UX Copywriter, Community Builder
Rotterdam, NL
🇬🇭 🇳🇱
A UX copywriter, author, and community facilitator, Benjamin blends storytelling with strategy to create meaningful experiences. His work spans sales, content strategy, and customer journey optimization, always with a focus on customer success. Passionate about mental health, identity, AI, and emerging technologies, he uses his writing to explore these themes. Beyond his professional work, he leads conversations in the community and is deeply interested in generational wealth-building and international business. Integrity, ownership, and continuous growth drive his approach.
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Which dish brings you back to “home”?
Fufu and light soup with all kinds of meat and fish. It is the truth. The feel of a morsel leaving your fingertips and going down your throat is its own journey. And the potbelly after stuffing yourself? Yeah, you’ll want to go to bed and dream of home after that one.
What’s on repeat in your playlist right now?
Almost every Doechii song. Her personality is different, and her music is so creative. I love different.
A Black historical figure that inspires you?
I’m going to pick two: James Baldwin and bell hooks
What’s a meaningful African proverb?
It is not a taboo to go back for what you left behind.
Why did you join Omek?
I struggled with belonging for many years, but Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of having an Africa without the borders that separate us has been a dream of mine since I was a child. So seeing many biculturals of African descent in the same space, uplifting each other, understanding our differences, and reveling in our shared histories was just what I needed.
What are some of your highlights over the past years?
My first Omek event at Impact Hub in 2019. I was only a few months in the Netherlands, and while my new friends made me feel welcome, It felt different in that room. I only knew the person who’d invited me (Rabi), but somehow it felt like I was in a room of people I belonged with. Almost five years later, that feeling has been proven true.
What does bicultural identity mean to you?
It means accepting your multiple identities and making that your superpower (had to add a Kemo word in there!)
If your bicultural journey were a book or movie, what would the title be?
The Last Tree by Shola Amoo. Growing up in Ghana and being forced to discover that I have a different identity in a different country was confronting. In my mind, I was West African, Ghanaian, and Fante. But here I am more than that. I’ve embraced that identity, but it took some adjusting. And now I am learning every day how to navigate the world with this new identity.
RUDII ★
Music Industry & Branding Maven
RuDoesIt.
The mononymous Rudii is the principal driving force behind the end-to-end brand marketing, international touring, and events production agency — RuDoesIt. Boasting a client list ranging from Jill Scott to Jay Z and McDonald’s to Motown along with 20+ years of experience, Rudii continues to take on projects with creative and/or social impact on a global scale.
KOFI OHENE-DJAN
CMO & Founder
Osuno Marketing
Determined, proactive and cheerful, I am a marketing professional with over 20 years’ experience spanning online/digital, social, print, outdoor, PR, internal comms and product development. My passions are sport, travel, great food, music and the performing arts. I am happiest when dancing with friends.
CAMERON JENKINS
Artist
Taking inspiration from events in my life and the world around me, my ideals are fleshed out through the process of listening to songs repeatedly until an image is constructed in my mind. By comparing personal events in my life to stories in humanity, I can measure the weight of the stories I’m telling.
HUGO FAUSTINO
Creative Media Strategist (Video, Photography, Digital)
Know as HFaustino I’m a Creative Media professional leveraging a multi-disciplinary approach to grow and promote business brands.
Amsterdam-based, multimedia producer crafting valuable stories using photography and video with a unique voice, clear vision on every aspect of digital brand interaction.
Surely a content creator with a strong Brand Driven mission to promote and distribute creative assets across digital channels building engaged audiences, somedays a photographer another days a video producer involving other professional creatives, always a distinctive marketer with a strong passion for to grow brands with engaging content.
CHARDE GOINS
CEO
The Blak Lotus
Charde Goins is an Entrepreneur, Artist, and Humanitarian. Also known as Akusafani Okuphakade, or Queen Akusa, a Healer, Medium, and Social Architect.
“The advancement of life requires the release of human conditioning, to enable the freedom of our spiritual body. Creating mediums that act as catalysts for liberation is my life’s work.”
GABRIELLE AMANI
CEO
MEFeater Magazine
Gabrielle Amani is the CEO and Co-founder of one of the largest digital magazine platforms, MEFeater Magazine. As an entrepreneur, marketer, and boss, she continues to excel as the brand grows. Being a Brooklyn native, Gabrielle has always been drawn to all things M.E.F.(Music, Entertainment, Fashion). She has recently relocated to Atlanta.
JIMMY SANA
Artist, Student, Co-Founder
NOMADIC
I’m half Burkinabé, half Dutch, raised in Mali and Tanzania, currently based in Rotterdam. I’m co-founder of the NOMADIC collective and have a passion for connecting people and making music. As part of the leadership of the Association of Student’s of African Heritage (ASAH), I aspire to help change the narrative of the continent for the better.
LEWIS McARA
Student, Creative, Co-Founder
NOMADIC
I am a musical artist, producer and co-founder of the collective NOMADIC. Born in Scotland but raised in Tanzania, I seek to channel my experiences being exposed to different cultures and people into my work, and leverage my own and my peer’s networks.
RAUL BALAI
Artist-Curator, Exhibition Maker, Designer
el bastardo
Raul Balai a.k.a. el bastardo, is an Amsterdam based artist (1980). Balai is fascinated by the way our exploitative state of mind frames the shape of the world. He uses a number of different styles, genres, to expose and explore what remains at stake within the history of diversities.
KEMO CAMARA
Founder
Omek
Kemo has more than 20 years of experience in community organizing and bringing people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together. He has co-founded multiple businesses and non-profit organizations and has professional experience in leadership and management working for multinational corporations including banks and manufacturing companies in the US.
