Asake Bomani is an American author and arts figure whose name is often associated with actor and activist Danny Glover, her former husband. Their marriage lasted from 1975 until their divorce in 2000, and they have one daughter, Mandisa Glover.
Bomani's own career, however, extends beyond her connection to Hollywood. She was involved with San Francisco's Bomani Gallery and was an editor of Paris Connections: African American Artists in Paris, a 1992 exhibition publication that documented African American and Caribbean artists connected with Paris. The publication is held in the collections of institutions including the Smithsonian.
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Asake Bomani |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Author, arts figure, and former wife of actor Danny Glover |
| Profession | Author and arts/gallery professional |
| Notable Work | Paris Connections: African American Artists in Paris |
| Publication Year | 1992 |
| Co-Editor | Belvie Rooks |
| Arts Involvement | Associated with the Bomani Gallery in San Francisco |
| American Book Awards | Listed with Belvie Rooks among the 1993 recipients for Paris Connections |
| Former Husband | Danny Glover |
| Marriage | 1975–2000 |
| Children | One daughter, Mandisa Glover |
| Daughter's Birth Year | 1976 |
| Birth Date | July 1, 1945 |
| Birthplace | Wilmington, Delaware |
| Net Worth | Not reliably publicly established |
Early Life and Background
Reliable public information about Asake Bomani's childhood and early years is limited. Some biographical databases give a birth date of July 1, 1945, and Wilmington, Delaware, as her birthplace, but these details are not independently established strongly enough to treat them as definitive.
More reliable accounts place Bomani in San Francisco during her college years. Danny Glover recalled meeting her at what was then San Francisco State College. In an interview with The Independent, Glover said he first noticed Bomani outside one of her English classes and eventually asked her out.
Education
Bomani's educational background is not extensively documented in authoritative sources.
Accounts describing her as a student at San Francisco State University are consistent with Glover's own recollection of meeting her there. However, specific claims about her degree, major and graduation year are not sufficiently corroborated by the strongest available sources and are therefore not included as established facts.
Career and Work in the Arts
Bomani developed a connection to San Francisco's arts community and became associated with the Bomani Gallery. A San Francisco Public Library reference file identifies her in connection with the gallery, listing her as the wife of Danny Glover and the owner of an art gallery on Post Street.
Her most clearly documented cultural project is Paris Connections: African and Caribbean Artists in Paris. Published by Q.E.D. Press in 1992, the book was produced in connection with a major international art exhibition shown at San Francisco's Bomani Gallery and Jernigan Wicker Fine Arts.
The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives catalog lists Asake Bomani and Belvie Rooks as editors and Raymond Saunders as curator. The publication examined African American and Caribbean artists working in Paris and included essays, artist biographies and exhibition material.
This work provides the strongest documented evidence of Bomani's contribution to the arts. Rather than simply being known through her marriage, she had a role in presenting and documenting the work of artists within the African American and Caribbean diaspora.
Paris Connections and the American Book Award
Paris Connections was more than a conventional book. It served as an exhibition publication accompanying an international art exhibition. Library records identify the 1992 edition as a 56-page English-and-French publication from Q.E.D. Press.
Bomani and Belvie Rooks are also listed among the recipients associated with the 1993 American Book Awards for Paris Connections. A historical list of American Book Award recipients from the University of Alaska Fairbanks includes both names for 1993, while published award records likewise list the work among that year's recipients.
It is therefore more precise to say that Bomani and Rooks were recognized for Paris Connections rather than describing the honor as an individual award won solely by Bomani.
Television Appearance
Bomani also appeared alongside Danny Glover in the BBC travel documentary series Great Railway Journeys. The episode "St. Louis to Dogon Country", released in 1999, followed Glover and Bomani as they traveled through Senegal and Mali toward Dogon Country. IMDb's professional production record identifies Bomani as appearing as herself.
The appearance is notable because it offers a rare example of Bomani participating in a televised project rather than remaining entirely behind the scenes in the arts community.
