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About Black Speaks Back
Black Speaks Back is a grassroots media platform focused on diverse and underrepresented narratives of Afro-descendants in Belgium and The Netherlands. It was founded by Emma-Lee Amponsah (NL) and Heleen Debeuckelaere (BE) in 2016.
They were frustrated with the unidimensional mainstream media landscape in their respective countries and wanted to create a versatile space to discuss race and racism in a European (rather than American) context. Through a wide variety of videos and occasional events, Black Speaks Back aims to shed a positive light on the experiences, cultural heroes and political happenings of the Afro-diaspora in Belgium and The Netherlands. It also tries to facilitate connectivity, exchange and collaborations between Afro-Dutch and Afro-Belgian intellectuals, artists and activists, and with the global Afro community.
Mission & Vision
Black Speaks Back's main objective is to entertain, inform and empower its communities, by creating diversity of and in Blackness that can help build powerful Afro-European futures.
As a growing platform, Black Speaks Back aims to give back to the community by creating job opportunities, visibility and structural help for young Afro-descendent creators.
Behind the Organisation
Emma-Lee Amponsah
Co-founder Black Speaks Back
NL/Ghana
PhD candidate in Cultural Media Studies and a founding member of Black Speaks Back. She is in charge of the video production and creative direction.
Heleen Debeuckelaere
Co-founder Black Speaks Back
BE/Rwanda
Journalist, writer and a founding member of Black Speaks Back. She is in charge of BSB’s organization, video production and long term projects.
Christoper Daley
Senior Editor & Filmmaker
BE/US
A documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Critical Narratives. He has worked with Black Speaks Back since its inception. He is in charge of most of the filming and editing of BSB’s video content.
Nohely Koeyers
Communications Officer
NL/Curaçao
A writer and (visual) storyteller. She has been involved with Black Speaks Back since she contributed to the making of EUphoria as a script writer. She worked as a communications officer for BSB.
Jacqueline Goegebeur
Accountant
BE/Rwanda
Seated in various anti-racism, feminist and Africa-focused organizations. She is in charge of BSB’s accounts and is involved in some of the long term projects.
Olave Nduwanje
All-round Collaborator
NL/Burundi
Olave Nduwanje is a Black non-binary Trans Femme. She identifies as a Queer Feminist Umurundikazi. She is an activist, writer and content creator, notably of her Olave Talks. She is an all-round helpful hand behind the scenes.
Pamela Evbuomwan
Communication team
BE/Nigeria
Brice Gabiro
Communication team
BE/Rwanda
Eunice Kanda
Set design / all-round collaborator
BE/Congo
All-round creative with a passion for interior design. Always in for new challenges, an empathetic thinker who aims to create metaphorical concepts that are tactile, recognizable and accessible for everyone.
Diego Nurse
Editor & film maker
BE/Suriname
Eleah Artibonite
Editor & film maker
BE/Haiti
Rita Habib
Camera / Editing
FR/Lebanon
Lydia Tewodros
All-round collaborator
BE/Ethiopia
General Assembly
Pitcho Womba Konga
BE/DRCongo
Sophie Withaeckx
BE/Senegal
Quinsy Gario
NL/Curaçao
Dorrie Wilson
BE/US
Joachim Ben Yakoub
BE/Tunisia
Ted Bwatu
BE/DRCongo
Our Volunteers
Want to volunteer for BSB? We're always looking for creative minds who have some time on their hands and would like to contribute to our platform.
Send us an email (blackspeaksback@gmail.com) or use the contact form.
Melissa Opara
Harmony Benegusenga
Serine Mekoun
Effrem Tewodros
Vacancies
Black Speaks Back is currently looking for:
Job Title: Volunteers
Job Description
Are you good at languages (EN/NL/FR) and do you want be the first to preview BSB content as you provide subtitles to our videos? Are you a cinematographer, do you know how to edit videos? Or are you a beginner who would like to improve their skills? Are you a social media expert and do you know exactly how to communicate with a digital audience? Are you a graphic designer or are you handy enough with Photoshop, seeking to step up your game? Or do you have something else that you feel we could use? Don't hesitate to send us an email!
Experience Required
We require no professional experience. However, we expect our volunteers to be team players, flexible and engaged with our philosophy and work.
Send an email to blackspeaksback@gmail.com