Our Approach
Who We Are
USA Today Bestselling Author, N.D. Jones, Ed.D., founded Kuumba Publishing in 2015. Back then, she used Kuumba Publishing as a trade name for her sole proprietorship. In 2021, N.D. formally established Kuumba Publishing as a limited liability company. She also trademarked the name in the same year.
Kuumba is a Swahili word that means creativity. Kuumba is also the Sixth Principle of Kwanzaa, an African American cultural holiday created by Maulana Karenga in 1966. The principle of Kuumba encourages people “to do always as much as [they] can in the way that [they] can in order to leave [their] community more beautiful and beneficial than when [they] inherited it. (Karenga, 1988).” Thus, N.D. Jones created Kuumba Publishing LLC as a forum for creativity in its various expressions, with a special commitment to promoting and encouraging creative works of authors and artists of African descent.
Our Story
Kuumba Publishing is a true family affair. Najja, the artist of the family, designed KP's logo. Assefa, a budding scientist with the heart of an author, will share blog entries and fantasy novellas. Jahi, scholar extraordinaire, will grace us with blogs, scholarly articles, and oratory performances.
Meet the KP Family
Jahi Akinwole
Scholar and Blogger
Professor, World Religions
B.A. Morgan State University
M.A. St. Mary's Seminary
M.A. Morgan State University
Assefa Akinwole
Aspiring Author/Graduate Student
Bachelor of Science
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Meyerhoff Scholars Program
Najja Akinwole
Artist/College Student
Maryland Institute College of Art
Major: Animation