Asake Bomani and Danny Glover
Bomani and Danny Glover married in 1975. They had one daughter, Mandisa, and remained married for roughly two decades before their divorce. Contemporary profiles of Glover consistently identify Bomani as his first wife.
Glover has spoken warmly about how they met at San Francisco State. In his interview with The Independent, he recalled being too shy to approach Bomani directly and described repeatedly waiting outside her English class before eventually asking her out.
Their relationship also preceded Glover's rise to international fame. In the same interview, Glover said Bomani encouraged him to pursue acting professionally.
Glover was still working in community development when they married, before his major film career took off. Another Independent profile states that they had one child and later divorced after approximately 24 years of marriage.
Family and Daughter
Asake Bomani and Danny Glover have one daughter, Mandisa Glover, born in 1976. Mandisa is their only child.
Mandisa has worked in the culinary field and has also had behind-the-scenes connections to the film industry. PEOPLE has reported on her close relationship with her father and her role in his family life.
Bomani herself has largely remained outside the public spotlight in the years since her marriage to Glover ended. As a result, detailed information about her present-day family life is limited.
Personal Life After Divorce
Bomani and Glover's marriage ended in divorce in 2000. Glover subsequently married Eliane Cavalleiro in 2009.
There is comparatively little reliable reporting about Bomani's personal life after the divorce. Claims concerning her current residence, relationships, finances or private activities frequently appear on biography websites without adequate supporting evidence.
For that reason, those details are not treated as established facts here.
Asake Bomani's Net Worth
A reliable public estimate of Asake Bomani's personal net worth is not available.
Several websites publish specific dollar amounts, but they do not provide sufficient financial documentation to support those figures. Consequently, no net-worth estimate is included.
Interesting Facts About Asake Bomani
- Bomani was involved with San Francisco's Bomani Gallery, an arts venue associated with African American art.
- She co-edited Paris Connections: African and Caribbean Artists in Paris with Belvie Rooks.
- Paris Connections was published by Q.E.D. Press in 1992 in English and French.
- Bomani and Rooks were listed among the recipients associated with the 1993 American Book Awards for Paris Connections.
- She appeared with Danny Glover in the 1999 Great Railway Journeys episode "St. Louis to Dogon Country."
- Danny Glover has said that Bomani encouraged him to pursue acting professionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Asake Bomani?
Asake Bomani is an American author and arts figure best known for her involvement with the Bomani Gallery, her work on Paris Connections, and her former marriage to actor Danny Glover.
Was Asake Bomani married to Danny Glover?
Yes. Asake Bomani and Danny Glover married in 1975 and later divorced in 2000. They have one daughter, Mandisa Glover.
How did Asake Bomani meet Danny Glover?
Glover said they met while attending San Francisco State College. He recalled seeing Bomani outside an English class and eventually approaching her.
Does Asake Bomani have children?
Yes. She and Danny Glover have one daughter, Mandisa Glover, who was born in 1976.
What book is Asake Bomani known for?
Bomani is associated with Paris Connections: African and Caribbean Artists in Paris, a 1992 publication that accompanied an international art exhibition. She co-edited it with Belvie Rooks.
Did Asake Bomani receive an American Book Award?
Bomani and Belvie Rooks are listed among the recipients associated with the 1993 American Book Awards for Paris Connections.
Did Asake Bomani appear on television?
Yes. She appeared as herself with Danny Glover in the 1999 Great Railway Journeys episode "St. Louis to Dogon Country," which followed their travels through parts of West Africa.
Conclusion
Asake Bomani's public story extends beyond her former marriage to Danny Glover. Her documented work in San Francisco's arts community, her involvement with the Bomani Gallery and her editorial role in Paris Connections give her an independent place in the cultural record.
Although much of her private life remains out of public view, the available evidence establishes a woman whose connection to literature, art and cultural history predates and extends beyond her years as the wife of a prominent Hollywood actor.
