Community

Reclaiming African Narratives: Omnia Shawkat

“I was always Sudanese; it’s the only passport I ever had,” says Omnia Shawkat, Founder of Andariya. “But the Sudanese-ness only really came to me when I was visiting Sudan as an adult.” Omnia is the Founder of Andariya, a digital cultural platform amplifying stories from Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda. Andariya includes stories on …

Reclaiming African Narratives: Omnia Shawkat Read More »

Aesthetic Activism: Desirée Bela-Lobedde Boleche

Montserrat Anguiano is an artist tailor-made for the Afro-descendant generations in Spain. She gives visibility to black women through her painting, achieving the perfect balance between art and identity, and advances the fight for diversity through the beauty of her works. With the launch of her online store, it is now possible to acquire her …

Aesthetic Activism: Desirée Bela-Lobedde Boleche Read More »

From catwalk to classroom: Noëlla Coursaris Musunka

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka has walked catwalks in New York, runways in London and featured in top international fashion magazines including Vogue, Elle and Vanity Fair. But it is the supermodel’s non-profit project Malaika, empowering girls and women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which brings her enormous pride. At Malaika we focus on one …

From catwalk to classroom: Noëlla Coursaris Musunka Read More »

Finding A Voice Through Art: Justin Kasereka

Rootencial is delighted to introduce Justin Kasereka, an emerging Congolese artist and illustrator from the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and creator of our Africa Roots T-shirt illustration. A student of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa, Justin’s academic training only adds to his remarkable artistic talent. Today, through his …

Finding A Voice Through Art: Justin Kasereka Read More »

A media entrepreneur challenging Congolese stereotypes: Kahashy Mussana Ally

When you search for the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Google, the results paint a brutal picture of the devastation of war – militias, Kalashnikovs and families fleeing violence. But this only tells part of the country’s story, says Congolese videographer Kahashy Mussana Ally, who hails from the eastern city of Goma. If you …

A media entrepreneur challenging Congolese stereotypes: Kahashy Mussana Ally Read More »

The African Diaspora Awards 2019 – London

The African Diaspora rolls out 2019 Honours The 2019 edition of The African Diaspora(TAD) Awards took place on Friday 15 March at a dinner gala at The Mayfair Hotel where various individuals and organisations were honoured for their contribution and promotion of Africa. Rootencial was delighted to be part of the partners and present the …

The African Diaspora Awards 2019 – London Read More »

Breaking barriers, fighting fire: Juvencio Celestino Obiang

Rootencial interviews Juvencio Celestino Obiang Mañana, born in 1966 in Equatorial Guinea. As Madrid’s first-ever black firefighter, today he’s working to become chief of staff. Juvencio tells us about his career as a young man passionate about football in Equatorial Guinea, before he moved to join Madrid’s Fire Department. [The selection process] is like a …

Breaking barriers, fighting fire: Juvencio Celestino Obiang Read More »

A Poet for Action: Leonard Tshitenge

Rootencial is delighted to introduce Leonard Tshitenge, a Congolese-American spoken-word poet and social entrepreneur living in Boston. Tshitenge has organized African cultural festivals, launched the Progressive African Network, and is an African diaspora community organiser. Leonard grew up in West Africa, largely in Gabon and his native Democratic Republic of Congo, but he moved to …

A Poet for Action: Leonard Tshitenge Read More »

Scroll to Top