ERIC COLLINS
CEO & Founding Member
Impact X Capital Partners
Eric is a VC serving on boards & the C-Suite of fast growth tech cos since 2001. Eric’s experiences include digital, mobileAI, SaaS based & health tech companies. He’s exited businesses to listed cos like MSFT & Nuance. He was named one of the most powerful Black business people in the UK by the FT & Powerlist. Eric hosts The Profit on UK’s Ch 4.
T. DEDAN OWORI
Director Business Development, Co-Founder
Tahka Group B.V
I would like to be part of the energy transition story and improve access to clean and sustainable energy for people in Europe and Africa, by providing consultancy, project and business development services.
MILKA YEMANE
Member of Groenlinks
Milka Yemane is a Political Scientist and she ran for member of Parliament in March 2021 for the Green left party. She is an advocate for humane migration policies and advocates for more Diaspora involvement. She is the founder and Director of the Lemat foundation, an organization that works towards better integration policies for newcomers.
JOY WANJIRU ZENZ
Founder
African Women in Europe
Joy Wanjiru Zenz is the founder of African Women in Europe. (AWE), the CEO of African Market in Europe (AME), Winner of 2018 African Business Support Award (The Voice Awards Amsterdam), Won African Diaspora living Legend in Germany 2018. Born Kenyan living in Germany and a mother of two.
KWANZA MUSI DOS SANTOS
Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
Diversity Matters
Italian-Afrobrazilian activist and intersectional feminist raised in Rome, co-founder of QuestaèRoma: an association against discriminations since 2013. Degree in political science, she organizes workshops about diversity, inclusion and anti-racism for several different organizations. Recently, she joined the board of the Union of Justice.
SERGIO PANDAY
Co-Founder
Roots Inspire
After an international career as a banking executive, Sergio is now determined to increase the ethnic diversity across the senior corporate layers. Together with 50+ mentors coming from ethnic minority backgrounds themselves, Sergio co-founded the Roots Inspire platform to accelerate ethnically diverse talent into senior corporate positions.
VERONICA SAFOA OWUSU
Founder
VPower Coaching
With her Master’s Degree in Educational Sciences and over 10 years of experience working as a Educator, Veronica has created hundreds and hundreds of lesson plans and courses, designed dozens of programme development schemes and executed Educational programmes that have helped achieve targeted skills in students and adults.
SEHAAM ABDULE
President
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
My name is Sehaam Abdule and I am 21 years old. I am Dutch and Somali. I am currently a third year law student at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. I am passionate about Black Empowerment as well as pan-Africanist.
SHANICA ROMNEY
Board Member of Activities
Tribez Student Association
Raised on the beautiful island of St. Martin, Shanica Romney is a community builder and a European Studies student. She is the co-founder of her platform called Say Less Sis, which serves as a safe space to highlight and discuss taboo topics while advocating for the people of St. Martin.
ABIGAIL VLOET
Vice President
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
I am Abigail, Ethiopian (originally), with Dutch nationality, and an international upbringing. I am a pan-Africanist who is studying International Law at Tilburg University.
SHENHAT TEDOS
Head of Committees
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
My name is Shenhat, I am 21 years old and I am currently in my third year of a Global Law Bachelor. I work in activism and community organizing besides ASAT.
SHENIN LEBRUN
CEO
Hustle & Heart Consultancy
My name is Shenin Lebrun and I am a multi-passionate entrepreneur. I am a (business) coach, a mentor, a speaker and a TV / Film story producer. My professional career started at Nike 17 years ago. Now as the founder of Hustle & Heart Consultancy, it’s my goal to inspire & share my knowledge so you feel empowered and reach your maximum potential.
STANLEY ANYETEI
Investment Officer
Triodos Investment Management
Stanley has been in investment banking for the past 16 years working across multiple countries. Starting his career at Investec Bank Limited in South Africa. Stanley is currently an investment manager at Triodos Investment Management, sits on the board of Signify Foundation, and also the Senior Lecturer of CSR at TIAS Business School in the NL.
CHARNEZ JACOBS
Venture Capital Fellow
IncludedVC
Experienced venture capital & finance professional who has built an extensive network across the private equity, venture capital and tech ecosystem( Africa / South- East Asia / Europe / North & South America).
MARTIN RUSSELL
Advisor
The Networking Institute
Martin completed his PhD on Diaspora Strategies at the Clinton Institute (University College Dublin) and was a visiting fellow at UNU-MERIT. He is an advisor at The Networking Institute where the team has collectively worked in 30 countries, cities, and regions on diaspora engagement.
SAMIRA RAFAELA
Member of the European Parliament
Samira Rafaela is a Dutch Member of the European Parliament for the social-liberal political party D66. As such she is part of the Renew Europe Group. Rafaela ran on the promise to fight for a strong, social and secure Europe. She strongly believes that the EU is at its best when we work together to diminish inequality and celebrate our diversity.
MPANZU BAMENGA
Co-Founder
INCLEADERS
Bamenga is the Member of City Council in Eindhoven and Co-founder of the Inclusion Leaders Network (INCLEADERS), an organization that provides opportunities for information sharing, leadership development, and networking opportunities for emerging and established leaders.
MIKAL TSEGAI
Member of the City Council in The Hague
Former Candidate to the Parliament
KIZA MAGENDANE
Writer and Policy Entrepreneur
Kiza Magendane is a writer and policy entrepreneur with a special focus on citizenship, identity, globalization, technology and the position of Africa in the world. He studied political science in Amsterdam and Antwerp and works as a knowledge broker in international development. He writes essays and reports for NRC and De Groene Amsterdammer.
