We will open the 2025 edition of Afrolution with greetings from the festival team and short trialogic keynote from three leading African/diasporic movers and shakers, in which they will shed light on the festival theme from the perspective of their respective disciplines and intellectual and geopolitical positions. This will be followed by a short discussion on the second UN Decade for People of African Descent and the global (geo)political situation under the title »History Matters«

Greetings: Nadja Ofuatey-Alazard, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Bernardine Evaristo, and Barly Baruti
Keynote speakers: Amara Enyia, Sylvain Saluseke, and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
Panel #1: »History Matters« Karen Taylor in Conversation with Amara Enyia, Suraj Mailitafi, and Sylvain Saluseke
Venue: EOTO e.V., Togostr. 76, 13351 Berlin
Time: Thursday, 19 June 2025, 17:00 - 19:00

A short discussion on the second UN Decade for People of African Descent and the global (geo)political situation under the title »History Matters«. 

In the current EOTO space and in the neighbouring future Community Centre (CUZ), we are showing two exhibitions at once:  Selected works from the 7th and 8th editions of the Biennale de Lubumbashi »Toxicity« as well as comic  illustrations by our festival godfather Barly Baruti from his Chaos in Kinshasa. The exhibition also includes a curated bookshelf and book club session on the work of Valentin-Yves Mudimbe, the recently deceased Congolese philosopher. 

An ideological or nation-state perspective is not adequate for a fuller understanding of the conflict in Eastern DR Congo. We are approaching the topic using expertises and perspectives from the fields of history, political science, economics and art.

Panelists: Charles Kabwete-Mulinda, Boniface Mabanza, Tete Loeper, Laura Uwizeye Nsengiyumva, and Nicolas Premier
Moderated by John Githongo
Venue: EOTO e.V., Togostr. 76, 13351 Berlin
Time: Friday, 20 June 2025, 10:00 - 12:00 

In this workshop participants develop the basics of rap such as flow, sense of rhythm, rhyme schemes and practice freestyle. The history and social significance of hip-hop will also be examined - as a global culture and form of expression against discrimination. The workshop combines practical writing with critical reflection on hip-hop as a tool of resistance.

Host: Kokonelle
Venue: EOTO e.V., Kameruner Str. 16, 13351 Berlin
Time: Friday, 20 June 2025, 16:00 - 19:00
Registration: youth@eoto-archiv.de

Age: for young Black people aged 12

AFROLUTION 2025 food curator Roger Dushime translates selected literature from the day‘s programme into culinary delights. The first Book Chop of Afrolution 2025 takes us to the Rwanda of author Tete Loeper.

Food Curation: Roger Dushime
Venue: EOTO e.V., Togostr. 76, 13351 Berlin
Time: Friday, 20 June 2025, 12:30 - 14:00 
Registration: afrolution@eoto-archiv.de (by 15 June)