September 10, 2026
Dear Governor Nyong'o:
Please click here to view an internet open page letter to you dated September 8, 2026. The letter to you is posted on our "African Cultural Diplomat Exchange Network" website. Governor this letter is historic and our efforts will make National and International News. We created the: "African Cultural Diplomat Exchange Network" whereas we made history in that we made our African/American Community of Orange Mound in Memphis "The Birthplace of African Cultural Diplomacy." We lead the nation in "African Cultural Diplomacy" via "Digital Technology." Governor as an educator you and I understand that schools are very, very busy and its a challenge to add anything of their plate including reading this document. We hold that the relationship with Kisumu and Orange Mound is exceptional and should be considered.
Before I go any further in this letter those who I am sharing this letter with have no idea who is Governor Nyong'o. Governor I am sorry to say this but no one in America know you, but most African/Americans know your daughter academy award winner and start of the Black Panther movie Lupita Nyong'o. Those of us in America have no idea that you are the Governor of the 3rd largest City in Kenya called "Kisumu, County." You are a scholar, book author and are known in Kenya as "Professor Nyong'o." We include your June 12, 2024 letter to Anthony "Amp" Elmore.
Governor Nyong'o you are a United Nations advisor and you do not need to navigate traditional bureaucratic diplomatic pipelines to reach global decision-makers; you sit at the advisory table where the United Nations examines how local communities innovate, educate, and collaborate across international borders. Governor Nyong'o we ask that you leverage your authority to bring the partnership between Kisumu County and historic Orange Mound directly into the United Nations ecosystem during United Nations Week (October 18-24, 2026). As a sitting UN advisor who has the institutional standing to introduce the "Charter of Kinship" and the classroom link between Arya Primary School and Cherokee Elementary School as an official UN case study of decentralized, people-to-people cultural diplomacy. By issuing a County Executive Proclamation in Kisumu designating UN Week as a shared educational observance with Memphis, this formally anchors the elementary curriculum-focusing on the 1959 Tom Mboya Airlift and the shared civil rights lineage-within the global framework of United Nations international dialogue and diaspora cooperation.
Governor in the case of me Anthony "Amp" Elmore we are looking to bringing all of the schools in the "Orange Mound Community in Memphis" into a historic relationship between "Kisumu County Kenya and Orange Mound and Africa."
Via this communication I am copying this communication to the four school Principals in Orange Mound; Cherokee, Hanley, Dunbar and Melrose.
If any of the principals have time pleaseclick here to read this August 24, 2026 National News Release titled: United Nations Day October 24th 2026 Black Memphis Community Orange Mound in Memphis advance Kenya, Kennedy, King, Obama via launch of "Tom Mboya Legacy District" & Untold Civil Rights History
This leads us to the "African Cultural Diplomat Exchange Network" and Orange Mound "The Birthplace of African Cultural Diplomacy." There does not exist an infrastructure that officially connects "Orange Mound To Africa" or connect Orange Mound to Orange Mound. October 18-24 is United Nations Week. Our goal is to officially Connect "Orange Mound to Kisumu, Kenya" via United Nations week whereas we connect to Orange Mound, Kisumu, Kenya to both the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum and the Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum via celebrating United Nations week.
The question is asked how do we connect "Orange Mound, Kisumu Kenya with the JFK and Obama Library." The way to connect all of the entities is via "The African Cultural Diplomat Exchange Network." Anthony "Amp" Elmore Memphis 1st Independent 35mm Theatrical Filmmaker is the 1st to chronical "Black Memphis History." May 22, 2019 was Memphis 200th Anniversary whereas Anthony "Amp" Elmore created the film "200 years of Black Memphis History." This video premiered concurrently at 7:00 p.m. at Memphis "Malco Majestic Theatre" at 7051 Malco Crossing in Hickory Hill and Elmore released the movie concurrently on "You Tube." May 22, 2019 was the 200th birthday of the City of Memphis.
Please understand there is a culture, practice and history in Memphis that erase "Black Memphis History." Whereas Anthony "Amp" Elmore movie history was not allowed to become an "Official part of Memphis Bicentennial Celebration" nor is his 1988 Film Release "The Contemporary Gladiator" or his 2019 Film "200 Years of Black Memphis History" allowed to be officially acknowledged in the City of Memphis. In addition positive stories about "Orange Mound" are marginalized in Memphis to meet "White Approval."
Click here to view a video posted on November 12, 2025 titled: New Orange Mound Sign Racist: Truth Revealed by Anthony "Amp" Elmore The True history of Orange Mound remain untold.
Click here to see video titled: Kenya Dignitaries Lead by Lupita Nyong'o Father Came to Memphis"
The 1st stop you Governor Nyong'o and the African Dignitaries visited was now "The African Cultural Embassy in Orange Mound." In August of 2024 you Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o invited Anthony "Amp" Elmore Sr. and his son Anthony "Amp" Elmore Jr. to the FESTAC African Cultural Celebration in Kisumu, Kenya. This Kenya visit resulted to Anthony "Amp" Elmore creating the "African Cultural Diplomat Exchange Network" whereas via "Digital Technology" we connected "Arya Primary School in Kisumu, Kenya with Cherokee Elementary in Orange Mound in Memphis."