CLAUDE FIDELIN
Founder
The Black Negotiator
Claude co-founded Nike Black Employee Network (BEN) in the region and is currently a co-chair. Raised by a single mother in the French “Banlieue”, he got his MBA from Columbia Business School. His career in banking, consulting, and startups took him to London, New York and Miami. Claude is now back to Europe, in the Netherlands, with his wife and two kids.
DARRYL ANTUNEZ
Kroush Kade Radio / DJ
Two Capeverdean kids from the city centre of Rotterdam sharing their Music Library together stand for nothing more than a show full of ear pleasure. With a wide music range nothing will remain the same.
WILSON ALMEIDA DUARTE
Kroush Kade Radio / MC
Two Capeverdean kids from the city centre of Rotterdam sharing their Music Library together stand for nothing more than a show full of ear pleasure. With a wide music range nothing will remain the same.
TARA CRICHLOW
Artist, Teacher, Performer, Lecturer, Facilitator and Curator
New York City native Tara Crichlow, affectionately known as “big tara,” is a pioneer in the world of hip hop. As a New York club culture ambassador, she is an innovative artist best known for her contribution to the art form as an international teacher, performer, lecturer, facilitator and curator of related programs.
UEJANAUA TJIHUMINO
Event Coordinator
Black Ladies Of Groningen
Hi I’m Uejaa, and I am a final year student in International and European law from sunny Namibia. I believe connection and community are important values of mine leading me to join the BLOG board for the last years. I plan on working within the human rights field, I’m a big softie who believes the world needs more empathy.
MWEE VAN DER MEER
Vice President
Black Ladies Of Groningen
I’m 22 years old and studying biomedical diagnostics at Hanze University. I’m currently the Vice president of BLOG and 2019/2020 President.
BOUBA DOLA
Artist
Experienced Artist with a demonstrated history of working in the arts and film industry. Skilled in Photography, film and visual storytelling.
HILLMANN BATUO
President
African-Caribbean Maastricht University Society (ACMUS)
Prospective M.D. Play basketball for fun. Fascinated about the workings of the human brain/mind. Love meeting new people, I believe everyone has a lesson to teach me in life.
KINGSLEY AIKINS
Founder & CEO
The Networking Institute
CEO of The Networking Institute based in Dublin and trains individuals, companies, non-profits and governments how to be better at networking.
ABBY DEBESAY
Stichting NABANA, Afrispectives
Abby has an Eritrean background and grew up in Germany. Activism started to play a big role in her life at the age of 15, with a specific interest in women’s empowerment in Eritrea. Later, she studied Postcolonial Studies, Communications/PR, and Social Science. Education being a key element for development, her focus today is facilitating educational and professional exchange of Africans in the Diaspora and in African countries.
SUNDAY OZEGBE OBIAJULU
Artistic Director
Ennovate Dance House
Sunday Ozegbe Obiajulu is a Dancer, Choreographer, writer, Artivist, Curator, Artist, and Community Organizer. The young Artist is the convener of renowned Community event tagged ‘Slum Party’. He is the Artistic Director of Ennovate Dance House @ennovated and convener Artistes Hangout
ANITA ABAISA
Owner
Black Ladies Talk
In 2015 Anita started the Facebook group Black Ladies Talk. The aim of the platform is that black women exchange experiences, overcome mental barriers and help each other in their personal and professional development.
By December 2016, the group already had more than ten thousand members and several subgroups: health, children and family, travel, history and work. The women also meet offline: there are ‘tea and talks’, in March 2016 one hundred and fifty women in Rotterdam held the first Black Sisterhood Unity March (an annual event since then), and in November 2016 they held a conference in the Bijlmer Parktheater, the Black Ladies Talk conference with workshops and talk shows about (mental) health, among other things.
PETER KWOK
Chair
UK Federation of Chinese Professionals (UKFCP)
Peter is Chair of the Global Diaspora Confederation and of the UK Federation of Chinese Professionals as well as 10 other diaspora associations, and sat at board level for a further 6 community organisations in the UK and China, including a UN ECOSOC accredited charity in Africa.
AHMED LAROUZ
Founder
Climate LaunchPad
Ahmed Larouz is a social innovator, entrepreneur and a strategic creative communication and marketing manager. He’s founder of Diwan Awards Holland and also the co-founder and Author of 180 Amsterdammers celebrating Amsterdam’s rich cultures and for being the most diverse city in the world. Gained experience across several industries around the globe and has consulted commercial businesses, start-ups, government and social organizations.
LOKSAN HARLEY
Founder & Executive Director
Homelands Advisory
Loksan is a migration and diaspora engagement specialist with extensive experience in research, policy analysis, project management, and technical assistance in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, working with governments, regional and international organisations, NGOs, and the private sector. He has a passion for doing highly analytical
LAMAR “BLACK ICE” MANSON
Poet, Spoken Word Artist
The Tony, Peabody & Emmy Award-winning, 6-time HBO and Broadway Def Poet Lamar “Black Ice” Manson, is credited with being a major pioneer of this millennium, turning spoken word into a mainstream Art form. His work is utilized in high school curricula to course studies at the academically acclaimed Ivy League Universities, Harvard and Columbia. Alongside Stan Lathan (creator/producer of Def Poetry Jam) and Rikki Hughes, Black Ice is currently executive producing a new live performance poetry show scheduled to debut in late 2021.
