Akini Anthony Gill grew up on Laventille Road, East-Dry-River, Port-of-Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. During his school years, he struggled to get an education and was incorrectly deemed to be language delayed by some teachers, who did not understand the nature of his learning disabilities. He has two conditions which severely hampered his ability to learn; dyslexia – a development reading disorder and dyspraxia – a motor learning disability. However, with strong support from his mother, Ms. Elizabeth Ann St. Clair, Akini has managed to make it through an unsupportive education system in Trinidad and Tobago. In 2004, Akini obtained a Certificate in Music (Pan) and in 2009 he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Arts with honors from the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine.

This determined young man received an Achievement in Education and Lifetime Award from his high school, Belmont Boys’ Secondary School, for his contributions to music in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, he won Teacher of the Year in 2009 at Trinity All Generations School of the Arts. In 2011, Akini was a final nominee in the field of education at the annual National Youth Awards Ceremony in Trinidad and Tobago. He believes his achievements are a testament to his discipline, courage and determination. In 2014, Akini returned to Trinidad and Tobago after pursuit of a National Scholarship at the prestigious New York University, with a Master of Arts in Music Education. His thesis was entitled Teaching Music to Children with Learning Disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago and completed under the guidance of Dr. Elise Sobol. Akini’s oral thesis defense was noted as one of the best ever Master of Arts in Music Education presentations at NYU. His studies at NYU armed him with qualifications to teach both general Music Education and Music in Special Education.

Upon his return in 2013, he was awarded a Special Achievement Award from Trinity All Generations School of the Arts. Moreover, in 2014 he was the feature speaker at Belmont Boys’ Secondary School Awards Ceremony in 2014 and he was awarded the past pupil Outstanding Achievement Award. Akini was on a returning scholars' program assisting the music staff with lecturing tasks at the Teacher’s Training College in Trinidad and Tobago. He is currently writing his first book which highlights in detail the learning challenges he experienced during his school years. There is no doubt that Akini is an excellent example of overcoming adversity. His ultimate goal is to make a valuable contribution to music education from the preschool level to University with the inclusion for special needs students in Trinidad and Tobago. Presently, Mr. Akini Gill is a full-time Instructor in Music Education at the Center for Education Programmes, The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).