October 18-to-24 is United Nations Week whereas we are asking Orange Mound Schools in conjunction to United Nations Week to celebrate at their schools the "Tom Mboya Legacy District Celebration at the "African Cultural Embassy" October 24, 2026. Our aim is to bring Orange Mound and Kisumu, Kenya into the "Historic International Spotlight" whereas Anthony "Amp" Elmore will document via a historic video honoring Orange Mound Schools and their connection to Kisumu, Kenya Schools whereas schools celebrate the United Nations week and the historic connection between America and Kenya. We hold that the way to bring people and nations together is via "education, diversity, and democracy."
This communication shares not only an open letter to Kisumu Governor Professor Anyang' Nyong'o this letter is an opportunity to connect Orange Mound via our creation of our Digital Orange Mound News Network. "Digital Technology is the way of the future.
We used Digital technology to educate the American public about Governor Nyong'o. Via "Digital Technology" we can educate and share with the world about our efforts in regards to "African Cultural Diplomacy."
Our idea via "digital Technology" is to bring "Orange Mound and Orange Mound Schools" and Kisumu, Kenya Schools" to the "International stage of Cultural Diplomacy" whereas we connect Orange Mound to Kisumu, Kenya via a shared heritage and a United Nations Connection. Anthony "Amp" Elmore via composing a dynamic video connects the communities together via a shared heritage Video to share with the world on You Tube. It would take $1000's of dollars to document via video about "Orange Mound Schools." Documentation is more than just creating a video, It means creating a video and putting that video on an International platform via an International New Release.
There is no major national news coming from the Orange Mound neighborhood in Memphis right now however connecting Orange Mound, the United Nations and African Cultural Diplomacy will launch Orange Mound into the International spotlight via "African Cultural Diplomacy and the United Nations." Anthony "Amp" Elmore via filmmaking and digital technology, whereas are Orange Mound Schools open and available to share stories about "Cultural Diplomacy" via advocating history and education.
Please click on the above graphics of the "African Cultural Diplomat Exchange Network" and the "African Cultural Embassy" you will see a video we produced about Cherokee School whereas we interview Cherokee Principal Tina Smith who says in the interview she would like to visit Africa and take students to Africa someday. In our case we say let's make this happen. I Anthony "Amp" Elmore is the 1st to bring African Americans on a "Kenya Safari." I took groups to Kenya for a decade. Click here to view a television commercial I made in 1994 advertising taking groups to Kenya. One can: Click here and see a video I produced 34 years ago in 1994 titled African/Americans on a Kenya Safari. Orange Mound can lead the nation and taking teachers and students to Africa for an international education.
We viewed the web and found videos and much background information about Hanley School Principal Dr. Zonja Glover who we believe Dr. Zonja Glover would have the courage to stand and correct the history of "Orange Mound." In January of 1889 the Shelby County Quarterly Court passed a resolution to build the 1st School in Shelby County for African/Americans at the corner of Spottswood and Boston directly behind Mt. Moriah Baptist Church called District 18. A White real estate broker by the name of E.E. Meacham taking advantage of the 1st School for Blacks to be built purchased land in December of 1989.
In May of 1990 he registered the land and called it "Orange Mound" whereas a Whiteman was unjustly given credit for starting the Orange Mound community was established in 1879 via two Black Churches. There exist no historical marker at "Spotswood and Boston" because it would prove that a Black School proves that Orange Mound was a Black Community prior to E.E. Meacham a White man who is credited to creating Orange Mound 1.8 miles away from Spotswood and Boston. No Black Memphis leader has the courage to correct this history or call for a "Black Memphis History Museum."
We learned via the web about Melrose Principal Andrea Tailley who is not only a 1992 graduate of Melrose, her parents went to Melrose. Unknown and untold Melrose High School is one of the most historic remarkable schools in our nation whereas Melrose history has been purposefully marginalized whereas Melrose School is the only school in world history where three Gold Medalist went to the school at the same time whereas Memphis purposefully do not have a historic marker, whereas the purpose is to marginalize Orange Mound's Black history.
In regards to Melrose Principal Andrea Tailley I would like to get Melrose Students to "Engage with the Orange Mound News Network."
Click here to view the website "Orange Mound News Network.Com."
We created a "Digital Platform" whereas the Community of Orange can learn about the history and day to day events in "Orange Mound." We live in a digital world of information technology where we can tell and share stories. In the days of Principal Andrea Tailley's parents Orange Mound was a community whereas everyone went to the community store, church and entertainment, in fact there was the "Orange Mound Funeral home. Way, way back in the day you could be born in Orange Mound and buried in the community
We read about Dunbar Principal Lawanda Shaw who incorporates neighborhood public art engagement, museum and off campus Arts immersions. We believe Dunbar would be great and excited to connect with Kenya. One example is "Hell's Gate in Kenya" is the inspiration for the movie "The Lion King" whereas we connect Orange Mound to the Obama House in Kogelo, Kenya.
To Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o and the principals at the Orange Mound Schools because I am a Black man in Memphis who made not just Black history we made "World Film History" in that we created the not only Memphis 1st Independent 35mm Theatrical Film, our film via many scenes shot in Orange Mound is the 1st Kickboxing Film in World film History. In addition our film "The Contemporary Gladiator" that premiered in Kenya in 1990 is the "1st Industrial Trade Deal between an African Country and an African/American business.
Please click on the above images and you will see 1st hand that Anthony "Amp" Elmore is honored by the National Archives and Records Administration via the Federal Government whereas from Orange Mound Anthony "Amp" Elmore is honored in the Barack Obama Presidential Library, whereas Anthony "Amp" Elmore was not allowed to speak at the "Orange Mound Library as a partner." On the second image you see an image of Tom Mboya and President John F. Kennedy. The student airlifts lead Barack Obama Sr. the father of U.S. President Barack Obama Sr. Governor Nyong'o personally knew Barack Obama Sr. whereas we in Orange Mound filmed the Obama home in Kenya.
The reason that mentioning these details is because Anthony "Amp" Elmore have 1000 "You Tube videos" and Anthony "Amp" Elmore is offering to come to schools in Orange Mound to create a historical document whereas the schools "Celebrate the United Nations and Partner with Kisumu Kenya." Elmore ask the schools to celebrate the story that is posted on the "John F. Kennedy Library titled: John F. Kennedy and the Student Airlift and American Education for African Students.
Our Engaging the UN-particularly through bodies like UNESCO (education, heritage, and science) or UN-Habitat (sustainable urban communities)-elevates this local initiative into a global case study.
Rather than relying on institutional gatekeepers or fragile one-to-one pen-pal logistics, this approach establishes an autonomous, living digital platform of education anchored in what the platform defines as the Charter of Kinship a sovereign, people-to-people connection uniting the African Diaspora directly with the African Motherland. To be honest about the issue many African/American leaders are terrified of establishing a relationship with Africans and Africa.
In 2019 when Governor Nyong'o and the African Dignitaries came to Memphis Black Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris ducked out and wanted not association with the African dignitaries. We arranged for a photo opp of Governor Nyong'o with White Memphis Mayor Jim Strictland at his office in City Hall. Lee Harris would not invite the dignitaries to his office in the Shelby County building. State Representative Joe Towns arranged a photo opt at St. Jude Hospital with the African dignitaries, otherwise former Black Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris wanted no association with the African dignitaries.
Education as a Living, Open Archive (Not a Dated Lesson Plan)
Open-Access Viewing for Any Student: The African Cultural Diplomacy does not depend on synchronized class periods across an 8-hour time zone difference. Instead, it serves as a public digital library. A student at Arya Primary in Kisumu or in Memphis can open the website at any hour, explore the video archive, and immerse themselves in the living reality of their peers across the Atlantic. Lake Victoria is the economic and ecological lifeblood for Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, sustaining over 40 million people in its basin through livelihoods, food, and energy.
Timeless Historical Context: The platform preserves and teaches foundational history that standard curricula omit-from the 1879 roots of Orange Mound and Tom Mboya's historic late-1950s student airlifts, to the 1990 overseas theatrical premiere of The Contemporary Gladiator that forged the original independent cultural and commercial trade bridge between Memphis and Kenya.
Community-Wide Engagement: Because the medium is sharable, public video, education is not locked behind classroom doors. Parents, elders, teachers, and civic leaders can watch, learn, and contribute, turning the entire neighborhood into a classroom.
The Power of the Sharable Video Model
Visual Diplomacy Over Abstract Theory: Video captures tone, music, energy, and environment. When students in Kisumu see the streets, schools, and cultural pride of Orange Mound, and when Memphis youth see thousands of students at Arya Primary singing the spirit of Mboya by Lake Victoria, the connection becomes real and felt.
Every Student as a Certified Cultural Diplomat: Rather than being passive consumers of standardized textbooks, students step into the role of ambassadors simply by engaging with the network. They see their community's stories elevated to an international stage with dignity and autonomy.
Eliminating Bureaucratic Friction: Traditional sister-city arrangements often remain stalled in municipal offices or bound up in funding applications. A central digital hub requires no government approval to educate-it delivers authentic culture, unedited and unfiltered, directly to anyone with an internet connection.
By treating digital film and independent media as instruments of statecraft, the network shifts diplomacy out of boardrooms and embassies and places it firmly into a permanent, accessible platform of education built for the people. Our goal is to bring Orange Mound into a 21st Century paradigm as the 1st Community in American history to partner with an African Government in regards to history and education .
