Asake Bomani is an American author, art curator, and former gallery owner best known as the first wife of celebrated actor and activist Danny Glover. The couple married in 1975, welcomed their only daughter, Mandisa, in 1976, and divorced in 2000. Away from her famous marriage, Asake developed a meaningful connection with African American and Caribbean art. She helped operate the Bomani Gallery in San Francisco and co-edited the 1992 exhibition book Paris Connections.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Asake Bomani |
| Reported birth name | Sandra Henderson |
| Date of birth | July 1, 1945 |
| Age in 2026 | 81 years old |
| Birthplace | Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Author, editor, curator, and former gallery owner |
| Known for | Being Danny Glover’s first wife |
| Former husband | Danny Lebern Glover |
| Marriage year | 1975 |
| Divorce year | 2000 |
| Marriage length | Approximately 25 years |
| Child | Mandisa Glover |
| Grandchild | Adesola |
| Notable publication | Paris Connections |
| Art connection | Bomani Gallery in San Francisco |
| Current relationship status | Private |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Who Is Asake Bomani?
Asake Bomani is an American creative professional associated with writing, art exhibitions, gallery work, and African American cultural life.
Most people discover her name while researching Danny Glover. However, describing her only as his former wife leaves out an important part of her identity.
Asake participated in San Francisco’s arts community and helped operate the Bomani Gallery. Her work supported artists, exhibitions, and cultural conversations.
She also co-edited Paris Connections, a publication connected with exhibitions about African American, African, and Caribbean artists in Paris.
Asake maintained a lower public profile than Danny, but she attended selected movie premieres and cultural events with him and their daughter, Mandisa.
After the divorce, Asake largely stepped away from entertainment coverage.
Asake Bomani’s Age and Birthday
Asake was born on July 1, 1945, in Wilmington, Delaware.
She turned 81 years old on July 1, 2026.
Some biographical records identify her birth name as Sandra Henderson.
The name Asake has roots in the Yoruba language and culture of West Africa. Its meaning is sometimes translated in ways connected with being chosen, treasured, or specially cared for.
Public sources do not clearly explain when or why she began using Asake Bomani.
Because she has rarely discussed her personal history in interviews, details about her name and early identity should not be guessed.
Asake Bomani’s Early Life
Asake reportedly grew up in Wilmington, Delaware.
Her parents are identified in some biographical records as Julia Frances Pulliam and Kenneth Osborne Henderson. She reportedly has siblings named Trina, Steven, and Jonathan Henderson.
However, detailed information about their lives and relationships is unavailable.
Little has been published about Asake’s childhood home, early schools, or experiences in Delaware.
Her later work demonstrates strong interests in art, literature, Black history, international culture, and community development.
These interests may have formed during her education or early adulthood, but there is no dependable first-person account explaining exactly when they began.
Asake Bomani’s Education
Several online profiles claim that Asake graduated from George Washington High School before studying at San Francisco State University.
Some reports say she earned a bachelor’s degree, although they disagree about her subject.
These details are widely repeated but are not fully explained through a university biography or direct interview.
What is clear is that Asake became deeply involved in San Francisco’s creative and cultural community.
Working as an author, editor, curator, and gallery operator requires skills in research, communication, organization, visual culture, and relationship-building.
Her work indicates a strong educational and intellectual foundation, even though her complete academic record remains private.
Did Asake Bomani Work as a Jazz Singer?
Many celebrity-biography websites describe Asake as a jazz singer.
However, reliable information about this reported career is limited.
There is no widely available discography, major record label biography, album list, or collection of professional singing credits connected with her name.
Asake may have performed music in community or artistic settings without developing a large commercial recording career.
Until stronger evidence becomes available, she should be described primarily as an author, editor, curator, and gallery owner.
Calling her a widely successful recording artist would overstate the available evidence.
Asake Bomani’s Work in the Art World
Asake became involved in art through the Bomani Gallery in San Francisco.
Operating an art gallery involves much more than placing paintings on walls.
Gallery work can include:
- Finding talented artists
- Planning exhibitions
- Communicating with collectors
- Writing descriptions and catalogs
- Organizing opening events
- Managing transportation and insurance
- Promoting artists to new audiences
- Creating educational discussions
The Bomani Gallery helped provide a space for African American and other artists whose work did not always receive fair attention from major institutions.
Asake’s involvement placed her within a broader cultural movement focused on preserving and celebrating Black creative expression.