LYNNEE DENISE
DJ, Artist, Scholar, and Writer
DJ Lynnée Denise is an Amsterdam-based artist, scholar, and writer whose work reflects on underground cultural movements, the 1980s, migration studies, theories of escape, and electronic music of the African Diaspora. When she’s not creating, she’s teaching at UCLA and Stanford. Her current book project, Why Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton Matters will be published in 2022 by the University of Texas Press.
LYSANNE CHARLES
Educator, Activist, Creative
Lysanne Charles is an educator in the areas of Caribbean history and creative arts, in addition to being an activist and creative in her own right. She’s been writing poetry and short stories for the past 30 years as well as songs in the genres of Calypso, Soca and Road-march. Her work in education, activism and arts mainly focus on matters dear to her heart including the Caribbean archipelago, politics, love, spirituality, family, the arts and activisms around youth, women’s, right, LGBTQIA+ and Racial Equality.
DANA SAXON
Founder & CEO
Ancestors unKnown
Dana is the Founder and CEO of Ancestors unKnown, an education social enterprise that provides schools, nonprofits, corporations and other institutions with curriculum and workshops related to identity development, family history research and discovering untold histories. After spending nearly 10 years in the education nonprofit sector in the U.S., Dana moved from New York City to the Netherlands in 2011, where she earned a Master’s in Sociology at the University of Amsterdam.
STACEY LAMPTEY
Founder
Black Ladies Of Groningen
I am an LLB graduate currently working within the field of compliance and anti-money laundering. Moreover, I am the Founder of the organization ‘BLOG’ (Black Ladies Of Groningen) which focuses on providing women of ethnic African and Caribbean descent with a platform that eases the process of establishing valuable connections amongst each other.
KEOSHA LOVE
Writer, Activist & Wellness Educator
Keosha is a multi-disciplinary artist, activist, and educator that intersects art and wellness to promote positive mental health in BIPOC communities and empower women.
SASKIA JEANNE DURE
Anger/Activism Coach
The Angry Black Life Coach, Toking Travel International LLC
30-year-old femme with a degree in International Relations. I use my coaching practices to support other Black gender marginalized people embrace anger and other uncomfortable emotions. I am currently living in Spain and operate this company remotely.
RENATE MATROOS
Founder
Twenty 6 Consultancy
I’m a creative mind who wants to help every entrepreneur perform to the best of their ability and become more successful. As a Digital Learning Designer and Facilitator I create and develop interactive workshops and programs.
GERALDINE MOODLEY
Operations Manager, Lawyer, Mediator
I am a human rights lawyer, former operations manager and team leader. I have worked in various international organisations with multicultural teams. I am of African descent and mix cultures which have worked for me and in my current work as diversity equity and inclusion adviser, trainer and consultant bringing much-needed change to organisations.
KOBI AMPOMA
Talent Lead
Otrium
Kobi is a Talent Acquisition Lead. He has an educational background in Human Resources. Having worked in the HR function as an HR Generalist, International Mobility and Talent Acquisition. Kobi is a big advocate for Diversity & Inclusion in recruitment. He has worked in the FMCG, Retail, Sporting Goods, Fashion, and Technology industry for 20 year.
GEORGE D. WILLIAMS
Founder, Managing Director
Diversity Global Institute
George manages an organization that provides access to global education and language acquisition. He has experience as a political consultant, interpreter, and startup founder, among others. Some of his other projects include sustainably developing a boutique international real estate portfolio, and designing and executing political events.
MOHAMED ZAHIR ALIMOHAMED
Director of Research and Training, Lecturer, Scientist, Medical Geneticist
Mohamed worked for the RND section of the Genetics department in NL. His PhD focused on using NGS to diagnose (genetic) diseases in the clinic. He is a co-founder of the Tanzania Society of Human Genetics and is currently based in Tanzania and serves as the Acting Director of Research and Training at the Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital.
JOAN MWANGI
Community & Programs Manager
Pangea Accelerator
A design professional and creative with an interest in social impact and business development, I am always looking for new ways of providing solutions to challenges. Currently passionate about building Inclusive Africa a platform to catalyze systemic change for inclusivity and diversity on the continent. It has been a growing and exciting process.
ANNE LAWI
Managing Director
Pangea Accelerator
Anne Lawi Is a Managing Director for Pangea Trust catalyzing innovation through social businesses that stimulate economy in Africa by creating enabling environment to harness skills, provide technical expertise and capital, to spur and accelerate social-economic transformation, increased job creation and improved quality of life at the base of the pyramid.
MICHAEL KITTICAI
Founder
Nairobabe
I’m a Creative Designer with a passion for arts, music, and street fashion. It’s this moment that gets me to put my head down and think out of the box.
IVY IRUNGU
Operations Associate
Pangea Trust
Pangea Trust was registered in 2019 and was initiated by Pangea Accelerator as they identified a big need for a non-profit organization that could focus on building the innovation ecosystem and mobilizing resources from the African Diaspora.
JONAS TESFU
Co-Founder, CEO
Pangea Accelerator
Jonas is a strong voice in the Norwegian and African startup scene. He currently works with 100+ African tech companies based out of the Pangea Accelerator in Nairobi, Kenya. A life-long entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience with building startups in the Tech sector, food industry and impact startups.
JONAS NJAU
Founder & Director
Finesse Art and Media
Norwegian/Tanzanian art and media consultant with both professional and academic background in African Governance and Electoral systems, currently pursuing a Masters at Leiden University in The Netherlands. Jonas also serves on the Board of the Tanzania Global Diaspora Council Chamber of Commerce and the Norwegian Council for Africa.
