Badi

A gathering of film, food, and music to honor joy and community.

After a successful first edition, If You Are a Big Tree returns with a special gathering in anticipation of 65 years of Congolese independence. Join us for a screening of Baloji’s debut short film Kaniama Show, followed by an intimate live set by Badi, a defining voice in Belgian hip-hop. Indulge in soulful Congolese bites by Fresh Leaves, and end the night on the dancefloor with the finest tunes selected by DJ Jean Jeansen.

If You Are a Big Tree borrows its name from Bob Marley’s song (Small Axe), a timeless reminder that even the smallest voices, when joined together, can shake the tallest trees. This program is an homage to the rhythms, flavors, and stories that root communities and keep resistance alive. It is a space where film, music, and food intertwine as they carry echoes of struggle, joy, and belonging.

Kaniama Show (23 min, dir. Baloji, 2018)

Kaniama Show is the debut short film by Belgo-Congolese rapper, singer, director Baloji. Set on a TV soundstage frozen in the aesthetics of the 1970s, the film is a biting satire of state-run media in an unnamed African country. Through staged interviews and flashy musical interludes, it exposes the machinery of soft power and propaganda. The cast includes Eriq Ebouaney (Lumumba), Bwanga Pilipili, Martha Daro, and Eric Kabongo.

ARTISTS

BADI

Badi is a standout voice in Belgian hip-hop, blending Afrofuturism, activism, and Congolese heritage. His latest album Moyi was produced by Jillionaire (known from Major Lazer) and ads Caribbean influence to the Belgo-Congolese mix. Featured on two COLORS sessions and touring Europe, Badi’s music continues to inspire with bold rhythms and powerful, poetic depth. As part of the second edition of If You Are a Big Tree, Badi will grace the stage with an intimate live set.

DJ JEAN JEANSEN

Amsterdam-based DJ Jean Jeansen is a prominent name in the city’s club scene and a core member of the Afrolosjes collective. He’s performed at major events like Miracles, Single Ladies, and Juice, toured with rapper CHO, and opened for artists like Adje, I Am Aisha, and the American superstar Tyga. Jean is now expanding his solo career, especially popular at weddings within the Angolan and Congolese diasporas.

FOOD BY FRESH LEAVES

Fresh Leaves delights with authentic West and Central African cuisine, crafting meals that leave you begging for more. Their flavorful dishes offer a true culinary journey for the taste buds. At If You Are a Big Tree #2, Fresh Leaves will be serving delicious Congolese bites, perfectly complementing the vibrant energy and cultural celebration of the program.

Ticketprice includes full acces to the program and meals.

Would you like to attend this program, but don’t have the means to pay for a ticket? Send an email to info@felixmeritis.nl, we can work something out.

Shane Koppers

FELIX MERITIS

If You Are a Big Tree #2: Indépendance Cha Cha

This edition is dedicated to meeting DÙNDÚN, the latest documentary by storyteller and culture preservationist Ebi Atawodi, as well as the rich cultural legacy of the talking drum itself. Born and raised in Nigeria and currently based in Amsterdam, Ebi brings a rich perspective shaped by her creative work across film and tech.

DÙNDÚN is a vibrant celebration of West African artistry, rhythm, and culture. Dùndún means sweet sound in Yoruba. Through the film we journey with master craftsman Hassan Ayanyemi as he makes the dùndún from scratch—a talking drum renowned for its ability to mimic the human voice, a centuries-old staple of West African culture which can now be found in the diaspora from Brazil to Cuba. Through Ayanyemi’s craft passed down to him from a 15 century old lineage of drum makers, Dùndún reveals the profound communion between nature and spirit, exploring how the drum becomes a bridge to the sacred as it echoes the rhythms of life.

Come meet Ebi, experience DÙNDÚN, and take part in an inspiring exchange on storytelling, heritage, and the preservation of cultural memory—guided by moderator and cultural curator Shaquille Shaniqua Joy.

About Have You Met

Living Room Session presents Have You Met DÙNDÚN—the third edition of Have You Met, a series offering a deeper connection to artists, platforms, and projects by exploring their work, inspirations, and stories. Each session invites you to not only meet the featured artist or project, but also connect with others in the room. Have You Met is rooted in the belief that every encounter—whether with a person, story, or experience—can lead to new insights and deeper connections.

