Who We Are

Ayodele, a Yoruba word meaning joy in the home, is a sisterhood of women who recognize the guidance of the Creator in our mission to study, heal and express ourselves through African Drum and Dance from a woman’s perspective.

Although from different backgrounds; we’re passionate in our common efforts to empower and strengthen the women in our community through knowledge and education of the her/story, rituals, music and dances of African culture.

Sisters dedicated to piecing together the broken woman by freeing her from subliminal imprisonment. Using our creative visions to enhance and explore our artistic knowledge, experience, passion and friendships which help strengthen our Families.

In our quest to reclaim our homes; we strive to embrace the similarities while acknowledging the differences among ourselves. Tracing those similarities throughout the Diaspora, Learning how through slavery, African culture was disseminated and absorbed into other cultures.

Africa is everywhere and everywhere is Africa. By the hands of our fathers and the breast of our mothers we vow to reconnect the many nations built from this union/ balance.

As we exchange knowledge and experience of Africa across the world; those similarities bond us together with internal joy into a sisterhood of women whose feet are firmly rooted in Ayodele.

Staff

T. Ayo Alston, Executive/Artistic Director

New York native and Chicago implant, T. Ayo Alston is a quintessential educator, choreographer, and artist who specializes in a theatrical style of West African drum and dance that emphasizes the power and strength of women and the community. As the Founder and Executive Director of Ayodele Drum & Dance, Ayo has created a vibrant performance and training organization dedicated to empowering women through the affirmation of self-confidence and strength.

Ayo has dedicated their career to blending traditional African dance forms with contemporary styles, using their art to foster community and create meaningful cultural work. A 2018 3Arts Awardee and 2022 USA Artists Fellowship recipient, Ayo's queered, Afro-diasporic work is centered on building supportive, inclusive and healthy communities through dance and performance.

Ayo served as Dance Captain for 10 years, artistically maturing under Amaniyea Payne at Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. They have studied with Master teachers such as M’bemba Bangoura, Mouminatou Camara, Rosangela Silvestre, and Youssouf Koumbassa in West Africa, Brazil and around the States.

They have also performed and trained with companies such as Afriky Lolo, Drum Cafe West, G’bassikolo, Les Amazones de Guinée, Les Ballets Bagata and Les Merveilles de Guinée.

Ayo continues to honor all of their teachers and is grateful for the knowledge they have instilled.

As an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago and faculty at The University of Michigan, Ayo is pioneering the integration of African dance into academic settings, developing curricula that thrive in prestigious schools in Chicago. Their work in academia is laying the foundation for African dance to be recognized as an integral part of the broader educational landscape. Ayo began their MFAIA journey at Goddard College and will graduate and present their thesis, Kaleidoscope Eyes: Healing and Revealing the Blind Spots in West African Dance, Identities, and Spiritual Fluidity, December 2025.

**Imania Fatima Detry,** Assistant Artistic Director
Imania Fatima Detry is a Chicago-born and bred performing and teaching artist with a concentration in West African Dance.
With over 20 years of professional training and performance with Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago as a principal artist and as the Assistant Artistic Director of Ayodele Drum and Dance, she truly enjoys and works in the effort to preserve African dance and culture as well as share her current experiences and style in her teaching and performing. Her style and experiences have given her the opportunity to work with different artist and platforms including Chance the Rapper, Fatima Robinson, Fox Productions, and more. Imania has expanded her choreography with fusion styles that include: Djembe and DounDance, Sabar, House, Chicago Footwork, Afrobeat and Afrobeats.
Imania’s artistic talents also include costume design and choreography. Her contributions are displayed through Ayodele Drum and Dance and other artistic platforms across Chicago and the world.

Patrice Gaitors, Finance Manager

Patrice Gaitors made her West African dance debut with Minianka African Dance & Drum Ensemble. She worked under the direction of late great Naghree Sutton-Silas. Later she became one of the members of Ayodele Drum and Dance under the Artistic direction of Tosha "Ayo" Alston. Patrice became a principal performer with the company. As one of the company members, she took on an additional role as the Finance Manager.

