The Afro-European Sessions #2

The Afro-European Sessions returns to explore what it means to be a person of African descent in Europe. As the last edition asked How do you create a sense of home while balancing two cultures?, this new edition goes a step further and centers around the question: How do we build unity among fragmented identities?

Curated by Omek, OSCAM, Bijlmer Bookstore, and VPRO, the program brings together thought leaders, creatives, through conversations, art, music, and food.

About Afro-European Sessions:

Inspired by the 6-part docu-series Afro-Europeans, produced by VPRO and broadcasted in fall 2024, the event series offers a space to connect, reflect, and imagine the future of Black identities in Europe.

Programme

13:00 – Doors open
Arrive early to enjoy delicious West-African food, watch fragments of the docu-series, browse the book corner curated by Bijlmer Bookstore, and connect with other attendees.

14:00 – Dynamic Talks
One moderator, two special guests, and an empty seat reserved for you, the audience. Expect thought-provoking conversations on bridging Afro-European communities, followed by an interactive spoken word performance by Sydney Lowell.

Special Guests:
Rokhaya Diallo — Franco-Senegalese-Gambian, award-winning journalist, author, and filmmaker, recognized for her work in defense of human rights. She is a columnist for The Washington Post and The Guardian, and a researcher at Georgetown University’s Gender+Justice Initiative (Washington, D.C.). In France, she has taught at Paris I – Sorbonne and is a regular commentator on television and radio.

Rokhaya Diallo is the author of around ten books and has also directed eight documentaries, among them Où Sont les Noirs (Where are the Blacks). She co-created Kiffe Ta Race, the first French-language podcast dedicated to racial issues, which was ranked among Apple’s best podcasts.

In 2022, Rokhaya Diallo founded W.O.R.D., the first school dedicated to public speaking, with the aim of democratizing access to the public sphere.

Hesdy Lonwijk — Dutch-Surinamese filmmaker, director, educator, and creative producer.

Hesdy moved to the Netherlands at age thirteen and later graduated with honors from the Netherlands Film and Television Academy.

He has directed numerous works across film and television, including the short Color Me Bad (2007), as well as episodes of series like Seinpost Den Haag, Mocro Maffia, and Alles is Famiri.

In addition to directing, Hesdy is active in mentoring and education. He co-founded MeerZorg Talents, an initiative to support upcoming talent.

16:00 – Quick Connections
OSCAM invites you for Quick Connections, a lively meet-up where all visitors get to connect. Think rapid-fire chats, idea swaps, and conversations about how identity fuels creativity and art. It’s all about exchange, real connections, and appreciation.

17:00 – Stay, mingle, and dance to diaspora sounds curated by DJ YmX.

Image: Diana Ejaita for VPRO gids