The Bomani Gallery
Public records connect the Bomani Gallery with the 1992 Paris Connections exhibitions.
The gallery was located in San Francisco and worked alongside Jernigan Wicker Fine Arts.
The exhibitions highlighted artists of African American, African, and Caribbean backgrounds who had connections with Paris.
Paris has played an important role in the lives of many Black writers, musicians, and visual artists.
Some African American artists found greater freedom or different creative opportunities in France than they experienced in the United States.
By presenting their work in San Francisco, the galleries connected local audiences with an international artistic history.
Asake Bomani’s Book Paris Connections
Asake is credited as an editor of Paris Connections.
The publication appeared in 1992 and accompanied major art exhibitions held in San Francisco.
One edition focused on African American artists in Paris. Another covered African and Caribbean artists.
The book included essays, images, biographical information, and exhibition materials.
The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives catalog identifies Asake Bomani and Belvie Rooks as editors. It also connects the project with the Bomani Gallery and Jernigan Wicker Fine Arts.
This record provides strong evidence that Asake’s cultural work extended beyond being married to an actor.
What Was Paris Connections About?
Paris Connections explored relationships among Black identity, artistic expression, migration, and the city of Paris.
The catalog covered subjects including:
- African American art
- African artists
- Caribbean artists
- Expatriate artists
- Modern Black art
- Twentieth-century Paris
- International exhibitions
The publication appeared in both English and French.
One available edition contained 56 pages, while a larger exhibition record described a 95-page version with color illustrations.
It included references and an index, showing that it was created as a serious cultural and educational resource rather than a simple event brochure.
How Did Asake Bomani Meet Danny Glover?
Asake and Danny reportedly met while living in San Francisco.
The complete story of their first meeting has not been clearly preserved in a major interview.
They appear to have known one another before Danny became a successful Hollywood actor.
At the time, Danny was working in community development and exploring theater.
He had trained with the Black Actors’ Workshop at the American Conservatory Theater and participated in stage productions.
Asake reportedly encouraged him to take acting seriously.
This support came during a period when becoming a full-time actor was an uncertain decision rather than an obvious path to fame.
Asake’s Role in Danny Glover’s Early Career
Danny has described his first wife as an important source of encouragement during his early professional journey.
Before acting became his main career, he worked for the city of San Francisco in community-development programs.
Leaving stable employment for acting carried financial and personal risks.
Asake’s support helped him believe that his talent could lead somewhere meaningful.
She also managed creative and family responsibilities while Danny pursued theater roles and early screen opportunities.
A partner cannot perform another person’s roles or receive credit for their acting. However, emotional encouragement and stability can make a major career change easier to face.
Asake Bomani and Danny Glover’s Marriage
Asake and Danny married in 1975.
Their marriage lasted approximately 25 years and ended in divorce in 2000.
The relationship covered nearly every stage of Danny’s rise to international fame.
When they married, he was still developing his acting career.
By the time they divorced, he had appeared in The Color Purple, the Lethal Weapon movies, Predator 2, and many other major productions.
Asake attended selected premieres and award events with Danny and Mandisa.
Although she entered the public eye as his wife, she continued her own work in the arts and maintained a strong connection with San Francisco.
Who Is Danny Glover?
Danny Lebern Glover was born on July 22, 1946, in San Francisco, California.
His parents, Carrie and James Glover, worked for the United States Postal Service and participated in civil-rights and labor organizations.
Danny attended San Francisco State University but did not complete a degree at that time.
He worked in city government and community development before committing himself to acting.
His breakthrough roles came during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Danny became known for combining a powerful screen presence with emotional depth and social awareness.
Danny Glover’s Acting Career
Danny has appeared in a wide range of films and television productions.
His best-known projects include:
- Places in the Heart
- Silverado
- The Color Purple
- Witness
- Lethal Weapon
- Predator 2
- To Sleep with Anger
- Angels in the Outfield
- Operation Dumbo Drop
- The Royal Tenenbaums
- Saw
- Dreamgirls
- 2012
His role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon series made him a major international star.
The character became famous for his partnership with Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs and his repeated complaints about being too old for dangerous situations.
Danny also worked as a producer and supported films addressing social, political, and cultural issues.
Asake and Danny’s Daughter, Mandisa Glover
Asake and Danny welcomed their only child, Mandisa Glover, on January 5, 1976.
The name Mandisa is commonly associated with a meaning such as “sweet.”