**Mashaune Hardy,** Business Manager
A lifelong Chicagoan, Mashaune has deep ties to Chicago’s vibrant arts community. With more than 20 years of experience in dance, information technology, marketing, and arts administration; she sits at the intersection of process and performance.
Mashaune produces concerts, conferences, and performances; has danced with Seneke West African Percussion Ensemble, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, and Ayodele Drum and Dance; and has developed social media strategies for several artists and arts organizations. Currently, she is the Business Manager at Ayodele Drum and Dance, Social Media Manager at the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Manager of jazz vocalist Dee Alexander, Associate Director of Community Arts Partnership and Strategy and Co-Director | Executive with the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. She has been honored by New City Magazine as one of “45 People Who Keep Chicago in Tune” and "Players 50 2026: The Advocates and Changemakers.”
In addition to her work in the arts, Mashaune has led technology projects as a Senior Systems Analyst at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and Hewlett Packard (HP). Mashaune received a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sydney Lorraine Adams, Secretary and Ayodele Youth Program Company Coordinator

Sydney Lorraine Adams is a Chicago, IL native. She attended Hampton University- in Hampton, Virginia where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree and her Master of Arts D at Northeastern Illinois University. Since she was a little girl Sydney has always loved to dance. She began dancing with Mayfair Dance Academy and Susubribi, her Godfather’s West-African Dance Company. As she got older; she studied, for over 10 years, with the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Company, led by Founder Homer Hans Bryant. After college, and getting used to being back in Chicago, Sydney found West African Dance Classes at Sherman Park. Soon after regularly attending dance classes Sydney joined Ayodele Drum and Dance, led by T. Ayo Alston, Founder and Executive Artistic Director where she moved up to Principal Performer. Although she is no longer dancing, she remains a part of the company as a Staff Member serving as the Secretary.

Sydney is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., - Xi Nu Omega Chapter. and the Monarch Awards Foundation, Inc..

Eboney Tolliver, Finance Coordinator and Ayodele Youth Program Coordinator

Eboney Tolliver has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Roosevelt University in Chicago, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Management from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

She joined the staff of Ayodele Drum and Dance in 2009 to be a part of and nurture an organization that gives limitless opportunities to women and children through the study of dance. Eboney grew up in the African drum and dance community and wanted to put her skills to use in an African-centered organization. She joined Sundance Productions, under the direction of Danny Hinds, at the age of seven and started a foundation in ballet, tap, jazz, African dance, and afro-Caribbean dance. After Sundance Productions, Eboney joined Alyo Children’s Dance Theater under the direction of Kimosha Murphy and rose to the position of Dance Captain. It was at Alyo and while teaching dance in the afterschool programs for Chicago Public Schools that she learned performance fundamentals and instruction techniques.

Ayodele Drum and Dance provides a platform to create, lead, learn and organize for women and children on an administrative level. Through Ayodele Drum and Dance, I continue to create strong sisterhood bonds and leave a legacy for the next generation of women.

**Ifetayo Kitwana**, Rehearsal Co-Director
Ife serves as part of the artistic staff and is a principal dancer with Ayodele Drum and Dance Company. She began her dancing career at a young age, founded within the African drum and dance community of Chicago. Ife has over 22 years of professional training and performance experience as well over 8 years of teaching experience.
The Chicago native is also a registered dance/movement therapist, licensed clinical professional counselor, and group fitness professional. It is Ife’s philosophy that wellness manifests through mental, physical, spiritual, and communal development, thus her belief and passion for holistic health and wellness drive her life's work.

Saidia Murphy, Ayodele Youth Program Staff

Saidia Murphy, a native of St. Louis, MO, was first introduced to West African dance and culture through the Organization for Black Struggle (OBS). As a youth, she attended community classes and cultural programs offered by Better Family Life, The Spirit of Angela, and The Sunshine Group, where she was exposed to the beauty of African dance and live drumming. She later became the Director of the St. Louis youth company Maat, providing young dancers with opportunities to explore and celebrate West African traditions.

After relocating to Chicago in 2010, Saidia and her daughter immersed themselves in community classes with Ayodele Drum and Dance. She has since grown into a Principal Performer, training under Executive Artistic Director Tosha “Ayo” Alston and Assistant Artistic Director Imania Detry. Saidia continues to honor her cultural roots while expanding her artistry and sharing the healing power of African dance with her community.