Chakabars Clarke, popularly known as Chakabars or Chaka, is a Barbados born, England raised Pan-African activist and entrepreneur who has become a familiar face in conversations around diaspora return, community development and socially-minded real estate in Ghana.

In recent months, his profile has risen locally after he was included among hundreds of diaspora members formally granted Ghanaian citizenship, a symbolic moment that also underscores his wider work linking African communities with people of African descent around the world.

Early life and the activist frame
Chaka grew up in England after being born in Barbados. He first attracted attention through an energetic mix of fitness, lifestyle content and outspoken Pan-African commentary on social media.

That public presence later evolved into on-the-ground philanthropy and development projects across Africa and the Caribbean, where he positions himself as a facilitator of sustainable community initiatives rather than a celebrity visitor. Some early interviews and media features trace his transition from online influencer to organiser and fundraiser for grassroots causes.

IHeartAfrica and the charity work
At the heart of his social impact work is IHeartAfrica, a charity he founded to support orphanages, clinics, schools and community development projects in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana.

The organisation has been involved in building and renovating facilities as well as funding education and health-focused community programmes. For many supporters, this work remains the clearest evidence of Chakabars’ long-term commitment to the African continent.

Sanbra City and diaspora housing ambitions
Chakabars also operates at the intersection of philanthropy and development. He is publicly linked to a major real estate initiative popularly known as Sanbra City, a diaspora-focused housing and community development project in the Accra area described by partners as spanning roughly 300 acres.

The project, presented alongside collaborators including Earn Your Leisure founders Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal and several Ghanaian developers, is positioned as a modern, sustainably designed community for returnees and long-term residents.

Construction on the first phase, a 40-unit community called The Cascades, reportedly began in August 2024, with completion projected for late 2027. The development is promoted as a practical option for families and business owners returning or investing from the diaspora.

Fitness, lifestyle and brand partnerships
Chakabars’ public persona blends activism with lifestyle. A well-known advocate of fitness and plant-based living, he has leveraged this platform to promote wellness initiatives and collaborate with brands online.

His fitness identity has remained a consistent part of how he communicates Pan-African pride and self-care, helping him reach audiences beyond formal charity and development circles.

Cultural diplomacy on tour
Beyond development and philanthropy, Chakabars has played an active role as a cultural organiser and liaison. He was prominently involved in coordinating and accompanying the multi-country African tour of American internet personality IShowSpeed. The role highlighted his strengths in logistics, cultural navigation and on-the-ground coordination between visiting creatives and local stakeholders.

The widely shared tour content introduced global audiences to Ghana and other African countries, challenged stereotypes and sparked broader conversations about how diaspora-led tours can engage local cultures respectfully.

Recognition and awards
Chakabars’ charity and community work gained international recognition when he received the BET International Global Good Award in 2019.

The honour, alongside subsequent media exposure, expanded his network of donors and collaborators and strengthened his platform for raising awareness and resources for initiatives across Africa and the Caribbean.

What he represents for Ghana
For many Ghanaians, the Chakabars story fits within a larger national moment. Since the Beyond the Return era, Ghana has actively courted members of the Black diaspora seeking to reconnect, invest or resettle.

Chakabars represents a new kind of returnee, one who straddles influencer culture, philanthropy and property development while using global networks to channel attention, capital and projects into Ghanaian communities.

His story sits at the heart of ongoing conversations about diaspora return, accountability and shared ownership. Whether through housing, charity, culture or advocacy, his impact will ultimately be measured not by ambition alone, but by delivery, community inclusion and lasting value for the people who call Ghana home.

Chakabars’ work combines visible strengths with the inevitable tests that accompany big ideas and public influence. By mobilising capital, knowledge and global attention, he has helped shine a light on issues such as exploitation in global supply chains while also contributing to tangible community investments across Africa and the Caribbean.

Through partnerships with internationally recognised figures including IShowSpeed, Anthony Joshua, Stefflon Don, Lenny Kravitz, Michael B. Jordan, Colin Kaepernick and Jidenna, he has demonstrated how celebrity power can be channelled beyond optics into access, visibility, impact and real resources.