MARIA TOKO
Chairwoman
Tribez Student Association
As the former Student Chair of the University Council of The Hague University of Applied Sciences, I participate and co-decide on important developments and on the policy of the university. As the Chair of the Student section I am inspired by the students I represent. Besides, I focus on better Diversity and Inclusion policies in higher education and sustainability policies that empower this generation and the next one. I am involved in topics on society, art and culture by co-organising and co-facilitating events with among other Het Nationale Theater.
HEAVEN BEREKET
Senior Project Manager
Pangea Accelerator
Heaven is ranked top 33 Female Tech Leader in Sweden and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 with an incredible background growing up in the countryside in the north of Sweden with roots from East Africa. Heaven is a prominent Business Advisor contributing to Africa’s and Europe’s start-up and Tech scene.
MARIA KLINT
Project Manager
Sida
Maria Klint is a service designer and facilitator at Antrop with the main focus on solving complex sustainability challenges. At the moment she’s working with global aid issues and building an innovation lab at SIDA and she’s focusing on circular design and to build circularity into e-commerce.
WEINI SMON
Yoga Teacher
Weini Smon is a certified Ashtanga and Vinyasa teacher from the Sampoorna Yoga Teacher Training School in India. She has a background in Banking but has always had a passion for Yoga and all things Wellness. As she deepened her Yoga practice, she wanted to share the benefits of Yoga and Wellness with more people and in particular the black community.
OLUBUNMI OKOLOSI
Founder, CEO
Kajola
Bunmi has worked with some of the world’s leading chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and entrepreneurs. Former clients include Arabica Food & Spice Company (Time Out London’s Best Restaurant), Lima London (1-star Michelin restaurant), and The Student Hotel (international hospitality start-up). With Kajola, Bunmi can lend his passion and expertise to those who are eager to make their mark in the food and hospitality sectors.
HASSAN DIRISU
Founder
Kakanda
A lawyer and social entrepreneur seeking to make financing and greener supply chains more available to artisanal and small scale miners in West Africa.
FOLASADE AYOOLA
Co-Founder
Electric Fish
Folasade is Co-Founder of ElectricFish Energy Inc., an energy storage company providing grid resilience and EV ultrafast charging. She is also a Ph.D. researcher focused on the deep decarbonization of large-scale energy systems, exploring low-carbon transition pathway alternatives for oil-dependent countries, specifically Nigeria.
INDIGO JANKA
Communications Officer
Wetlands International
MARQUISE T.A.
Choreographer, Director
Marquise T.A. was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. At a very young age Marquise fell in love with the art forms: Drama, Dance & Film. He furthered his passion for Drama by majoring in Theatre Arts at Clark Atlanta University. Marquise has been able to use art as a way to heal from systemic trauma and wishes to share his art with the world.
CHRISTIANO TERRY
President & CEO
N LITE Media
Christiano is the Founder and President of N LITE Media, a black owned production company with a unique team of new and veteran Hollywood talent dedicated to bringing untold stories to life. N LITE focuses on classic storytelling and brand creation that champions POC characters in timeless and provocative ways for a global audience.
POLLY IRUNGU
Founder
Black Women Photographers
Multimedia journalist, digital editor, and photographer Polly Irungu is the founder of Black Women Photographers, a global community and directory of 500+ Black women and non-binary photographers.
Polly is also a Digital Content Editor at New York Public Radio (WYNC), where she is responsible for managing social media for WNYC and PRX’s ‘The Takeaway’, a national NPR show with over 2 million listeners, pitching news stories and features for The Takeaway and her podcast is ranked the 4th most downloaded, amongst others.
HANAN OSMAN
Creative Production & Operations, Co-Founder
FourTwo Creative
Seeker of creative humans. Production and operations professional with extensive experience in people operations, cultivating social community and campaign development & management.
RATIDZO MAMBO
Actor, Creative Producer
Ratidzo Mambo is an actor and creative producer, with over 8 years’ experience working in International Film and TV Distribution. With her expertise in content sales across all broadcast platforms, she has managed clients in Africa, North America and Eastern Europe.
Mambo’s upcoming project – 50 Shades of Black Girl (which she’s both developing and producing), was recently acquired by a US streamer (TBA). In addition, she recently received the 2020 Rising Star Award from the Casting Guild of Australia for her acting work.
NII AYIKWEI PARKES
Editor, Writer, Socio-Cultural Commentator
I am always interested in fresh challenges and using my experience in the service of a new and innovative venture.
Flipped Eye Publishing, which I co-founded, has been an element in my life and work for close to two decades and has remained so while I have lectured, worked for and consulted for several organisations. It is a relationship that I expect anyone who seeks to work with me to respect – I am able to scale my involvement to match several circumstances.
MALCOLM-EMILIO
Original Man of Creation
Stay Relevant
For the past 10 years Malcolm-Emilio has consistently created work that inspires new perspectives on how to communicate and navigate in diverse cultural landscapes. Using references from personal travel studies to create a language that can speak to the world, mainly using paint, sculpture, and interactive installations
MARLOU FERNANDA DA SILVA
Visual Artist
Introducing Marlou Fernanda: The effervescent self-taught Visual Artist. With a particular focus on painting, Fernanda also works as a performance artist and creative director.
NGALULA BEATRICE KABUTAKAPUA
Storytelling and Strategic Communications Consultant
After a decade spent working as a journalist, she became a business storytelling coach helping underestimated entrepreneurs incorporate stories into their businesses. She partners with purpose-driven organisations and CSR teams to improve employees engagement and external marketing and communication through storytelling.
JULIA BROWN
CEO & Founder
Walking The Spirit Tours-Black Paris & Beyond
Julia Browne pioneered Black heritage tourism in France in 1994. She was born in Britain, raised in Canada, and resided in France for fifteen years.
