A few words
About Us
Are you an Afropean?
Afropean is said to be a word first coined by Talking Heads singer David Byrne to describe the music of Belgian-Congolese group ‘Zap Mama’. It was later popularized by amongst others, the Afro-French sister duo Les Nubians.
Stichting Afropeans (Afropeans Foundation) seeks to facilitate the integration, visibility and participation of Europeans of African origins into the Dutch society in particular and in Europe in general.
Broadly an Afropean is;
- A European with African ancestors.
- All those born in Europe with African parents
- Biracial people of which at least one parent is of African origin and the other of European origin.
- Any African living and/or working in Europe with a (semi) permanent status.
Be inspired and inspire others too. Stand tall and be proud to be an Afropean!
Meet the team
Femi Soewu
The urgency to define and celebrate our identity & uniqueness came from a friend who lives in Poland. He told me that as an African living in Poland/Europe his friends usually refer to him in conversations as African-American even though every one knows he carries a European passport.
We are proud Africans and we are Europeans too. It is time to celebrate and be proud of what we bring to the table. We are the bridge that connects 2 continents and cultures. We are The Afropeans!
Chidi Nwosu
I am happy it’s finally here and I can be part of this journey. Africans born and living in Europe to collaborate and identify themselves through projects, themes, cultures, stories and experiences. Afropeans will create or sustain strong ties between Africans with the motherland and the country they are living in. Aside from sharing cultures as Africans in Europe collectively, empowerment and unity are part of the philosophies of Afropeans. I believe we can achieve this vision by fusing our different expertise and cultural backgrounds for the realization of the Afropeans concept.
Jessica Effah
My name is Jessica Effah. I am a social worker and teacher. I am also an Afropean living in Holland’s capital city! Being an Afropean is amazing, but we also face some difficulties. I would love for other Afropeans to have more recognition, but also places to find support battling these difficulties. With this foundation I am sure we are able to unite and support each other, making the Afropean experience better but also show what we got! Different generations have different questions, needs, wishes and dreams. My passion is working socially, with families and children. An example is explaining and guiding Afropean parents through the Dutch school system, which can be confusing at times. But also sharing the love for our cultures through representation in classes.