Baobab Nights: Diaspora Odysseys (Rotterdam Edition!)

The next edition of Omek’s community-building event is in Rotterdam!

Join us at Baobab Nights: Diaspora Odysseys🪘hosted in collaboration with Rotterdam’s cultural hub, Hiphophuis. We invite you to journey through the cultural richness of the African diaspora, creating a bridge between tradition and modernity.

Together, we‘ll honor and celebrate the legacies upon which generations of people of African descent have shaped cultural diversity as we know it today. But how much do you know about these legacies, stories and legends from the past?

Join us for a cozy community gathering where echoes of the past blend with your own life journey and personal odyssey as a bicultural of African descent, becoming the fuel that ignites us all in our collective present and future.

Why should you attend? 🤩

• Step into a welcoming space where you can be your authentic self
• Connect with a vibrant community of biculturals ready to make you feel at home
• Engage in inspiring conversations where everyone can take the stage – or just listen in!
• Deepen your understanding of the diaspora with insightful facts and discussions
• Enjoy games, delicious food, soulful music, and refreshing drinks in a cozy atmosphere
• Be part of the first EVER Omek event in Rotterdam

Agenda 💅🏽

• 17:00: Doors open — arrive early, explore and mingle
• 17:45: Community Circle — a group discussion with special guests and YOU
• 19:00: Games & networking activities — grow your network and learn cool stuff
• 19:45: Open mic — share your ideas, thoughts and talent with your community
• 20:00: Music and food — network and build friendships around food, drinks and music

Special Guests 🎤

• Barbara Gwansenia— Founder (President and CVO) of Batazia, a  tech startup that uses A.I and neural language technology to enable reading and learning in African languages; and to ensure Afrocentric translation of content into African languages. She is also the owner of Modatong Books (an upcoming book market for books in the world’s indigenous languages). With a background in anthropology, journalism and social entrepreneurship, Barbara has dedicated her life to seeking ways to change the African narrative in knowledge dissemination and poverty alleviation. She is also an author and a singer who uses music and art to bring awareness to important historical questions and societal developments in Africa.
• Edward Akin Hubbard— assistant professor of arts and society and co-founder of the Amsterdam-based artist collective DARKMATTER. He is an anthropologist, artist and curator. His artistic practice, experimental ethnography, exists at the intersection of social anthropology and contemporary art. He holds a BA (Hons) in mass communication from the University of the West Indies - Mona (Jamaica), an MA in social sciences from the University of Chicago (USA), and a PhD in anthropology from Harvard University (USA). He has previously worked as a broadcast journalist (reporter, producer and presenter) for CVM Television in Jamaica and has taught at the University of the West Indies - Mona, Harvard University, New York University and Utrecht University on a variety of subjects including media and globalisation, horror cinema, avant-pop aesthetics, creole pop culture, carnival, gender and queer studies, urban studies, African diaspora studies, ethnographic field methods and experimental ethnography.

We will sell out and spots are limited, so secure your ticket now!
Ticket includes a delightful meal.

As always, special discount available for Omek members⚡: use the promo code shared in the platform event page and get 5€ off the ticket price.

Not a member yet? Become one now for free! Sign up here to gain access to exclusive opportunities, events, and a vibrant community.

At Omek, we believe in inclusivity and understand that financial circumstances can vary. If you're facing financial difficulties and would like to attend our events, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We offer discounted tickets to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be part of our community. Contact us at events@myomek.com and let's find a way to make it possible for you to join us.

About Omek and Baobab Nights

Omek is a community centered platform connecting and championing biculturals of African descent. Omek makes connection and collaboration simple through our digital and in-person spaces.

Baobab Nights is an Omek community event series designed to connect like-minded creators, thinkers, and leaders from communities of African descent in the Netherlands and beyond. This series is about great people enjoying good vibes, so come as yourself and we’ll handle the rest! 🙌🏾

About Hiphophuis

Hiphophuis has been the centre for meeting and development for young creative and artistic communities for over 20 years, for whom hip hop is a unifying factor. With their pioneering approach - involving hip hop disciplines and communities in current and inspiring themes - their activities stimulate the development of skills, knowledge, awareness, and prosperity for all involved. Equipped with a hip hop mindset, these creatives then take on various positions within and outside the organization such as dancer, organizer, opinion leader, artist, teacher, and contribute to both the evolutions and revolutions within the cultural sector. A sector where hip hop is becoming increasingly important as a driver of innovation, not only for what it creates, but also for the creation process and how it interacts with the audience. From mentorship to partnership.