Princess Sarah Jane Culberson, Lady of Bumpe, Bumpenya (born Princess Esther Elizabeth Kposowa in 1976) is an American philanthropist, public speaker, educator, writer and actress. By birth she is a Mende princess of Bumpe in Sierra Leone. She is the co-founder of Sierra Leone Rising, a non-profit organization that raises funds to improve education, economic opportunities, and sustainable living for people in Sierra Leone. In 2009, she co-authored her memoir, titled A Princess Found: An American Family, an African Chiefdom, and the Daughter Who Connected Them All. The book is being considered by Disney for development as a film directed by Stephanie Allain with Culberson as executive producer.
Culberson was born Esther Elizabeth Kposowa in Morgantown, West Virginia, to an American mother and a Sierra Leonean father.[1] She was placed into foster care as an infant and was later adopted by Jim and Judy Culberson, a couple in West Virginia. Her adoptive father was a professor of neuroanatomy at West Virginia University.[2] Her adoptive mother was a special education instructor at an elementary school.[3] She grew up not knowing anything about her birth parents. Culberson was raised in the United Methodist faith.[4] Culberson played basketball, served as student body president, and was the homecoming queen at University High School.[5][6] She received a theatre scholarship to West Virginia University and graduated in 1998.[7][8] She later obtained a masters of fine arts degree from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.[6]
In 2004, Culberson hired a private investigator to find her biological parents. She discovered that her biological mother, a white woman from the United States named Penny, had died from cancer twelve years earlier and that her father, Joseph Konia Kposowa, was a member of a Mende royal family.[9] Her paternal grandfather, Francis Kposowa, had been the Paramount Chief of Bumpe in Sierra Leone.[10] As a Mahaloi, or granddaughter of the Paramount Chief, she is accorded the status of princess by the Mende people.[6] She reconnected with her father after writing him a letter. Her father revealed that he had been a visiting college student when she was conceived, and he and her mother agreed they were too young and not financially suitable to care for a child at that time.[3] Upon arriving in Bumpe, the chiefdom granted her the title Bumpenya, which is Mende for Lady of Bumpe.[3]
From 2005 to 2007, Culberson was a dancer with CONTRA-TIEMPO, a professional dance company based in Los Angeles that specializes in Salsa, hip-hop, and contemporary dance performances.[11] She now serves on the dance company's board of directors and continues to perform as a guest artist.[11]
In 2006, Culberson co-founded Sierra Leone Rising, formerly known as Kposowa Foundation, a non-profit foundation that supports education, rebuilding of schools, and improving quality of life in the Bumpe Chiefdom of Sierra Leone after the civil war.[12]
She worked as director of service learning at the Oakwood School in Los Angeles.[6] As the service director, she organized a school service trip to Sierra Leone.[11] She had previously worked at the Brentwood School, where she established a dance program.
In 2009, she co-authored the memoir A Princess Found: An American Family, an African Chiefdom, and the Daughter Who Connected Them All.[13]
In 2019, Disney reached an agreement with Homegrown Pictures to develop Culberson's memoir and story into a film. An all-Black female team of scriptwriters and directors is expected to produce the film, with Stephanie Allain as producer, April Quioh as scriptwriter, and Culberson as executive producer and consultant.[14]
In 2022, Culberson was awarded the Impact Award at Bounce TV's 30th Trumpet Awards.[15][16]
^Culberson, Sarah; Trivas, Tracy (May 11, 2010). A Princess Found: An American Family, an African Chiefdom, and the Daughter Who Connected Them All. St. Martin's Press. pp. 108, 162 – via Internet Archive.
