Episode 43! Internationally renowned independent curator, researcher and programmer Amal Alhaag sits down with Dominique Nzeyimana for a deep-dive through a remarkable life. Based in Amsterdam, Amal is the driving force and facilitator behind essential projects & platforms such as Metro54, SNAP SPEAKEASY, A Funeral for Street Culture & Sonsbeek2020-2024. Her projects and collaborations question and deconstruct set narratives within global politics, post-colonialism, counter-culture, oral history, pop and visual culture, archival work and more.
On this episode, hear Amal talk about the genesis of Metro54, her stellar past and recent work as well as early memories arriving into the ‘Peter Pan’ world of The Netherlands. Amal shares the harrowing ‘reset’ experience many fellow political refugees faced as well as the richness of being with other Somali kids, learning to hold space and being diplomatic. She recounts falling in love with hip-hop culture as well as programming, curating, community self-organising, facilitating: it’s all-in the doing and undoing.
An episode full of if-you-know-you-know energy and inspiration: Amal is and has been a trailblazer, doing the work (before it is cool) to both teach & unlearn, taking nothing at face value – with signature Somali hip-hop head attitude – while giving everything for the Culture.
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‘A Funeral for Street Culture’ (c) Eva Broekema
Sonsbeek2020-2024 (c) Django van Ardenne
(c) Metro54