Ebi Atawodi | Storyteller & Cultural Preservationist

Ebi Atawodi is a filmmaker born and raised in Nigeria and currently based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. She’s the author of Nigerians Behind the Lens, which has been featured at Bonham’s Africa Now, and is also known for her storytelling in the tech world. Ebi is the Director of Product Management for YouTube Studio and a LEGO board member. Previously, she held leadership roles at Netflix and Uber, where she was General Manager for West Africa. She is passionate about creating sustainable products that have a multi-generational impact and infusing magic into everyday life through storytelling. Earlier in her career, she founded the Etisalat Prize for Literature and worked as a full-stack engineer for global brands. Ebi holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computing Science, specializing in AI and Infographics.

Shaquille Shaniqua Joy | Moderator & Cultural Curator

Shaquille Shaniqua Joy, is a moderator and cultural curator focusing on storytelling. Her work explores the embodied experiences of herself and others through conversations, public programs and exhibitions. Shaquille collaborates with cultural institutions, museums, platforms and brands. As a moderator she always strives to host conversations rather than interviews. Her excitement for people and their fascinations is the base of her practice, which inspires her to create various formats including Have You Met and Living Room Session.  

Living Room Session is a recurring live program inviting you to be present while getting inspired. During the evening different artists reflect on a subject through various mediums curated and presented by Shaquille Shaniqua Joy

Have You Met DÙNDÚN

NIÑO DIVINO

NIÑO DIVINO presents the vibrant “Golden Yellow flesh” of the Caribbean called TROSHI MANGONA, artists and creatives who keep the cultural conversation alive. Troshi Mangona is a multidisciplinary event where audiences will witness an inspiring fusion of music, performance, fashion, art, and photography, brought together in three immersive spaces.

TROSHI MANGONA is about sharing light—allowing ideas, traditions, and creativity to flow across generations and borders. This event serves as a bridge, connecting Caribbean talent with artists from the Netherlands who explore Caribbean identity in their work.

For NIÑO DIVINO, mangoes symbolize brotherhood. In Indigenous and folklore traditions, they are seen as a fruit that balances energy and enhances vitality, often used in purification and healing ceremonies. In the Caribbean, nearly every home has a mango tree, a constant presence, yet each mango is unique in appearance, taste, and texture. A mango is more than just a fruit; it is a multilayered symbol of identity, resilience, and connection. Mango trees thrive in tropical and subtropical climates, just as Caribbean artists carry the warmth of their roots wherever they go.

TROSHI MANGONA is an open invitation to all Caribbean artists with their own mango-filled memories, a tribute to the daily experiences of the Caribbean diasporic community under the sublime Mango tree.

Niño Divino presents: Troshi Mangona

Lucas Santana

De Braziliaanse saxofonist Lucas Figueiredo Santana presenteert met zijn tienkoppige Grand Orquestra en twee dansers nieuwe composities die reflecteren op de rijke en complexe geschiedenis van de Afrikaanse diaspora in Brazilië. Een concert van ‘grote klasse’ aldus de Volkskrant. De voorstelling Candomblé is gebaseerd op vier pijlers: Remember, Reflect, Acknowledge en Celebrate. Santana gebruikt deze pijlers om zijn (muzikale) verhalen te vertellen en zijn publiek mee te nemen in een reflectie van het verleden, het heden en de toekomst in Brazilië. Tegelijkertijd viert hij met Candomblé het leven, in al zijn complexiteit en schoonheid.

Dit concert is onderdeel van Big Sounds Amsterdam
Big Sounds = Big fun! Dat is waar Big Sounds Amsterdam om draait. Dit tweejaarlijkse festival zet grote ensembles in de schijnwerpers. Met ruimte voor improvisatie, gedurfde ideeën en geluiden van over de hele wereld. In dit nieuwe tijdperk voor muziek door grote ensembles loopt Big Sounds internationaal voorop. Van 1 tot 12 oktober 2025 hoor je Big Sounds overal in Amsterdam!

Big Sounds Amsterdam is een samenwerking tussen Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Bimhuis, Meervaart, het Concertgebouw, Paradiso, ZO Jazz Stage, Kompaszaal, Felix Meritis en het Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Lucas Santana Grand Orchestra

Wanlov The Kubolor

Mohammed El-Kurd

Join us on the 20th of June at Felix Meritis for a critical interrogation of the sanctity of borders. We discuss how (neo)colonial ideology, biometric control, surveillance technologies, and global inequality all intersect at the border.

