Born in Port-au Prince, Haiti of Cuban, and Haitian parents, Her Royal Majesty Sêmévo 1st, is the Queen Mother of the African Diaspora, Bénin Republic. In 2022, she was enthroned at the Royal Palace of Agonlin, and adhered to the Haut Conseil des Rois du Bénin/HCRB (High Council of Kings of Benin). Her Majesty serves as HCRB’s Ambassador-at-Large. The Queen Mother is also a member of the Forum of Sovereigns and Traditional Leaders of Africa (Forum des Souverains et Leaders Traditionnelle d”Afrique). Largely recognized as HRM Queen Mother Dr. Dòwòti Désir, she is the Founder of the, Imperial Corps Agoodjié of the African Diaspora, an educational and leadership program which connects women of the African Diaspora to their sisters in Africa via online classes and a pilgrimage to Bénin Republic. Her Majesty is the National Secretary in charge of the Diaspora, of the Organisation des Intellectuels Traditionnels du Bénin/ORITRAB). Based in West Africa, in the City of Cotonou, she is also in residence in the State of New York, where she is a faculty member of Dutchess Community College. Currently, Her Majesty instructs underserved youth in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York State. The Queen Mother has been a consultant to, Purchase College, State University of New York Global Strategies and International Programs, Office for Global Education for their, Fulbright-Hays Fellowship. She instructed and advised incoming fellows engaged in the curriculum development project planned for Bénin Republic for summer 2023. She recently received a 2024 Black Divas Award for her advocacy of Black maternal healthcare.