchange, not as commodities, but as catalysts for transformation.
Running August 28 – September 1, 2025, the Summit brings together global African diaspora leaders, innovators, creatives, and investors to confront brain drain, honor excellence, and drive forward a pan-African agenda for development.
From slave trade to stock trade, the arc of history did not simply bend—it turned. And at its pivot stood Africa’s brightest minds—not returning as guests, but reimagining their rightful place at the table of global power.
A Vision Rooted in Legacy and Liberation
Dr. Mansa Suliman Al Kushi is no stranger to bold visions. As a serial entrepreneur, Afro/Jewish American, and countrypreneur, he has spent over 32 years building global economic bridges—including a monumental initiative to found a new sovereign nation, The Kingdom of Kush, in the unclaimed territory of Bir Tawil between Egypt and Sudan.
His mission? To reclaim land, offer citizenship to the oppressed, and build a futuristic, pan-African society inspired by unity, empowerment, and African heritage. “We’re not just talking about liberation,” he says. “We’re building it—one institution, one platform, one people at a time.”
Dr. Al Kushi’s work spans top-tier institutions like Franklin Templeton, Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Fortune Empire, bringing decades of expertise in private wealth, finance, and international relations to every endeavor. Now, he brings it to AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK®—as a member of the Board of Directors and one of its most powerful advocates.
Africa’s Brain Bank®: Reversing the Brain Drain
Africa’s Brain Bank®: Reversing the Brain DrainThe presence of Africa’s Brain Bank® at the New York Stock Exchange is more than symbolic—it’s strategic. Founded by Rev. Dr. Pamela Fomunung, this global nonprofit is designed to collect, connect, and activate Africa’s dispersed intellectual capital. Diaspora doctors, engineers, technologists, and creatives now have a platform to “deposit” their expertise, virtually, to serve development across the continent.
“Think of it as sending your knowledge like a Zelle transfer,” says Fomunung, “except what you’re transferring is transformation.”
This platform is more than an answer to Africa’s brain drain. It’s a blueprint for brain gain—a reimagination of how knowledge, not geography, defines power.
A Moment at the NYSE: More Than Ceremony
At the NYSE, Dr. Al Kushi delivered a stirring reflection. “Africans helped build this place during the slave trade,” he said. “The first trade here was human beings. That’s where insurance, logistics, and banking took root—off the backs of our people.”
But today, that power dynamic is shifting. “Now we’re trading companies, not bodies. Ideas, not oppression. Africa must walk through this open door.”
This was not merely a speech—it was a spiritual reclamation. Wall Street, once built on African labor, now opens its floor to African-led institutions. This is more than visibility—it is viability.
The Kingdom of Kush: A Sovereign Dream
L-R With Dr. Al Kushi 2nd from left, and Wallstreet executives
Beyond boardrooms, Dr. Al Kushi is building a nation. The Kingdom of Kush, inspired by ancient African civilizations, is being developed as a modern refuge for the oppressed Black diaspora. The project aims to provide citizenship, infrastructure, and sovereignty, grounded in sustainability and innovation.
Situated in Bir Tawil, a rare unclaimed territory, the Kingdom is more than utopian—it is a political and practical stand against global systemic inequity. And Dr. Al Kushi is leading that charge with unshakable resolve.
Leadership That Bridges Past and Future
Educated at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University (PhD in Jurisprudence) and Sorbonne Université (PhD in International Relations), Dr. Al Kushi combines spiritual wisdom with geopolitical savvy. His Afro/Jewish American identity deeply informs his vision—embracing multiculturalism, cross-cultural diplomacy, and intergenerational empowerment.
As a Board Director of AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK®, he continues to build bridges between global Black talent and local African needs, championing sustainable growth, policy innovation, and diaspora collaboration.
You’ll also find him active across social media platforms, amplifying opportunities, sharing investment insights, and rallying global citizens behind the Kingdom of Kush and Africa’s Brain Bank.
A Call to Reclaim, Rebuild, and Rise
If Wall Street once symbolized loss, it now welcomes the seeds of legacy. Africa’s Brain Bank is more than an organization—it’s a declaration: that our people are not invisible. Our ideas are not disposable. Our future is not negotiable.
Dr. Mansa Suliman Al Kushi stands at the helm of that declaration. With courage shaped by history and vision informed by destiny, he reminds us: “The time is now. The door is open. Africa must walk through it.”
Let this moment mark the shift. Not from pain to pride—but from absence to action.