In Paris, she founded the heritage education company Walking The Spirit Tours-Black Paris & Beyond while a student at the Sorbonne’s Center for African American Studies. Her Afrocentric tours and customized itineraries have introduced countless travelers, students, and educators to the rich but lesser known influence of Black history and culture in Europe, the UK, Washington DC, and Canada.
RICKI STEVENSON
Founder & Director
Black Paris Tours
Ricki Stevenson, founder of Black Paris Tours, has served as its creative thinker and CEO since its inception in 1998. Stevenson, a native of Oakland, California, is a former TV-news anchor, international travel reporter and talk-show host.
She holds a master’s degree in History from Stanford University, with an emphasis on African and African American studies. Ricki began dreaming of life in Paris at three years old, when her mother, a former professional dancer, took her to see Josephine Baker perform. She was ten when her Mom took her to hear James Baldwin speak in California. Ten years later Ricki found herself interviewing Baldwin for a New York City radio network.
Mme. Stevenson says the idea for Black Paris Tours grew out of her experiences as a United Nations reporter and a travel reporter….always looking for and finding amazing, untold stories of Black history dating back to the beginning of all history!
JENNIFER TOSCH
Founder & Historian
Black Heritage Tours
Jennifer Tosch is a cultural historian and the founder of Black Heritage Tours in Amsterdam, New York State and Brussels. The tours make the cities’ ‘hidden’ histories visible as you explore their early Black presence and colonial history.
She is the co-author of 3 guide books on Dutch colonial history: Amsterdam (2014), New York (2017) and The Netherlands (2019). Jennifer is the co-founder of Sites of Memory Foundation (2019) and a member of the Mapping Slavery Project Netherlands (2014). She was born in Brooklyn, New York to Surinamese parents.
JODY OGG
PR/Social Media, Co-Founder
NOMADIC
I was born in Scotland but I grew up in England and Tanzania, where I met the other NOMADIC members. As part of the PR/Social Media team, I help to run the social media platforms as well as plan project promotion and generate ideas for ways to better connect with our audiences.
MS. ABA
Music artist, Radio-personality, Broadcaster, Speaker
MS.ABA (also known as Augustina Austin) is a multi-faceted entertainer: music artist, an
award-winning radio-personality/broadcaster, speaker, former beauty queen and communication & brand strategist.
On 30 October 2020, the singer released her debut EP ‘Rooted’ on streaming platforms. The singer is determined to captivate international markets with Afrocentric Soul.
KAMAU WARE
Founder & Lead Creative
Black Gotham Experience
Kamau Ware is an award-winning visual artist and storyteller based in New York City. Kamau creates new narratives about the African Diaspora’s history through photography, films, exhibitions and events. He founded the Black Gotham Experience (BGX) in 2010 to illustrate the impact of the African Diaspora.
GAI SPANN
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Association of Black Travel Professionals
Experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the leisure, travel & tourism industry.
RAOUL FOKKE
Founder & Travel Designer
Act Of Travel
Born in Amsterdam but raised around the globe, Raoul has lived and worked across four continents; his mission as a luxury travel advisor is rooted in helping clients uncover underrated gems. Recently launched SoloRetreats, a passion project which was birthed amidst the pandemic: a local and solo travel experience focussed on self development.
CHRISTINA BELLOGE
Director
Melanin Travels Magic, Ltd.
I’m French born in Paris, originally from Guadeloupe Island. I’m both a Social Media Marketing Consultant and recently founded a tour operator online company for the black diaspora Melanin Travels Magic. I’ve studied both in France in the UK after a Master in Economics, management from the Sorbonne university. I’ve been an ex-pat for 14 years.
AURELIARITA MARCELLUS
Founder
Intentional Creations
Aurelia is a International Law lawyer, business strategist and a creation guide of projects that spark joy. She is a travel enthusiast, a humanist and a lifestyle mentor.
NITA LIEM
Artistic Director
Don’t Hit Mama
Nita Liem, born in Indonesia, grew up in the Netherlands and is a dance researcher, theater maker, and performer.
SANDRA ST. VICTOR
Singer, Songwriter
A trained opera singer, the Dallas born, Holland based singer/songwriter Sandra St. Victor is very much an artist’s artist. Known for her work as the front woman of rock/soul group The Family Stand, her solo career was solidified with fan favorite Mack Diva Saves The World.
St. Victor’s songwriter has had her songs recorded by legendary artists like – Curtis Mayfield, The Temptations, Chaka Khan, Prince, Roy Ayers, Lalah Hathaway, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ziggy Marley. She can currently be found writing songs or clearing samples for one of your favorite artists.
NIXON MUKIZA
Urban Curator
Nixon is a multidisciplinary who focuses on establishing cross-connections between people and buildings. With a history in Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, he specialize in integrated processes and spatial issues that represent polyphony, urban design, ecology and transformation. As the founder and Artistic Director of the house: Maison Mukiza he is closely involved with social development of buildings for the creative industry.
OYINKAN OLOJEDE
Brand Marketing & Design, Co-Founder
FourTwo Creative
Strategic creative & culture enthusiast. Background in influencer marketing, social media strategy, branded content & strategic partnerships.
SOPHIE DOUALA
Visual Artist & Art Director
I am Sophie Douala, Cameroon born, France raised and Berlin based and visual artist and art director. In my work and personal life, I am interested in the interplay and confluence of a formal visual language and its emotional and cognitive affect.
