Join Us to Reshape the African Diaspora Narrative – WeDiasporan Volunteer Series 8/21
Have you ever stopped to wonder how the world views you and others like you in the African diaspora? Is it shaped by your accomplishments, your rich culture, and the powerful heritage you carry? Or is it clouded by outdated stereotypes and simplistic portrayals? Imagine a world where your story isn’t defined by what others think of you, but by the depth of your roots, your heritage, and your impact.
Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.
This is the vision that drives WeDiasporan. It’s more than an organization; it’s a movement aimed at reshaping how the world sees and understands the African diaspora.
Founded in 2014 in Verona by Obehi Ewanfoh, a Nigerian social impact entrepreneur, WeDiasporan is dedicated to fostering unity, empowerment, and celebrating cultural richness. Now, it’s your turn to help make this transformative vision a reality.
The African Diaspora: A Rich Heritage of Identity
The African diaspora is vast, complex, and full of untold stories. For centuries, people of African descent have found themselves scattered across the globe, from the Americas to Europe, the Caribbean to the Middle East, each community developing unique experiences while sharing the same rich heritage.
Historically, the diaspora has been misrepresented—too often portrayed through the lens of struggle, poverty, and victimhood. Media depictions have focused on the negative, rarely highlighting the strength, resilience, and incredible contributions of African communities worldwide.
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But there’s a new wave of change on the horizon. It’s about time that the true power of the African diaspora is recognized by highlighting the diversity of experiences, the richness of our culture, and the impact we’ve had on the world. And this is exactly what WeDiasporan is setting out to do.
WeDiasporan: A Movement to Redefine Identity and Unity
WeDiasporan was founded to reconnect individuals of African descent with their cultural roots and to build stronger, more collaborative networks within the diaspora. It’s not just about celebrating African culture; it’s about empowering people to understand their heritage and use it as a foundation for personal and collective growth.
At the core of WeDiasporan is the belief that when we truly understand where we come from, we can harness that knowledge to shape the future.
The founder of WeDiasporan, Obehi Ewanfoh, has long been a passionate advocate for the transformative power of African cultural understanding. As a storyteller and social impact entrepreneur, Obehi believes in the importance of personal and cultural narratives.
His journey from Uromi, Nigeria, to Verona, Italy, and his exploration of African identity across different continents, laid the foundation for his advocacy. His experiences in different diaspora communities, alongside his work as a writer, storyteller, and filmmaker, shaped his understanding of the need for a unified approach to reconnect the African diaspora.
In his words, “We need to stop seeing ourselves as fragmented groups and start embracing the strength that comes from our shared African identity.” That’s what WeDiasporan is all about—shifting the focus from division to unity, from past pain to present empowerment.
Changing the Narrative Through Storytelling
One of the most powerful tools in reshaping perceptions is storytelling. WeDiasporan harnesses the art of storytelling to challenge outdated stereotypes and offer new, more accurate narratives about the African diaspora.
This is a movement that thrives on sharing stories of success, resilience, and cultural pride, showcasing how members of the diaspora have influenced global culture in arts, business, technology, and beyond.
Whether through personal stories shared at cultural events, social media campaigns, or documentaries, WeDiasporan is actively shaping the conversation around the African diaspora.
Through initiatives like the Diaspora Memorial & Tourism Exchange (DMTE), participants are invited to reconnect with their African roots by traveling back to ancestral lands and experiencing their heritage firsthand. These transformative experiences not only strengthen individual connections to their roots but also contribute to a greater sense of unity across the diaspora.
Obehi’s work, particularly through his podcast The Obehi Podcast, and his award-winning documentary Creating the Blackness of Africa, exemplifies the kind of impactful storytelling that is at the heart of WeDiasporan.
By sharing stories that explore identity, history, and the complexities of African culture, Obehi is helping to shift the global narrative around what it means to be of African descent. His documentaries and written work encourage people to look beyond stereotypes and understand the true diversity and richness of the African experience.
The Power of Cultural and Community Events
WeDiasporan’s impact isn’t just felt through storytelling; it’s also seen in the cultural and community events they organize. These events are designed to engage both African diaspora members and the global public in meaningful conversations about identity, heritage, and empowerment.
For example, WeDiasporan’s cultural exchange programs foster understanding by allowing members of the African diaspora to engage with their heritage in practical and immersive ways. Here are three key benefits of cultural tourism for the African Diaspora community:
- Cultural Preservation and Awareness: Cultural tourism helps preserve and promote the rich history, traditions, and heritage of African cultures. For the African Diaspora community, it provides an opportunity to reconnect with ancestral roots, fostering pride and understanding while educating others about the depth and diversity of African culture.
- Economic Empowerment: Cultural tourism stimulates local economies by creating jobs and supporting businesses in African and Diaspora communities. It provides opportunities for entrepreneurship, from guiding tours and hospitality services to selling crafts and artwork, thereby contributing to economic growth and sustainability.
- Strengthening Community Bonds: By participating in cultural tourism, members of the African Diaspora can strengthen ties with each other and with their homelands. It encourages dialogue, collaboration, and a sense of belonging, helping to bridge the gap between different generations and regions within the Diaspora, while fostering a deeper connection to African culture.
The DMTE initiative, which organizes group tourism trips to African countries, goes beyond typical tourism. It’s about fostering a deeper connection to the continent and its cultures—about dispelling myths, confronting misunderstandings, and celebrating the history that binds the diaspora together.
These events also encourage dialogue between different generations, ensuring that the younger diaspora members feel a deep connection to their roots, while also encouraging older generations to share their stories and wisdom.
This multi-generational exchange is vital to the process of reclaiming the African narrative, ensuring that it is both preserved and adapted for future generations.
Building Global Partnerships for Greater Impact
The work WeDiasporan is doing goes beyond individual communities; it’s about creating a global network of empowered individuals who are united in their mission to promote African culture and heritage. By forming partnerships with businesses, educational institutions, and cultural organizations, WeDiasporan is expanding its reach and influence.
For example, WeDiasporan’s partnership with organizations focused on sustainable development and economic empowerment enables the African diaspora to engage in initiatives that have a lasting social impact.
These collaborations help break down barriers between continents and industries, allowing diaspora members to contribute to change in meaningful ways. By supporting initiatives that bridge the gap between African and global markets, WeDiasporan is helping to create a space for economic empowerment that benefits the diaspora as a whole.
You Can Be Part of This Movement
The work of WeDiasporan is just beginning, but it’s already making waves. By reshaping how the African diaspora is viewed—through storytelling, cultural events, and global partnerships—WeDiasporan is rewriting the narrative. But the journey doesn’t end here. This is where you come in.
WeDiasporan is looking for changemakers, storytellers, and visionaries who are passionate about rewriting the narrative of the African diaspora. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, educator, or simply someone who believes in the power of cultural pride and unity, there’s a place for you within the WeDiasporan community.
This is your chance to be part of something bigger than yourself—a global movement that is changing how the African diaspora is perceived, both within and outside of the community.
Join WeDiasporan today, and help create a world where our stories are celebrated, our culture is respected, and our future is empowered.
Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.
