Victoria Boateng is an autism advocate and djembe drummer who uses African music to promote awareness, inclusion, and empowerment within the disability community. Diagnosed with autism at the age of three, Victoria did not begin speaking until she was seven, when music became a powerful means of expression and connection. Her passion for drumming led her to study the djembe and share its healing and unifying power with others.

Victoria is a principal performer with Ayodele Drum and Dance, an all-female drum and dance company, and has performed with Afrobeat, R&B, and hip-hop artists throughout the Chicagoland area. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication with a minor in Theater from Western Illinois University in 2012 and studied West African drumming under master drummers Bolokoda Conde, Michael Taylor, and Tosha Ayo Alston. Victoria is the Founder and CEO of Victoria Djembe Academy, creating inclusive spaces where people with disabilities are seen, heard, and valued through African drumming.