Observe – States – Question – The essence – Interpret – (In)tensions – Represent – Perceptions
ENNIO “BLESZ” BURLESON
Sound Designer, Artist, Cultural Entrepreneur
Ennio ‘BLESZ’ Burleson is an Amsterdam based sound designer, artist and cultural entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of the Burgundy Productions foundation, owner of the Burgundy Sound Studio and co-organizer and host of the Word Up platform. These platforms all create spaces for talented creatives and promote diversity, inclusion, self-expression and personal growth. As a performer he is a spoken word artist, MC and DJ. His style is versatile, but recognizable and his works are characterized by honesty, love, passion and criticism.
KWAME WILSON
Copywriter, Co-Founder
Out Of Home
A creative mind that likes to connect with others. Fanatical about effective storytelling, intricate details, and debating classic hip-hop albums.
SHANNAN E. JOHNSON
Writer, Former Development Exec
The Professional Pen
After receiving her MFA in Film from Florida State University, Shannan became a junior creative executive in development and current programming at NBCUniversal at the Syfy Channel. In 2010, Shannan quit her executive position to pursue a theater and dance career that included. Amazing Grace, Ghost the Musical, Dreamgirls, Sister Act, How to Quit Your Day Job, Step Afrika! and Sole Defined. Shannan has since continued her passion for helping writers through their roadblocks as The Professional Pen, a script consultant for writers in all stages of the writing process. In 2019, Shannan teamed up with IYO Visuals to co-write ALL SCREWED UP, the viral, visual tribute to Houston’s own DJ Screw.
JOHN ORPHEUS
CEO
Haus Orpheus
From South-Central Trinidad, John Orpheus is a multi-cultural musical artist and published author. His memoir called SAGA BOY and album of the same name will be released in 2021. They are based on themes of: searching for home, family, love and a fly coat to wear when you get there. His recent single FELA AWOKE (I WILL MISS YOU) begins this journey.
JOHN AGESILAS
Dancer, Choreographer, DJ, and Teacher
John Agesilas is one of the founders of jazz-fusion, not only as a dancer/choreographer, but also as a DJ. He is also one of the co-founders of the festival Summer Dance Forever, an international house and hiphop dance festival, organized each year in Amsterdam, since 2009.
KIM DANKOOR
Media expert, Interviewer, PhD candidate, Owner
KIMBYKIM
Kim understands the power and (potential) impact of media and as such, she is highly respected by her peers. Her mission is to provoke critical thinking not just for viewers but for her colleagues as well. She is currently working on her doctoral dissertation on US rap music, gender and self-concept. Lastly, Kim also works as an interviewer.
MICHELLE DAVID
Singer, Songwriter
A theater star for most of her career (ie: Sounds of Motown, Glory of Gospel, Big Black & Beautiful), Michelle David has recently made noise in concert halls and festivals across Europe as a member of Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions. Known for her electrifying stage presence and inspirational song writing, David’s shows are nothing short of memorable. MDTGS’ 5th album is on its way with a single dropping within weeks.
WILLIEM VAN DER VLIET
Student
Dutch Jamaican by heritage, I have grown up in Jordan, India, the US and the Netherlands. Mechanical Engineer by study, I’m interested in creatively applying engineering to build a more sustainable future!
RUI JUN LUONG
Founder
Asian Raisins
(She/Her) Designer, Photographer, founder of Asian Raisins, an Anti-Asian Racism platform.
JOËLLE RAUS PRUDENCE
Curator, Program Maker
Korzo Theater
Professional in performing arts for over 20 years, expertise marketing & communication, programming, talent development and networking.
JIMENA MENDIZABAL DEL MORAL
Artistic Director
Young Blood Initiative
I am a writer, researcher and cultural project manager currently based in Amsterdam. I help artists and organisations to conceptualise, develop and execute their projects. My research focuses on collaborative practices, processed-based practices, and affective encounters both off and online.
JACQUELINE NGO MPII
Founder
Little Africa
Behind the rise of the Little Africa enterprise is its founder and CEO, Jacqueline NGO MPII. This
young entrepreneur had a vision to transform her passion for art, tourism and languages into a multidimensional project with character. Jacqueline is constantly redefining and expanding her activities….
ROBIN BATES
Founder & Executive Director
Maison Noire Americaine
Philanthropist and Black Paris travel guru, Robin has dedicated over 20 years to highlighting the Black Diaspora in France. Through her ventures Café de la Soul * Your Black Paris Portal and Maison Noire Américaine, Bates focuses on cultivating a deeper sense of community between diverse French, African American, and Afro-Francophone cultures.
LEMI GHARIOKWU
Visual Artist, Graphic Designer, Illustrator
Ghariokwu Lemi, is a self taught Nigerian Visual Artist, Graphic Designer, Illustrator and Songwriter. He is most renowned for many of his original cover art for Nigerian music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. His work involves a variety of styles, often using vibrant colours and individuated typefaces of his own design.
RABI BAH
Co-Founder
The Update
Rabi Bah is a multidisciplinary creative whose works are mainly set in illustration, Hip-Hop dance, music and art direction. Her personal work explores the complexities of identity and lived experiences which she translates into the tangible world.
NEDDA SOU
Interdisciplinary Maker & DJ
Interdisciplinary maker and DJ Nedda Sou is looking for a myth that might make a comeback: Conversations through storytelling. As a maker she is driving by her bi-cultural background and her experiences as a dancer from the club and hip hop culture. As a DJ her selections are melodic, House or Techno and always creating motion on the dancefloor.
