Skip to main content

Afropean is a multidisciplinary online journal exploring the social, cultural and aesthetic aspects of black European cultures. Afropean and the Holland Festival are organizing an immersive symposium which will present performances, screenings, presentations and panel discussions on the topic of how knowledge is transmitted inter-generationally throughout the black diaspora in myriad ways. The day of events includes academics, poets, organizers and visual artists in discussion and creates a convivial space of knowledge production and sharing, in the heart of Amsterdam.  Featuring Johny Pitts, author of Afropean: Notes from Black Europe, Nat Illumine, scholar and co-founder of afropean.com, award-winning journalist and blogger Minna Salami, award-winning novelist Bernardine Evaristo and Fusion present BMT: a unique poetry experience with special guest: Umar Bin Hassan from the legendary The Last Poets.

The Welcome Table is an unfinished play by the American writer James Baldwin, a prominent anti-racism activist in his country. The play consists of two characters (based on the dancer Josephine

The Welcome Table is an unfinished play by the American writer James Baldwin, a prominent anti-racism activist in his country. The play consists of two characters (based on the dancer Josephine

Baker and the American professor and critic Henry Louis Gates Jr.) at a set table. Incomplete freedom they discuss the condition of the Afro-American community. During the Holland Festival a contemporary version of The Welcome Table will be staged at various venues for a variety of conversations about festival artists’ work and themes. The topics covered will include literary and ideological movements like Négritude and the Harlem Renaissance, the films Échangeur and Touki Bouki, Martiniquan philosopher Édouard Glissant’s work and life, and of course James Baldwin.

Read less

credits

participants Bernadine Evaristo, Johny Pitts, Nat Illumine, Minna Salami, Umar Bin Hassan

This performance is made possible by