The book Me, Myselves and Us is the sequel to Holding Space by Dutch-Surinamese anthropologist, psychologist and choreographer Aminata Cairo.
The common thread running through her work is social connection and transformation, based on lived experience. Going far beyond the standard 'diversity and inclusion' approach, she has developed a unique, powerful and challenging approach based on indigenous knowledge, Caribbean cultural traditions, the blues, holy Hip hop and Black feminism.
In her new book – subtitled Releasing the Stories that Do not Serve Us – Aminata Cairo takes us on a journey towards a better, more humane 'we', in response to social injustice and polarisation. With greater urgency than ever, she invites us to let go of the stories that divide and harm us, and encourages us to build a shared future based on a shared past.
As always, Cairo's performance creates a space that is ‘safe’ and ‘brave’, where we are there for each other and dare to look each other in the eye, without judgement and no longer blind to injustice and inequality.
She makes room for painful stories of oppression and exclusion, but above all she shows the power of storytelling to rethink ourselves, each other and the world. The focus is on creativity, perseverance and change: from decolonisation to a celebration of life in which everyone's story is welcome.
An intimate evening with multimedia, lecture, dance and music, based on healing and connective storytelling. The performance is in English.
With: Aminata Cairo, accompanied by Fantison Araby O'Bryan on percussion.
This programme is offered by Spreken is Goud by De Roma in collaboration with Curieus vzw.
Aminata Cairo was born in the Netherlands to Surinamese parents and educated in the US. She holds a double bachelor's degree in psychology and physical education, a master's degree in clinical psychology and medical anthropology, and a PhD in medical anthropology. In the US, she also founded the multicultural dance company Sabi Diri, and in 2015 she received a Fulbright scholarship for her research into Afro-Surinamese dance. Upon her return to the Netherlands in 2017, she was appointed lecturer in Inclusive Education at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and subsequently lecturer in Social Justice and Diversity at the Amsterdam University of the Arts. She is an experienced consultant and trainer in the field of multiculturalism, decolonisation and intersectionality. In 2024 she gave a lecture at the Festival van de Gelijkheid organised by Curieus vzw in Vooruit.