Borders are everywhere. They are taken-for-granted lines on maps that indicate where one country ends and where another begins. They delineate territory and control the movement of people and goods. The dominant narrative insists that borders keep us safe. But from what, and from whom? What if borders are systems of power designed to divide, to dominate, to decide who gets to move, who gets to stay, and who is left behind? What if, as Gracie Mae Bradley and Luke de Noronha write, borders scar both land and our political imaginaries?

The evening opens with a speculative short film “EUphoria” (2018, dir. Robert-Jonathan Koeyers & prod. Black Speaks Back) beholding a future in which not Fortress Europe has closed its borders, but the continent of Africa. This is followed by talks, music and poetry that refuse to be confined, featuring Wanlov The Kubolor, Philsan Osman, Mohammed Badran, Roos Ykema, and Mohammed El-Kurd.

Borderline States is part of the Abolitionist Assemblies, exclusively brought to you by Felix Meritis. This edition takes place in the context of and in collaboration with Refugee Welcome week 2025. Check out their full program here: https://www.refugeewelcomeweek.nl/


About the Abolitionist Assemblies series

Inspired by abolitionist thinkers such as Ruth Wilson Gilmore and Sophie Lewis, Abolitionist Assemblies is a series of visionary gatherings where we build radical alternatives to current exploitative systems. Departing from the premise that the “white-Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy” (hooks) continues to inform current politics, culture, and society, we use abolitionist thinking to critically interrogate the sanctity of borders, prisons, schooling, gender, the family, and more. Borderline States is our second edition, inviting both guests and audience to radically rethink the borders of our future through story, music, and speculative visions.

Abolitionist Assemblies #2: Borderline States

What if we could dream beyond borders, beyond displacement, beyond extraction?

A powerful one-day experience of collective imagination, embodied storytelling, and radical futurism led by displaced communities.

As part of Refugee Welcome Week, The Border Crossed Us brings together immersive installations, movement workshops, performances, film, poetry and shared meals to ask: What kinds of futures can we build when we center care, community and resistance?

Program:
15:00 – 21:00
Visual Storytelling Installation, feat. Humanity On the Move
Explore speculative visions of climate displacement, war, and societal change through projected imagery, sound, and curated artworks.

16:00–18:00
Future‑Dreaming from the Global South: A Workshop
Extraction Economies & Climate Refuge: Future‑Dreaming from the Global South with Chautuileo Tranamil. A participatory session of movement, sound, and collective storytelling to dream just, caring future.

18:00–19:00
Community Dinner
Gather around a shared meal of authentic vegetarian Syrian dishes, lovingly prepared by Zina’s Kitchen. This shared meal offers a moment to connect, reflect, and nourish both body and spirit.

19:00–19:20
Performance: The Price of Bricks
A body‑based performance by Ahmad Mallah & Rebecca Lillich // Krüger.

This program is part of the Radical Imagination & Future-Building pathway to practice Radical Hope. Explore the full Refugee Welcome Week 2025 program and discover events happening across the Netherlands centering Radical Hope here: https://www.refugeewelcomeweek.nl/

The Border Crossed Us | World refugee day

Akwasi

Verzetsheld, antikoloniaal denker en schrijver Anton de Kom (1898–1945) ontmaskerde haarfijn het racistische karakter van het koloniale systeem en liet zien hoe diep de wonden van slavernij doorwerken tot op de dag van vandaag. Tachtig jaar na zijn dood blijft hij een krachtbron voor nieuwe generaties denkers, makers en activisten.

Naar aanleiding van de release van Akwasi’s nieuwe boek Brieven aan Anton de Kom organiseren Felix Meritis, het Verzetsmuseum en Akwasi samen deze bijzondere tribute night. Het boek is een persoonlijke en literaire verlenging van Akwasi’s Anton de Kom-lezing uit 2023, waarin hij zijn gedachten, twijfels en vragen toevertrouwt aan De Kom — bij wie hij rust en richting vond tijdens een stormachtig hoofdstuk in zijn leven.

Op deze avond leest Akwasi voor uit zijn brieven en treedt hij op samen met muzikanten Thomas en Aaron Hanenberg. Mitchell Esajas, mede-oprichter van The Black Archives, deelt uniek archiefmateriaal en reflecteert op de invloed van De Kom op het huidige maatschappelijke debat. Schrijver Karin Amatmoekrim leest voor uit haar roman De man van veel, waarmee ze Anton de Kom uit de vergetelheid haalde. Spokenwordartiest Lev Avitan sluit af met een poëtische ode aan De Kom als inspiratiebron voor de toekomst. De boekverkoop wordt verzorgd door Bijlmer Bookstore.