DEYONE MILANA GUISEPPI
Student, Artist, Singer, Creative
Deyone Milana Guiseppi aka “Milly” aka “Milly de Quing” grew up on the island of Trinidad and now residing in the City of Groningen in the Netherlands, where she attends the university of Groningen. She is a Black, Trans, Woman, Immigrant activist and creative.
KELINE JACQUET
Student
My Name is Keline. I moved to the Netherlands 3 years ago. Born in Sint Maarten and traveled to Florida where I lived for 6 years. I am an mental health advocate and an aspiring life trauma coach. I enjoy traveling, music, and culture.
COURTNEY BRADWELL
Technical Writer
Verifone
Courtney is a content leader responsible for implementing digital editorial strategy for some of the largest global brands across banking, retail, and technology. For over 10 years, she has generated measurable customer-focused content to drive engagement. Now working in Amsterdam, she creates guides for EMEA ecommerce product teams.
SHARNETTE DONACIEN
Business & Empowerment Coach
Be You Consult
I am a 37 year old, mother of 2 currently living in the Netherlands after moving from London, 8 years ago. My professional background is in financial advisory services. I am a qualified accountant and insolvency practitioner and I recently transitioned to business and empowerment coaching. I am also an aspiring children’s book writer.
LENÉ HYPOLITE
Co-Founder
Netherlands Black Women
Lené is a world traveler and serial expat who has lived in 7 (soon to be 8 countries). As the co-founder of Netherlands Black Women and The Goal Standard Podcast, she’s come to understand the importance and significance of community around the globe.
MAMADOU CISSÉ
CEO
Oju-Wa
My name is Mamadou Cissé, 32 years old, from Lyon (France) and of Senegalese origin. I am a founder and CEO of Oju-Wa a cosmetics brand for black men.
BRENDA JOLLY AJIDIRU
Founder
Natural Hair Solutions by Brenda
I am Brenda Jolly Ajidiru from Uganda and I have been in the Netherlands for two years. I owned a beauty parlour in Uganda and so I know how to care for hair ánd run a business. I am always motivated by the challenges of day to day life. When people with Afro natural hair here in the Netherlands asked me who did my hair, it motivated me to start.
COCO OLAKUNLE
Photographer
Coco Olakunle is an independent Nigerian-Dutch photographer based in Amsterdam. Preferring non-professional models, Coco uses her signature verité style photography to capture the stories she finds important. For Coco, the camera is a way to engage humanity and peacefully open the doors of inclusivity and full-spectrum representation.
SYDNEY NWAKANMA
Founder
EMEKA Suits
Sydney Nwakanma is the Founder and Creative Director of EMEKA. Emeka is a circular lifestyle brand which creates clothing from upcycled fabrics in rural Kenya.
DANIEL GYIMAH
Founder
Mystery, Modern Mark
Mystery, Modern Mark is Dutch perfume brand that started in 2019. The Owner of the brand is Daniel Gyimah. We currently have four(4) fragrances to our collection.
ELIJA ABDULAZIZ MAYO
Co-Founder
Try My Bag
A 23 years old who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Studies at the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. I have deep affection towards entrepreneurship which is why I decided to start a business while I’m still in my second year at university.
TITO VALERY
Writer, Political Activist, Radio and TV Host, Spoken Word Artist, Motivational Speaker
Tito Valery is equally a photo artist who has shown his work in Documenta (2016) Kassel, Berlin and Athens, solo shows in New York, Zurich with Tracey Rose, performed spoken word at the Tate modern in London (July 2018), a solo at Guest projects Hackney London, (Yinka Shonibare’s art space) group exhibitions in Cameroon, Senegal (Dakart biennial 2014) and recently performed a solo Poetry end-of-residency Piece in Arnhem Netherlands entitled “Game Of Tones 2019”. Tito has written independently, articles for the BBC arts hour, CameroonTribune to name a few. He has been featured in cultural magazines like Inspire Afrika, and bakwa magazine.
MICHAEL GUINN
Poet, Events Coordinator, Author, Actor
Michael Guinn is professional performance poet, events coordinator, published author, award winning-poet and up and coming actor, advocate and survivor residing in the Dallas Fort Worth Texas. He holds a master’s degree in social work and works full time as a permanent supportive housing coach in Dallas! Michael has more than 22 years of stage, open mic, local, regional, national, international youth and adult poetry slams, virtual events, films, radio and public speaking experiences. He is currently acting in a series now streaming on Amazon Prime!
LOUISE McSTRAVICK
Writer, Educator, Poet
Louise is a writer and educator from Birmingham. She has performed her poetry across the UK and abroad and has had her work featured on BBC Berkshire. Her first collection, How to Make Curry Goat is Out now with Fly on the Wall Press.
MISS YANKEY
Writer, Spoken Word Artist
British/Ghanaian Writer and Spoken Word Artist Miss Yankey has captivated audiences from London to Paris, to New York, and as far as Melbourne. Her energy is unmistakable, every word she spills is carefully crafted, performed with passion, and loaded with authenticity. As a part of the international collective ‘FLO Poets’ Miss Yankey is mentored by x7 times Grammy award nominated Natalie ‘The Floacist’ Stewart, and hosts at two of London’s most popular Spoken Word shows, The Chocolate Poetry Club and Mind Over Matter.
NANISO TSWAI
Author, Academic, Artist
Originally from South Africa, Naniso Tswai is a Berlin-based author, academic and artist. His work is strongly embedded in broader issues of justice, particularly as these relate to human rights and identity. He has performed on various stages across Europe, and also in Australia and South Africa. He is the founder of Wicked Projects, which is a dynamic endeavour that initiates, supports and promotes Spoken Word art projects both in and outside of Europe.
