This event has passed.
DemocracyDrinks. Unmuted: Stories from the African diaspora in Lithuania
May 20 | 18:30 - 20:00
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When? 20 May, Wednesday, 6.30 PM
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Where? Kernagis Bar, Islandijos St. 1
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Theme: Unmuted: Stories from the African diaspora in Lithuania
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Language: English
On 25 May, International Africa Day is celebrated worldwide – a symbol of liberation from colonialism, unity, and solidarity, and a reminder of the continent’s aspiration to shape its future independently. This day is also important for the African diaspora(s), which serves as a bridge between the African continent and different societies around the world. In this sense, the upcoming Africa Day is a valuable opportunity to talk not only about the continent itself, but also about the experiences of the African diaspora in different societies, including Lithuania.
In Lithuania, migration and integration are increasingly becoming part of the public debate. However, these discussions are often shaped by fear, stereotypes, or abstract notions of “newcomers”, with limited space for diaspora voices themselves to be heard. The African community(-ies) in Lithuania is growing, yet their experiences are still often viewed through the lens of migration policy or an exoticised sense of “otherness”.
Africa Day, therefore, offers an opportunity to reflect not only on the contexts of African living abroad but also on a changing Lithuanian society – what kind of society we are building today, how we respond to change, and whether we can see people beyond fear, stereotypes, or politicised media narratives. This discussion invites participants first and foremost to listen to the personal stories of Africans from different backgrounds who are living and building their futures in Lithuania.
In Lithuania, migration and integration are increasingly becoming part of the public debate. However, these discussions are often shaped by fear, stereotypes, or abstract notions of “newcomers”, with limited space for diaspora voices themselves to be heard. The African community(-ies) in Lithuania is growing, yet their experiences are still often viewed through the lens of migration policy or an exoticised sense of “otherness”.
Africa Day, therefore, offers an opportunity to reflect not only on the contexts of African living abroad but also on a changing Lithuanian society – what kind of society we are building today, how we respond to change, and whether we can see people beyond fear, stereotypes, or politicised media narratives. This discussion invites participants first and foremost to listen to the personal stories of Africans from different backgrounds who are living and building their futures in Lithuania.
Speakers:
- Tolani Enwereji – a social media content creator from Nigeria
- Princess Benido (Obaa Borga) – an entrepreneur from Ghana, an owner of an African goods store in Vilnius
- Cindy Waweru – a junior researcher at Visionary Analytics, Digital Explorers programme participant from Kenya
- Delina Binega, an Eritrean refugee living in Vilnius as her new home city
- Moderated by Kamal Ahamada, an educator and independent lecturer working on themes related to postcolonial and decolonial perspectives. More recently, his work has focused on making sense of the parallels and differences between post-Soviet and postcolonial experiences.
This event is partly supported by the project ‘Connect for Global Change’, which is part of the EU DEAR programme. The programme is co-funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, through Lithuania’s Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Fund
