Sankofa is an Akan word from the Twi language of Ghana, West Africa, meaning “Go back and fetch it”—a call to reclaim wisdom from the past. It emphasizes learning from the past to build a better future, honoring ancestral wisdom, reclaiming what was lost, and using that knowledge to guide present and future actions. Sankofa coaching invites you to return to your story (Remember), ground your healing in the process (Recover), and move forward empowered, creating a new foundation for your life and legacy (Move Forward).

The Sankofa Writing Method is a storytelling and writing practice I created while uncovering my mother’s truth and healing my own. It’s a five-step framework organized into three stages—Remember, Recover, and Move Forward. Using creative writing, reflection, and ancestral wisdom, the method helps you process trauma, reclaim your voice, and reshape your story into a source of strength, healing, and connection. For me, it also meant learning to transgress—to cross over the walls of limiting beliefs I once carried—so that I could move beyond shame and step into a new story of freedom. Through this act of narrative recovery, I found myself returning to my roots and ancestry, reconnecting with a lineage I had never truly been able to access before.

In our sessions, we'll dive deep into your personal experiences, using The Sankofa Writing Method to help you transform those experiences into powerful, healing narratives. I'll guide you every step of the way, providing personalized support to help you reclaim your voice and tell your story with confidence.

When you step into a Sankofa Coaching Session, you’re entering a sacred space created to support your healing and growth. Each session includes a full 1:1 coaching experience with personalized guidance and a structured process rooted in the Sankofa Writing Method. Together, we’ll explore reflective questions and move through the framework in real time, allowing you to uncover insights and shift your narrative.

Your session will be recorded, and within 24 hours you’ll receive both the recording and a full transcript, along with a personalized Sankofa Writing Method Summary highlighting key insights, exercises, and next steps to continue your growth.

As a bonus, you’ll also receive a digital PDF copy of Writing to Transgress: The Sankofa Writing Method Journal.

The Sankofa Writing Method is rootwork. Recovery work. It’s a tool designed to help you confront, access, and examine trauma by engaging in memory work to uncover deeper truths. At its core, the method embraces storytelling as a sacred practice. Through reflective questions and guided coaching, I’ll support you in processing your experiences, reshaping your narrative, and reclaiming your power through both the spoken and written word. This approach nurtures healing, insight, and voice—transforming your story into a source of strength and freedom.

My coaching is best for individuals ready to explore their personal story, process cultural or generational trauma, and transform their experiences through storytelling. I provide guidance and tools to help you reclaim your voice and create a narrative that empowers and inspires.

Just come as you are! You may want to have a notebook or digital document ready, but most importantly, bring your curiosity, openness, and willingness to explore your story. Our session will be recorded, allowing you to fully engage in storytelling as a sacred, healing practice. As a coach, my goal is to help you see what's already there.

Sankofa coaching is not just about writing or talking through your experiences—it’s about transformation. Rooted in the Sankofa Writing Method, my practice blends storytelling, reflective writing, and ancestral wisdom to create a sacred space for healing and growth. Unlike traditional therapy, the focus is on narrative recovery: reclaiming your story, re-membering yourself, and reconnecting to your cultural and spiritual roots. It’s a holistic process that honors both the wounds and the wisdom you carry, empowering you to move forward with clarity, freedom, and agency.

Sessions are currently offered virtually, making it easy to work together from anywhere. This allows for flexibility while still creating a personal and intimate coaching experience.

Absolutely! Once we launch our official calls for submissions this Fall, you’ll receive a personal invitation to share your writing for consideration in our quarterly anthology series - a living apothecary of voices reclaiming stories, preserving truths, celebrating resilience, and creating lasting cultural impact.

Absolutely! I work with community groups, organizations, and corporations to create experiences that fit their needs. I offer customized pricing to ensure that each engagement is accessible, meaningful, and aligned with the goals of your group. To explore options and share more about your event, please visit ayanathardaway.com and submit a request or email [email protected] —let’s create something transformative together.