bio
Rev. Dr. Queen Mother has been part of the Newark’s Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) family since 2014 as a drumming instructor, workshop presenter, speaker/emcee for summer and after school programs, and organization-related events. Like many of her relatives, she is a proud Newark resident. Born March 16, 1960 in Elizabeth, NJ, raised in Kenilworth, NJ, Queen Mother Imakhu, a.k.a. Pastor Elaine Lloyd-Nazario, a.k.a. “The Renegade Wise Woman,” is a cultural educator, African Khametic theologian, lecturer, visual/performing/literary artist, multimedia producer, arts administrator, activist, Women & Girls Empowerment Advocate, and yogini. She presents in-person and virtual cultural workshops, performances, and lectures at colleges, libraries, theaters, and corporations. Credits include:
Solo performing vocalist/musician, 1975; Pageant winner, "Miss Black Fantasia 1976;" vocalist, instrumentalist (sax, flute, percussion), arranger on Billy Scott's VICTORY IN THE SPIRIT gospel album, 1978; soprano vocalist in gospel trio SHEKINAH, 1981; Tri-County Theater, THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, WORKING, 1984; Liturgical dance choreographer for JOYFUL PRAISERS, 1991-94, and HARMONIC ESSENCE, 1992-95. Touring Storyteller/Vocalist/Musician (1990 to present); Founder/Director of The Performance Workshop youth arts studio in Phillipsburg, NJ (1990-94); Dance/Theater Instructor at Warren County School of the Arts (1995); workshop presenter (theater, dance, music), and adjudicator for NJ Teen Arts Festival throughout several counties (1990-2000); Co-Host/Producer of JUXTURES radio show on WDVR Public Radio (1994-97); Director, Choreographer, Producer, and Technical Advisor for I.E.M. (It Expresses Me) Black Theatre of Bethlehem, PA (1995); Founder/Director of Allentown, PA-based ZAWADI COLLECTIVE touring theater ensemble (1995 -2005); played “Charlayne” in A. Curtis Farrow’s East and West Coast tours of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ (1997-99); Lead African Dancer and Lead Drummer for Ghanaian entertainer Maxwell Kofi Donkor and his group SANKOFA (1998); served as Board Member, Board President, Interim Executive Director of OPEN SPACE GALLERY of Allentown, PA (1998-2002); Arts Programming Director at the Easton, PA Boys & Girls Club (2001); Host/Producer of syndicated radio & TV show ASHE! (2003-10); Dance (Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, African, Hip Hop) and African Drumming Instructor for Philadelphia’s Point Breeze Performing Arts Center's summer and after school programs, and disabled youth program (2003-2004); Dance Instructor for Boys & Girls Club of Trenton, The Garvey Charter School of Trenton (Dance/Drumming/Public Speaking) and the City of Trenton's SCOOP after school program (all in 2005); African-themed Visual Art Therapist for senior citizens and at-risk youth for the NYC Department of Juvenile Justice through Afrikan Poetry Theatre of Queens, NY (2007-2009); Drumming Instructor, workshop presenter, speaker/emcee for Newark’s Ironbound Community Corporation’s summer and after school programs and organization-related events (2014 to present); Drumming/Dance/Music Instructor for Montclair State’s Sonic Explorations after school program in Orange, NJ (2016 to 2019); co-founder, original executive director, co-owner of Newark Latino Film Festival LLC (2018 to present). Queen Mother’s film project, “I’ve Got a Vision,” produced for fellow filmmaker Nancy Vazquez, was highlighted by director Ava DuVernay on February 2019’s special online edition of TIME Magazine. A respected poet and writer, Queen Mother Imakhu has emceed poetry/spoken word venues in Philadelphia, PA, Allentown, PA, and Newark, NJ, and been highlighted as a featured artist in venues throughout the country. Queen Mother Imakhu's newest compilation downloadable music/spoken word CD, "The Very Best So Far," was released on December 19, 2019. Queen Mother is founder of AKERU MultiMedia (2005), and Uhemu Black & Brown Storytellers of NJ (2019). She is presently hosting and producing, “The Truth is Black & Brown,” an internet-based TV series highlighting Black and Latino artists, activists, and community leaders. Her new documentary series, "The Wisdom Keepers," begins production in 2021.