Dresscode: Laat je inspireren door Anton de Kom en unlock je ‘inner dandy’!

Brieven aan Anton de Kom

Delawhere

Where traditional Tea Ceremony meets immersive live art and sound.
An intimate, multi-sensory ritual where Tea, visual art, and music merge into a single, harmonious experience. Step into the historic Shaffy Zaal and enter a meditative space where presence, beauty, and inner stillness take center stage.

Led by Bruno Sitton, the BAISAŌ Experience invites you on a journey of connection and introspection — a space where Tea becomes the bridge between reality and imagination.This special edition features interactive digital visuals by Vincent Rang, responding live to the movements and energy of the Tea ritual, alongside a layered sound design by Delawhere that deepens the sensory experience through ambient, cinematic textures.


About The BAISAŌ Experience

A Gathering of Infinite Possibilities

The BAISAŌ Experience is a physical manifestation of the BAISAŌ World. It brings people together in real spaces to share Tea, presence, and a deep sense of possibility. Guided by Tea, each gathering opens a portal to a world shaped by art, connection, and intention — a moment outside of the ordinary that sparks the imagination and holds the quiet power to transform.

“I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.”
— Albert Einstein, Cosmic Religion

In a time of great change, the BAISAŌ Experience creates a space to return to what is essential: the act of coming together, of weaving presence and creativity into a shared moment. These gatherings move beyond the cup, merging music, movement, installation art, and storytelling into a living, breathing experience of clarity and connection.

Each BAISAŌ Experience is an immersive journey, designed to awaken the senses and quiet the mind. Through Tea, we reconnect to ourselves and each other, creating a moment where the body and the subconscious can do the work of finding clarity — a moment to see new possibilities and make the decisions that lead to positive change.


What to Expect

- A 90-minute immersive Tea ceremony rooted in ancient tradition
- Small-batch, natural loose-leaf teas served in silence and intention
- Interactive digital visuals by Vincent Rang
- Ambient sound design by Delawhere
- Guided meditations and spoken word reflections
- A fusion of ritual, art, and technology — designed for those seeking depth, harmony, and presence

BAISAŌ Experience

What does it mean to dream responsibly? What realities must we unlearn to make space for collective freedom? This intimate program invites a small circle of students, artists, organizers, and thinkers to collectively explore the radical possibilities of imagination as a tool for liberation and social transformation.

Departing from Ruha Benjamin’s latest work Imagination: a manifesto this interactive, book-club-style session offers space for exploration and reflection, not just on the text, but on the possibilities it opens up for collective dreaming and/in action.

Ruha Benjamin is Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and founding director of the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab. Her award-winning books include Race After Technology, Viral Justice, and Imagination: A Manifesto.

Would you like to attend this program, but don’t have the means to pay for a ticket? Send an email to info@felixmeritis.nl, we can work something out.

Dreams We Practice

ZO! Gospel Choir

Een stem is meer dan geluid – het is emotie, herinnering, verlangen. In The Singing Room opent ZO! Gospel Choir de deuren naar een avond waarin stemmen samensmelten, verhalen tot leven komen en muziek door lichaam en ziel beweegt.

Een avond vol Hope & Joy, waarin de zangers van ZO! Gospel Choir en de live-muzikanten niet op een groot podium staan, maar zij aan zij met het publiek. Geen afstand. Geen barrières. Alleen de essentie: muziek die raakt en samenbrengt.

The Singing Room nodigt alle aanwezigen uit om samen met de live-muzikanten en ZO! Gospel Choir mee te zingen en ter plekke nieuwe arrangementen te maken. Een uitnodiging waarin je mag luisteren, maar ook mag zingen, voelen en onderdeel worden van de samenzang.

ZO! Gospel Choir is het eerste en enige professionele gospelkoor van Nederland. Gedurfd, gepassioneerd en divers. Al 15 jaar geven zij uitverkochte concerten in binnen- en buitenland en werkten ze samen met talloze nationale en internationale artiesten. Hun sound is diep geworteld in gospel, maar schakelt moeiteloos tussen stijlen en genres – altijd met het hart voorop.

The Singing Room is een beleving, voel en laat je raken!

Wil je graag een programma bijwonen, maar heb je niet de middelen om een kaartje te betalen? Mail dan naar  info@felixmeritis.nl, we kunnen dan iets regelen.