Hi, I’m afrikah.
Founder, 9th Haus Artizen
Vision & Systems Artizen
I’m a theater-maker turned creative operations strategist, blending the discipline of dramaturgy with the flexibility of systems design. My work is rooted in a simple belief: Creative minds thrive when they have the right foundations to support their vision.
With a background in new play development, producing, and freelance creative consulting, I’ve spent years helping artists and creators turn abstract ideas into tangible, impactful experiences. Now, I bring that same passion to digital creators, educators, and experience leaders—helping them build the systems, stories, and experiences that bring their work to life (without sacrificing your sanity).
The Simple Truth?
CREATIVE MINDS NEED GOOD FOUNDATIONS.
Your vision is more than a dream. It's a connector. But inspiration alone isn't enough — you can have the most profound idea in the world, and if the backend is a disaster, the work won't hold. You need a foundation: systems and strategy solid enough to protect your energy and amplify your voice.
I wear two hats to make sure your work thrives in both spirit and structure. (Yes, I know how that sounds. It works.)
THE BRIDGE BETWEEN VISION AND EXECUTION
Most creatives hire separate teams for "vision" and "logistics" — which usually creates a disconnect between the soul of the work and the spreadsheet running it. I offer both, together:
The Creative Artizen (Dramaturgy & Vision) — Drawing on my background as a dramaturg, arts critic, and producer, I help deepen the narrative of your work. Your mission stays clear, your story resonates, and your "why" stays the compass for every decision.
The Operational Artizen (Strategy & Infrastructure) — I build the operational backbone you need to scale: workflow design, launch planning, systems that honor your rhythms and prevent burnout, so your work can grow without falling apart underneath you.
Basically: I make sure the foundation holds while you focus on the work that actually matters.
MY STORY
From THEATER KID to SYSTEMS STeward
9th Haus Artizen officially launched in 2026, but the roots go back further.
I spent years as a multihyphenate cultural worker — dramaturgy, arts journalism, producing — turning abstract ideas into shared realities. That work has been recognized nationally by organizations including the National New Play Network, Theater Communications Group (Rising Leaders of Color), the Eugene O'Neill National Critics Institute, and the BIPOC Critics Lab.
In university, I dove into stage management, dramaturgy, and event production — running everything from classrooms to jazz concerts to independently produced plays. When the pandemic hit, I found myself producing art online and hybrid, and started seeing the systems behind the scenes as clearly as the work itself.
I went on to become the inaugural New Work Producer at a nonprofit working at the intersection of art and social change — line producing masterclasses, leading workshops, dramaturging productions, running community engagement programs. Four years in, I understood what it meant to steward both vision and logistics. I also hit real burnout. The mission was right; the way I was working it wasn't sustainable.
So I took time to rest and reassess. I TA'd at Harvard for Broadway directors and choreographers, kept collaborating with playwrights, and started noticing that the skills I'd built in the arts — project management, creative problem-solving, systems thinking — were highly transferable. For the first time, I had language for what I'd been doing all along.
That realization became 9th Haus Artizen: my practice of supporting Community Architects, visionaries, and purpose-driven business owners who treat their work as a practice, not just a product.
the philosophy: Why “9Th Haus”?
9th Haus Artizen is inspired by my 9th house stellium in Aries. In astrology, the 9th house governs expansion — higher wisdom, universal truths, the "long view" that guides us and the bridges we build between worlds. It's where this business gets its name. But the work itself is simpler than that: good work deserves good foundations, and I build them.
Haus (House): the sanctuary we build together — a foundation for your systems, your values, your community.
Artizen (Artisan + Citizen): The dual identity of the modern creator – Artisans devoted to the craft, Citizens committed to the common good.
Creativity and sustainable business aren't opposites. When you build with intention, work becomes a place where connection, presence, and depth can actually happen — instead of just being aspirational.
HOW I WORK
No matter our collaboration, I lead by inquiry and purpose. Every project is guided by three questions that inform how we build and create a shared vocabulary together:
What is the goal or purpose of what we are hoping to achieve?
Is the process sustainable?
Is it aligned with the vision?
Collaborating through this lens keeps the work meaningful, purpose-driven, and rooted in creating impact. What sets me apart isn’t just my process—it’s the intention behind it. I take the time to understand, explore, and build at each step.
SYSTEMS THINKING
I treat your work as an ecosystem: daily rhythms, customer experience, long-term goals, mapped so nothing gets lost in translation.
HUMAN-CENTERED INTENTION
You're a human who deserves rest. I design structures that protect space for focus and depth, without the chaos of hustle.
Compassionate LEADERSHIP
You don't have to choose between a supportive environment and high standards. I run a tight ship with empathy — holding you accountable to your vision while keeping the process human.
In Practice
Beyond the systems and strategy, I am an active artist, dramaturg, and cultural connector. My own creative work is a living laboratory for the 9th Haus philosophy—exploring how craft, storytelling, and community intersect.