As an artist, Queen Mother Imakhu is a member of National Association of Black Storytellers, Sacred Dance Guild, and West Orange Arts Council. Queen Mother uses her art as a poet, filmmaker, photographer, concert performer, Outsider visual artist, and clothing designer to educate and promote social awareness. Queen Mother was the first African American woman to own, produce, and operate her own 24/7 online radio station, AKERU NuAfrakan Network. She is currently producing the first Khametic faith television channel, SHENU Harmonious Living Network.
Spiritually, Queen Mother is a 1997 graduate of Metaphysical Universal Ministries seminary in Allentown, PA. She has been a Khametic faith practitioner since the 90’s. As Khametic theologian, ordained minister, and high priestess, the Queen Mother title was conferred upon her in traditional African Khametic ceremony in 2005, and Sunut (Doctor, Scholar) in 2013 by her spiritual godfather, the late Grandmaster Kham of Shrine of Khpra in Brooklyn, NY. In 2006, Queen Mother was initiated into the Bantu Shona/Ndebele tradition as a nganga (water healer) by Michael Ortiz-Hill, and Baba Mandaza Kandemwa of Zimbabwe. She is founder of SHENU Khametic Ministries LLC, for which she hosts and produces live spiritual education and worship video broadcasts. As a scholar and author, she is known for her research connecting Elder Futhark runes to Ancient Egyptian (Khametic) hieroglyphs, and for connecting the Ancient Egyptian language and symbols to Ancient Egyptian yogic origins. Queen Mother Imakhu has been immortalized in renown author Courtney Weber Hoover’s contemporary photographic oracle deck, TAROT OF THE BOROUGHS, where she depicts the Queen of Cups in six of the cards.
As an author, Queen Mother's books, THE COWRIE BLESSINGS BOOK, UNDERSTANDING KEMETIC MYSTICISM, and KHESU DUAU MENI: Khametic Daily Prayers & Rituals, have served as practical and inspirational living guides to faith seekers.
As an activist, Queen Mother is an active member of People’s Organization for Progress, Newark Interfaith Clergy Alliance, National Black Elders Council, Interfaith Action Movement, Latino Action Movement, and African Diaspora for Justice. As a woman diagnosed in the 90’s with Asperger’s Syndrome (Autism Spectrum), Epilepsy, OCD, and ADHD, Queen Mother Imakhu is a Neurodiversity advocate, especially regarding the under-diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Women.
An abuse survivor, Queen Mother Imakhu recently founded Interfaith Clergy Against Abuse Network (I-CAAN). I-CAAN is an empowerment organization dedicated to public education, legal and institutional reformation, and providing appropriate victim resources and information in all matters related to eradication of abuse and victimization, especially against women and children.
As a public speaker, Queen Mother Imakhu presents lecture workshops on, “African Origins of The Empowered Queen Mother,” “Women Reclaiming the Drum,” “Honoring Black & Brown Voices in Telling Our Stories,” “Unity in the Black & Brown Community,” “Overcoming Prejudice Between People of Color,” “African Origins of Yoga & Personal Empowerment,” “Ancient Egyptian Holistic Wellness for Today’s World,” “Reclaiming the Indigenous Goddess Without & Within,” “Boomer Women: Addressing Agism, Sexism, Relationships and Identity” and “Re-Defining Feminism in Today’s World.” Her newest book, “HEB DESHER: African Origins of THE WOMEN’S RED TENT,” is due for release in March 2021.
Queen Mother Imakhu is a proud mom of two adult daughters. Her family lineage includes her maternal ancestor, Billy Artis, who fought in the Nat Turner Uprising. Her mother, the late Jean Lloyd-Mayfield, first African American Girl Scout leader in Kenilworth, NJ, served as President and Vice-President of New Hope Baptist Association's Women's Auxiliary, and as Union Baptist Church's Women's Auxiliary President for over twenty-five years . Queen Mother's father, the late Tommie J. Lloyd, was the first African American American accepted into the New Jersey Tool & Die Association, and was a member of Solomon Lodge, No. 2, A.F. & A., Scottish Rites Masons of Newark, NJ,, and a Prince Hall Mason in Newark. Queen Mother's ancestor, former South Carolinian Congressman George Washington Murray, former enslaved African, was the only African American Congressman serving during the 53rd and 54th congresses. Her living relative, her cousin James Clyburn, is current South Carolina Congressman.