Akera moved from Jamaica to Hartford, CT in 1986 with his mother and siblings. He found his way to the arts through watching his older sister and brother at The Artist Collective’s Yaboo rites of passage program. A man named Lee “Aca” Thompson, The Artists Collective’s Master Dance Instructor, became his mentor and father figure. Aca’s teahings in African dance and drumming/ African Piragramics are the foundation of Akera’s dance practice and would lead to Akera traveling with Aca to Africa eight times from the age of 14.

Akera took a 17 year hiatus from dance to focus on providing for his family and became a truck driver. After the marriage ended, Akera would use dance to heal from divorce and reconnect to his passion. He began training with FriendZWorldMusic and Island Reflections Dance Theatre company, and now he provides opportunities for youth and adults through dance.