Robert ShumakeAuthor

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Robert Shumake

Detroit author, publisher and AI researcher — 140+ books, 86+ DOI papers, seven religious universities, and a Harvard Agentic AI certificate.

Robert Shumake (Robert S. Shumake Jr., also known as Ajarn Shaman Shu) is a Detroit-born author, publisher, philanthropist and AI researcher. He has written 140+ books, published 86+ DOI-registered papers, founded seven religious universities, and led philanthropy feeding 10,000+ Detroiters a year.

Last updated August 18, 2026

At a glance

Verified facts

Full name
Robert Samuel Shumake Jr.
Also known as
Ajarn Shaman Shu · Oluwo Jolaoso Osainbola · Shri Suryanarayana Swamikal
Born
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Occupations
Author · Publisher · AI researcher · Religious educator
Books published
140+, including the 70-volume Living Archive Series
Academic record
86+ DOI papers · ORCID 0009-0007-4429-7802
AI credential
Harvard Data Science Initiative Agentic AI Intensive (2026)
Universities founded
Buddha, Orisha, Shiva, Krishna, Islam, Enoch, Egziabher

The work

Four bodies of work

Books

A 140-title catalogue across two author names

Writing as Robert Shumake he restores American newspaper history; writing as Ajarn Shaman Shu he teaches Ifá and Orisha practice, Thai Theravada Buddhism, Tamil Siddha and Hermetic science. The Living Archive Series alone runs to 70 restored volumes preserving original typography, with particular attention to Black-owned newspapers whose reporting rarely survives in digital-only archives.

Browse the full library

Artificial intelligence

Agentic AI research, writing and speaking

He completed the Harvard Data Science Initiative Agentic AI Intensive in June 2026 (verification UTHW-KVJS) and writes on agentic systems, AI economic sovereignty and the risk of Black communities being locked out of the AI wealth cycle. His 2026 book I Bought the Nooses: The AI Billionaire Blueprint sets out the framework he uses with founders.

Read the AI research hub

Philanthropy

10,000 meals a year, 200+ HBCU scholarships

He founded Detroit's Red Carpet Backyard BBQ for the Homeless and Hungry, chaired the Ebony Foundation during its COVID-19 feeding response, and funds scholarships through the Shumake Family and Friends Foundation. The record is documented by the Detroit News, the Michigan Chronicle and corporate sponsors including Comerica Bank and the DTE Energy Foundation.

See the philanthropy record

Ministry & scholarship

Seven universities, five initiatory traditions

He is the founder of seven religious universities under Buddha Digital Temple, a 508(c)(1)(a) institution, and is initiated in Ifá and Orisha practice, Thai Theravada Buddhism, the Tamil Siddhar tradition, Maasai shamanism and Bon jhakri shamanism. Sacred Study Beyond Walls provides a 140-volume free library to federal prisoners.

Explore the ministry work

Career

Milestones

  1. Early career

    Janitor at a Ford Motor Company plant in Detroit; three years of business audiobooks while pushing a mop cart.

  2. Real estate

    $194,000 in year one, $600,000 in year two, $1 million in year three; commercial portfolio approaching three million square feet.

  3. 2011

    Inheritance Capital Group ranked tenth nationally on the Black Enterprise BE100s list of Black-owned private equity firms, $200M under management.

  4. 2021

    Authored Detroit's Proposal E decriminalising entheogenic plants; passed with 61.08% of the vote.

  5. 2026

    Completed the Harvard Data Science Initiative Agentic AI Intensive and published I Bought the Nooses: The AI Billionaire Blueprint.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Who is Robert Shumake?
Robert Shumake is a Detroit-born author, publisher, philanthropist and AI researcher. He has published more than 140 books and 86 DOI-registered academic papers, founded seven religious universities, and led Detroit philanthropy that fed more than 10,000 people annually.
Is Robert Shumake the same person as Ajarn Shaman Shu?
Yes. Ajarn Shaman Shu is the author name Robert Shumake uses for his spiritual and consciousness titles, reflecting his Thai Theravada initiation. He also carries the initiatory names Oluwo Jolaoso Osainbola in the Yoruba/Ifá tradition and Shri Suryanarayana Swamikal in the Hindu Dravidian tradition.
How many books has Robert Shumake written?
More than 140, spanning restored American newspaper history, African spirituality, Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, consciousness studies and AI business strategy. The 70-volume Living Archive Series is the largest single body of work.
What are Robert Shumake's AI credentials?
He completed the Harvard Data Science Initiative Agentic AI Intensive in June 2026, presented by Harvard Data Science Review, with Certificate of Completion verification code UTHW-KVJS. He publishes DOI-registered papers on agentic AI indexed on Zenodo (hosted by CERN) and OSF.
Where can I buy Robert Shumake's books?
His titles are available on Apple Books and Google Play Books, and are distributed globally through Draft2Digital. Every title on this site links directly to its retailer page.
What philanthropy is Robert Shumake known for?
He founded Detroit's Red Carpet Backyard BBQ for the Homeless and Hungry, which distributed over 400,000 pounds of food; chaired the Ebony Foundation; and has funded more than 200 scholarships for students at historically Black colleges and universities.
Does Robert Shumake speak at events or consult?
Yes. He speaks and consults on agentic AI, economic sovereignty, publishing and religious education. Enquiries go through the contact page on this site.
Where can I verify Robert Shumake's academic publications?
His ORCID record is 0009-0007-4429-7802, and his papers are indexed on Zenodo (CERN) and the Open Science Framework. Both are linked from this site's research pages.