Mandisa grew up in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. The family lived in a Victorian house located only a short distance from the area where Danny had grown up.
Asake operated an art gallery and encouraged creative expression, while Danny worked in theater and film.
This meant Mandisa’s childhood included visual art, acting, community activism, cultural events, and movie sets.
A major family profile confirms that Mandisa is the only child of Danny and Asake and that her mother ran an art gallery.
Mandisa Glover’s Education
Mandisa participated in plays at the Western Addition Cultural Center when she was young.
She later studied history and French at Mills College and San Francisco State University.
An Associated Press report from 1999 also identified her as a senior at New York University at that time.
These different records may indicate that she studied at more than one institution or transferred during her education.
Mandisa eventually settled in New York City.
Her education in history and French connects naturally with Asake’s interest in international Black art and the cultural history of Paris.
Mandisa’s Work in Entertainment
Mandisa did not become a major screen actress like her father.
However, she worked behind the scenes on film productions.
Her credits include working as a staff assistant on the 1998 romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail and as a set costumer on the 2020 film The Drummer.
A staff assistant helps with practical tasks that keep a production organized.
A set costumer works with clothing during filming, making sure actors wear the correct items and that costumes remain consistent between scenes.
This work allowed Mandisa to participate in filmmaking without seeking celebrity attention.
Asake Bomani as a Mother
Asake raised Mandisa during an extremely busy period in Danny’s career.
Film actors may spend weeks or months away from home. They also attend rehearsals, promotional events, premieres, and meetings.
Asake’s gallery work and cultural activities gave Mandisa a separate creative environment from her father’s film career.
The family occasionally appeared together at public events.
In 1990, Asake, Danny, and Mandisa attended the premiere of Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones.
Photographs show them standing together at formal events, offering rare public views of their family life.
Asake Bomani as a Grandmother
Mandisa has one son named Adesola.
He was born on January 15, 2004, making Asake a grandmother.
Mandisa has shared loving messages about her son, describing him as one of the greatest joys in her life.
Adesola has remained outside major entertainment coverage.
His relationships with Asake and Danny are private, although the family appears to value close intergenerational connections.
Asake’s role as a grandmother belongs to a quieter stage of her life after her marriage and public appearances ended.
Why Did Asake and Danny Glover Divorce?
Asake and Danny divorced in 2000 after approximately 25 years of marriage.
Neither appears to have given a detailed public explanation identifying one specific reason.
Some biography websites claim that Danny’s work schedule or growing fame caused the separation. These explanations may be possible, but they are not firmly confirmed.
A long marriage can end because of many private factors involving communication, changing goals, emotional distance, work, or personal development.
Unless Asake or Danny provides a complete account, their reasons should remain private.
The divorce does not erase the decades they spent building a family and supporting one another’s work.
Did Asake Bomani Remarry?
No dependable public report confirms that Asake remarried after divorcing Danny.
Her current romantic life remains private.
She withdrew from regular celebrity coverage and has not announced a later husband through major media.
This does not prove that she has remained single. It means no subsequent marriage has been reliably documented.
Danny Glover’s Second Marriage
Danny married Brazilian educator Eliane Cavalleiro in 2009.
Eliane is known for academic and public-policy work involving race, gender, education, and equality.
Their marriage ended in divorce in 2022.
Danny did not have additional publicly documented children from the marriage.
His only child remains Mandisa, his daughter with Asake.
Danny Glover’s Health in 2026
In July 2026, Danny publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years earlier.
Mandisa explained that she first noticed changes when details began disappearing from stories her father had told clearly for decades.
Danny said he continued reading, following current events, and focusing on the memories and abilities he still had.
Mandisa and other family members have supported him as the condition progresses.
Asake’s personal role in his current care has not been publicly explained, so articles should not make assumptions about her involvement.
Asake Bomani’s Current Life
Asake’s current home and daily activities are not widely documented.
She has maintained a low public profile since her divorce.
There is no clearly verified social-media account where she regularly discusses her family, art projects, relationships, or views.
Because she is now in her 80s, she may simply prefer a quiet life with family and friends.
Her historical work remains preserved through library and museum catalogs, especially the records connected with Paris Connections.
Is Asake Bomani Still an Art Gallery Owner?
The Bomani Gallery is most clearly documented through its activities during the early 1990s.
Current information about whether the gallery continues operating is limited.
It would be misleading to describe Asake as presently running a large active gallery without evidence.
