Dr. Yewande Okuleye

Dr. Yewande Okuleye is an interdisciplinary scholar with degrees in biochemistry, fine art, research methodology and the history of medicine. Prior to returning to academia, Yewande worked as a chemist at the Body Shop International and was part of the pioneering research and development team, which investigated animal testing alternatives and formulated innovative hair, skin, perfumery and well-being products. These products inspired and defined the natural and ethical skin care movement of the 1990s. In addition to her academic research, Yewande develops public history Afrocentric programmes, that highlight and reclaim forgotten histories. Her Research-in -Action Public Engagement project -What has History got to do with it? uses oral history interview, inter-generational focus group, action research, and digital ethnography, as research methodologies to engage the Nigerian Diaspora in the UK, with memory, place and identity.
Yewande has curated exhibitions and events in arts and cultural spaces in Cuba, Nigeria and the UK. For example, # I am a Yoruba Mother WW1 project, was the only representation of Nigerian mothers and soldiers presented at the 2018 Armistice commemoration at the people’s march and the Westminster Abbey ceremony.