Carina Tenewaa Kanbi is a spatial practitioner whose academic research and creative programming aim to assist cities and communities in creating vibrant, dynamic, and inclusive spaces that foster just growth and development.

As an ARUA Fellow and Mobility Governance Researcher, she is completing her PhD at the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Her doctoral research delves into the experiences of young West African professionals in the Creative Industries of Accra and Lagos.

Carina holds two master's degrees: one in Cities from Central Saint Martins and an MSc in Migration and Ethnicity (Sociology) from the University of Amsterdam. Her academic focus lies in urban migration and mobility, exploring its intersection with the arts as a means of data representation and interpretation and as a vehicle for change. Her Master's thesis for MA Cities titled ‘Indigo’s Glocal Justice’ explores local and global connections, termed "glocal," using embodied practice and indigo as methods. It examines the potential future impact of locally-led regenerative design on communities, aiming to create a replicable model. By assessing the role of intentional artistic interventions, it seeks to promote spatial justice, glocal connections, and sustainable supply chains within a dye pit site in Daboya. The thesis serves as an introduction to a larger project commissioned under Edan, an organization in development. Insights gained will inform a growing, ethically conscious practice aimed at fostering just cities in West Africa.

Over the last decade, Carina has collaborated with global organisations, including the British Council, Greater London Authority, and Invisible Borders, focusing on the connections between culture, urbanism, education, and migration, specifically on the African continent. Presently, she is a key contributor to the 'Crafting Imaginaries' project, funded by the University of Amsterdam, and 'The Atlas of Uncertainty', a collaborative effort with the University of Witwatersrand and the Mobility and Governance Lab at Oxford University.

Carina is a co-founder of Aya Editions and Aya Academy and an active member of the Where Are the Womxn Collective. Her work with these organisations, which has involved collaborating with Pioneer, Resident Advisor, and the Greater London Authority, highlights her commitment to fostering creativity and inclusivity.

Her latest initiative, Edan, represents an innovative approach to celebrating and preserving indigenous Ghanaian craftsmanship and urban practices. This project is a nexus for cultural exchange and technical innovation, establishing a unique model for distributed production that nurtures creative thought and output in Accra. Carina is committed to enhancing the cultural and creative fabric of cities, ensuring they become equitable spaces for everyone.