^Suarez, Kelly-Anne (September 17, 2006). "W.Va. Native Is African Royalty". Daily Press. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ abcSuarez, Kelly-Anne (September 15, 2006). "Princess Finds the Shoe Fits". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
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Princess Sarah Jane Culberson Lady of Bumpe Bumpenya born Princess Esther Elizabeth Kposowa in 1976 is an American philanthropist public speaker educator writer and actress By birth she is a Mende princess of Bumpe in Sierra Leone She is the co founder of Sierra Leone Rising a non profit organization that raises funds to improve education economic opportunities and sustainable living for people in Sierra Leone In 2009 she co authored her memoir titled A Princess Found An American Family an African Chiefdom and the Daughter Who Connected Them All The book is being considered by Disney for development as a film directed by Stephanie Allain with Culberson as executive producer Princess SarahLady of BumpeBornEsther Elizabeth Kposowa1976Morgantown West Virginia U S NamesSarah Jane CulbersonHouseKposowaFatherJoseph Konia KposowaOccupationPhilanthropist public speaker educator writer actress Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Filmography 3 1 Film 3 2 Television 4 References 5 External linksPersonal life EditCulberson was born Esther Elizabeth Kposowa in Morgantown West Virginia to an American mother and a Sierra Leonean father 1 She was placed into foster care as an infant and was later adopted by Jim and Judy Culberson a couple in West Virginia Her adoptive father was a professor of neuroanatomy at West Virginia University 2 Her adoptive mother was a special education instructor at an elementary school 3 She grew up not knowing anything about her birth parents Culberson was raised in the United Methodist faith 4 Culberson played basketball served as student body president and was the homecoming queen at University High School 5 6 She received a theatre scholarship to West Virginia University and graduated in 1998 7 8 She later obtained a masters of fine arts degree from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco 6 In 2004 Culberson hired a private investigator to find her biological parents She discovered that her biological mother a white woman from the United States named Penny had died from cancer twelve years earlier and that her father Joseph Konia Kposowa was a member of a Mende royal family 9 Her paternal grandfather Francis Kposowa had been the Paramount Chief of Bumpe in Sierra Leone 10 As a Mahaloi or granddaughter of the Paramount Chief she is accorded the status of princess by the Mende people 6 She reconnected with her father after writing him a letter Her father revealed that he had been a visiting college student when she was conceived and he and her mother agreed they were too young and not financially suitable to care for a child at that time 3 Upon arriving in Bumpe the chiefdom granted her the title Bumpenya which is Mende for Lady of Bumpe 3 Career EditIn 2001 Culberson moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career She has made appearances on the television shows Strong Medicine In Case of Emergency All of Us Boston Legal and The Secret Life of the American Teenager 6 She also had a role in the film American Dreamz 11 From 2005 to 2007 Culberson was a dancer with CONTRA TIEMPO a professional dance company based in Los Angeles that specializes in Salsa hip hop and contemporary dance performances 11 She now serves on the dance company s board of directors and continues to perform as a guest artist 11 In 2006 Culberson co founded Sierra Leone Rising formerly known as Kposowa Foundation a non profit foundation that supports education rebuilding of schools and improving quality of life in the Bumpe Chiefdom of Sierra Leone after the civil war 12 She worked as director of service learning at the Oakwood School in Los Angeles 6 As the service director she organized a school service trip to Sierra Leone 11 She had previously worked at the Brentwood School where she established a dance program In 2009 she co authored the memoir A Princess Found An American Family an African Chiefdom and the Daughter Who Connected Them All 13 In 2019 Disney reached an agreement with Homegrown Pictures to develop Culberson s memoir and story into a film An all Black female team of scriptwriters and directors is expected to produce the film with Stephanie Allain as producer April Quioh as scriptwriter and Culberson as executive producer and consultant 14 In 2022 Culberson was awarded the Impact Award at Bounce TV s 30th Trumpet Awards 15 16 Filmography EditFilm Edit Year Title Role Ref 2006 American Dreamz Montage PerformerTelevision Edit Year Title Role Ref 2002 Strong Medicine Mom 2 6 2005 All of Us Female Fan 2 6 2006 Boston Legal Female Assistant 6 2007 In Case of Emergency Olivia Ryan2009 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Dr Kposowa 6 2010 Behind the Words Self2021 Live It Up SelfReferences Edit Culberson Sarah Trivas Tracy May 11 2010 A Princess Found An American Family an African Chiefdom and the Daughter Who Connected Them All St Martin s Press pp 108 162 via Internet Archive Suarez Kelly Anne September 17 2006 W Va Native Is African Royalty Daily Press Retrieved May 17 2022 a b c Suarez Kelly Anne September 15 2006 Princess Finds the Shoe Fits Los Angeles Times Retrieved May 17 2022 Culberson amp Trivas 2010 p viii Culberson amp Trivas 2010 p 8 10 a b c d e f g h i Walker Janelle January 15 2017 Actress to be keynote speaker at Elgin MLK conference Elgin Courier News Retrieved May 17 2022 Koval Danielle E November 30 2006 Morgantown woman finds her father and her crown Pittsburgh Tribune Review Retrieved May 17 2022 Sarah s Story SarahCulberson com Retrieved May 17 2022 Pritchett Rachel February 24 2008 Princess Brings Her People s Pleas to Kitsap Kitsap Sun Retrieved May 17 2022 Rey Sola July 23 2012 Princess Sarah Culberson of the Mende family in Sierra Leone Retrieved May 17 2022 a b c d ABOUT CONTRA TIEMPO Urban Latin Dance Theater Our Story Sierra Leone Rising DeMicia Inman December 18 2020 Adopted American woman discovers she s a Sierra Leone princess TheGrio Retrieved May 17 2022 Akbarzai Sahar June 27 2021 Adopted biracial woman s royal roots turning into a real life fairy tale CNN Retrieved May 17 2022 Umstead R Thomas April 8 2022 Bounce Trumpet Awards Rescheduled for April 23 Multichannel News Retrieved May 17 2022 Award Honoree Trumpet Awards Retrieved May 17 2022 External links EditOfficial website Sarah Culberson at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sarah Culberson amp oldid 1098637408, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
