Mama Africa is a multi-ethnic cultural association made up of immigrants and refugees from various countries living in Bari, Italy. The organization develops innovative projects to promote social inclusion by creating activities that support sustainable and lasting autonomy. This contributes to the well-being and growth of the community, helping to strengthen European unity and identity while also fostering intercultural awareness and competencies.
Mama Africa’s projects aim to bring together migrants, refugees, and locals to facilitate interaction and exchange among these groups, helping them collaborate to find solutions to local challenges. In this process, we use local resources. We use social design, storytelling, art, and non-formal education to establish new forms of communication and connection between people in public spaces.
Mama Africa employs various methods and tools to build relationships and foster interaction with the local community. Using the poem "Africa," written by Stephen Ogbonna and translated into
Italian and adapted into a theatre performance by Vice-President Marina Schirone, the association
addresses themes of forcible displacement, the journey of scattered identities, and challenges with
racism and discrimination. Mama Africa provides a safe space for migrants to co-create live
performances narrated through the primary voice of djembes (African drums) and dance. These
performances are used as educational tools online, in schools, and in public spaces to promote
healthy debates on identity, inclusion, and diversity
We are thrilled to be part of a new European collaboration! Following the 2nd CitizensLab Network Meeting in Brussels in March 2017, four CitizensLab members – Stephen Ogbonna from Mama Africa, Margherita Mugnai from Sociolab Ricerca Sociale, Laura M. Pana from
Migrationlab, and Andrea Rossi from Cherimus Sardegna – decided to create a new co- working space and skills mapping platform in Bari, Italy. This initiative is based on active collaboration between local and European innovators and new European residents,
migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. This is how SKILL UP was established. In the following five months, each of us, based in
different European cities – from The Hague to Montpellier via Istanbul and all the way to Bari – worked intensively to set up our first step in this process: a 2-day prototype co-design workshop in Bari on June 20 and 21, 2017. The complete story of our collaborative work is now available here
This project became a reality thanks to the CitizensLab European Network Platform, which Mama Africa joined earlier this year. Additionally, it received support from the Municipality of Bari. SKILL UP continues to evolve, and you can follow our news on the SKILL UP
dedicated Facebook Page.
We want to thank everyone for their wonderful exchange and all the love and inspiration!
We’re excited to announce our involvement in a new European collaboration! Following the European alternatives meeting in Spain in 2018, four CitizensLab members – Stephen Ogonna from Mama Africa, Urska Kriznar from the Institute for Sustainable Community
Practices (Slovenia), and Bledar Feta from the Institute of Research and Training on European Affairs (Greece) – joined forces. The campaign aims to empower citizens to advocate for the removal of obstacles to free movement for family members of EU citizens
from third countries. It also seeks to raise awareness among public authorities and member states about the negative effects of such obstacles. The campaign was implemented in Italy, Greece, and Slovenia to address the issue of misinformation among third-country family
members about their mobility rights. The first part of the campaign was a one-day information symposium held in April 2018 in
Bari, Italy. The "Know Your Rights" symposium brought together various target groups, such as non-EU family members of EU citizens, students, academics, journalists, policymakers, activists, politicians, civil society representatives, and local leaders. The goal was to share information and experiences and to discuss the issue of movement rights in the everyday lives of non-EU family members of EU citizens. The second part of the campaign involved the publication of an informational guide circulated in October 2018. This guide aims to
provide an overview of the scope of the application of Directive 2014/38/EC, which defines the rights of EU citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.
Since our inception in 2010, Mama Africa has consistently championed the belief that pressing political and social issues, particularly those related to immigration and refugees, cannot be effectively understood or addressed in isolation. We are committed to fostering a
platform of collective responsibility to safeguard all individuals' personhood, dignity, and freedom, irrespective of their origin, race, faith, or sexual orientation. Our mission is to cultivate a more comprehensive vision of an inclusive society that supports vulnerable
populations, celebrates diversity, and promotes active citizenship and a culture of shared
responsibilities and mutual support.
Mama Africa’s efforts are not limited to a single theme, topic, or geographic area. Instead, itstrives to be inclusive and international, creating a space where a dynamic and open European public sphere can flourish and connect with global perspectives.
Through our various offices, European Alternatives has developed innovative approaches topromote European citizenship, fundamental rights, and an inclusive society for migrants and refugees. We advocate for their right to vote by organizing citizens' panels, campaigns,
festivals, and conferences, utilizing innovative online methods such as multilingual websites, online radio, social networking, online videos, magazines, and web documentaries. We also engage excluded groups, including migrant organizations, local democracy groups, youth
collectives, and artistic organizations, in activities with a European focus. Assessing the impact of our work has always been a top priority.
When we mention impact, we are referring to the effect our work has on specific segments of society, as well as how it
influences various social and governance processes that align with our mission and values. Since 2023, the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system has been significantly developed within MA. This includes reviewing project and program indicators, developing
data collection tools, and adapting them to the team's needs. Furthermore, the team has structured its work into five thematic streams, with specific objectives monitored by the
MEL system.
Founder/Director
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