Chief Atawé Akôyi leads GRABE-Benin, working with communities up and down the country to revive ecological wisdom and held steady by his own deep love of plants. He epitomises a confident advocate on Earth Jurisprudence, regularly appearing in local and national media as well as on the international stage. Recently appointed as advisor to one of Benin’s kings, he acts as cultural advocate for over 8 million Tolinu people, stretching across Benin to Nigeria.

Dennis believes in reviving traditional governance systems that can sustain cultural and ecological diversity, if current legal innovations like Rights of Nature are to be effective. He co-founded the African Institute for Culture and Ecology in Uganda, and continues to advocate for “learning from our elders, so we can enjoy abundant gardens, nutritious food and a closeness to nature for many generations to come.”

With a background in conservation, Fassil’s PhD explored the “Social Life of Seeds”: unearthing the value of seeds to rural communities beyond the narrow-minded price tags assigned by ‘modern’ agricultural systems. He is now General Coordinator of the African Biodiversity Network, where he is an advocate for Earth-centred philosophy and practice.

Sam advocates for Indigenous Peoples in the Congo Basin and beyond. He has become particularly embedded with Baka communities, facilitating dialogues to ensure their rights are recognised and respected by authorities. He is passionate about holistic forest management, and well-positioned for engaging with government policy makers having consulted for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Rainforest Foundations, Rights and Resources Initiative, Global Greengrants Fund and Synchronicity Earth.

Mashudu grew up learning from her grandma and mother behind closed doors, her family denounced as demonic. But she found confidence in her culture through traditional dance, and her travels with a local troupe led to her EarthLore Foundation where she now works with Method and Gertude. In 2017, she began channelling their efforts back to her own community of Mazwimba in Venda, where she is restoring pride in their indigenous identity. Mashudu is the life and soul of Collective gatherings, always ready to show off VhaVenda people’s dance style – unique to South Africa – of leading with both feet.

Edonadji is a environmental activist with a poetic voice. He has established CRICE to take children back to their roots, reconnecting them with nature and ancestors through knowledgeable elders in Benin. He is also passionate about agroecology and helping people discover the benefits of the moringa plant which he cultivates.

A lawyer by training, Shaun is now an environmental consultant leading Earth-centered learning at the Stellenbosch Sustainability Institute near Cape Town. He works especially closely with the San – South Africa’s First People – accompanying them in their struggle to be heard within South Africa’s institutional spaces.