The safest wording is that she formerly operated or helped run the Bomani Gallery in San Francisco.
Her work from that period remains important because it supported Black artists and introduced audiences to international creative connections.
Is Asake Bomani a Reality-TV Star?
Some biography websites describe Asake as a reality-TV personality.
There is little dependable evidence supporting that label.
She attended premieres and appeared in entertainment photographs, but those activities do not make someone a reality star.
No major reality series is widely associated with her as a cast member.
She is better described as an author, editor, curator, former gallery owner, mother, and former celebrity spouse.
Asake Bomani’s Net Worth
Asake’s personal net worth is not publicly known.
Several websites estimate that she is worth around $1 million. They usually do not provide financial records supporting that number.
An accurate net-worth calculation would require information about:
- Book income
- Gallery ownership
- Property
- Investments
- Divorce arrangements
- Savings
- Debts
- Current business interests
Danny Glover’s wealth cannot automatically be treated as Asake’s personal fortune.
Their marriage ended in 2000, and the private financial terms of their divorce were not widely published.
Why Is Asake Bomani Less Famous Than Danny Glover?
Danny spent decades acting in internationally released films.
His face appeared in theaters, television programs, interviews, posters, and advertising campaigns.
Asake worked in a quieter cultural field.
Art editors and gallery owners can have a strong effect on artists and communities without becoming household names.
She also chose privacy after the divorce instead of turning her relationship into books, interviews, or reality television.
Her lower level of fame reflects different professional choices rather than a lack of meaningful accomplishments.
What Makes Asake Bomani’s Story Important?
Asake’s story shows that a person connected with a celebrity can have an independent cultural identity.
She encouraged Danny when acting was still an uncertain dream.
She raised their daughter while he built his career.
She operated an art space and helped create a bilingual publication about Black artists in Paris.
These achievements deserve attention without exaggeration.
Her life also represents a generation of Black women who supported creative communities even when their work did not receive the same media coverage as Hollywood careers.
Final Thoughts
Asake Bomani is much more than Danny Glover’s former wife.
She is an author, editor, curator, former gallery owner, mother, and grandmother whose work connected San Francisco audiences with African American, African, Caribbean, and international art.
She married Danny in 1975 and supported him as he moved from community work into acting. Their daughter, Mandisa, was born the following year.
The marriage lasted approximately 25 years before ending in divorce in 2000.
Asake’s strongest documented professional achievement is Paris Connections, the 1992 exhibition publication preserved in Smithsonian and library records.
After her divorce, she stepped away from celebrity attention and kept most of her life private.
Her story deserves to be told through confirmed cultural work and family history—not through invented net-worth figures or unsupported descriptions of a reality-television career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Asake Bomani?
Asake Bomani is an American author, editor, curator, and former gallery owner. She is also the first wife of actor Danny Glover.
What was Asake Bomani’s birth name?
Biographical records identify her birth name as Sandra Henderson.
When was Asake Bomani born?
She was born on July 1, 1945.
How old is Asake Bomani?
She is 81 years old as of August 2026.
Where was Asake Bomani born?
She was born in Wilmington, Delaware, United States.
What does Asake Bomani do?
She is best documented as an author, editor, art curator, and former operator of the Bomani Gallery.
Was Asake Bomani a jazz singer?
Some websites describe her as a jazz singer, but a dependable professional discography has not been widely identified.
What book did Asake Bomani write?
She co-edited Paris Connections, a 1992 publication about African American, African, and Caribbean artists connected with Paris.
When did Asake Bomani marry Danny Glover?
They married in 1975.
When did Asake and Danny Glover divorce?
They divorced in 2000 after approximately 25 years of marriage.
Why did Asake and Danny divorce?
They did not publicly confirm one specific reason for ending their marriage.
How many children does Asake Bomani have?
She has one daughter, Mandisa Glover.
Who is Mandisa Glover?
Mandisa is the only child of Asake and Danny. She has worked behind the scenes in film production and lives a mostly private life.
Does Asake Bomani have grandchildren?
Yes. Her daughter Mandisa has a son named Adesola.
Did Asake Bomani remarry?
No dependable public source confirms that she remarried.
Where is Asake Bomani now?
Her current residence and daily activities are private.
Is Asake Bomani a reality-TV personality?
No major reality-television career is reliably documented.
What is Asake Bomani’s net worth?
Her net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Exact estimates found online are speculative.
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