Sounds of the Diaspora, hosted by Tumi Ogundamisi, explores the music crafted by first and second-generation black immigrants, examining how their dual heritage shapes their artistic expression. The podcast also uncovers the roots of emerging genres and dissects the significant influence of black music on the contemporary music industry. In this deep dive into the intersection between cultural identity and musical creativity, gain insight into the experiences of black artists and the impact of their work on the broader music landscape.
Produced and Edited by Zina
Movement as Justice, Movement as Healing ft Jada Wooten
In this HGSE takeover episode, we’re joined by Jada, dancer, educator, organiser, and core Sounds of the Diaspora collaborator, for a conversation on movement in its many forms.
Drawing from her work in dance education, youth participatory research, and community organising, Jada reflects on how movement shows up in classrooms, cultural practice, protest, rest, and everyday life.
We also discuss making dance accessible through play and social dance, and how movement can support wellbeing in educational spaces. A grounded conversation on community, culture and the power of moving together.
12 Nov 2025
Grief as a Portal, Ancestry as Guide ft Malaika Ogukwe
Kicking off our Harvard Graduate School of Education Takeover Series, this episode features Malaika Ogukwe, a multidisciplinary artist, healer and member of the Sounds of the Diaspora’s U.S. team. In conversation with Tumi, Malaika shares how she transforms grief into ritual, rhythm and ancestral practice through dance, music and community healing. Together they explore what it means to hold both grief and joy and how movement can become a portal to memory, connection and collective care.
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Connect with us:
🌐 soundsofthediaspora.com (http://soundsofthediaspora.com)
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/@soundsofthediasporaa (http://instagram.com/@soundsofthediasporaa)
🎧 Comment on Spotify or message us to join the conversation!
Follow Malaika:
Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @by.malaikaaa
Substack: Malaika’s Musings
22 Apr 2025
Redefining Cultural Experiences ft Ilayda & Dilara Bakare
On this episode of Sounds of the Diaspora, meet Ilayda and Dilara, sisters and co-founders of Exhibits, an innovative app redefining how we find exhibitions in London. With backgrounds in mathematics and astronautics engineering, they discuss their journey building a startup, the power of sisterhood and their mission to connect communities through art, science and technology.
15 Apr 2025
Thru da Lens: Capturing Black Joy ft. DreLenses
In this episode, Tumi — now at Harvard! —kicks things off with reflections on our past London events! From there, we dive into "Thru Da Lens" featuring acclaimed photographer Dre Lenses, celebrated for his stunning captures of Black joy and cultural moments. We dive into Dre’s inspiring and unexpected journey into photography as he shares how he focuses on love, beauty and authentic human connection, weaving emotion and story into every frame.
31 Dec 2024
From Lagos to London: Zina’s Take on Afrobeats, Belonging and Public Relations
Season 3 kicks off with an exciting twist—our producer, social media manager, and partner-in-crime, Zina, takes the mic for a special takeover episode. Dive into an enriching conversation about Zina’s master’s thesis: From Lagos to London: The Impact of Nigerian Afrobeats on Identity Formation and Belonging Among Second-Generation Nigerians in the UK.
Together, Tumi and Zina explore the transformative power of Afrobeats, its role as a cultural bridge, and how it shapes diasporic identities. With insights into the PR world and the intricate interplay between music, marketing, and belonging, this episode offers fresh perspectives for music lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike.
13 Feb 2024
The "Urban" Conundrum: Black Artists and The Limitations of Genre
Open your eyes and ears as we explore the concept of genre and its implications for Black musicians.
2 Jan 2024
Wu-Tang, Collectives and Cyphers
Open up your hearts and your ears as we journey across time to explore the power of musical collectives in a growingly individualistic industry. In this episode, we unpack the stories behind some of the West's most talented collectives, including an exclusive interview with singer song writer Nayana AB.
7 Oct 2023
New Beginnings, Liminal Spaces and Sounds of Seville
Sounds of the Diaspora returns with a fresh focus on stories, liminal spaces, and cultural identity exploration. In this episode, join Tumi on a journey to Seville as she delves into the intricacies of identity through a foreign lens. Over 40 minutes, Tumi explores the profound connections between meaning and identity, reflecting on the captivating stories of individuals she interviews during her Spanish sojourn. This new season introduces a diverse range of multimedia content that creatively and openly explores themes of identity, culture, and belonging.
26 Jun 2023
1. Welcome
An introduction to the show
26 Jun 2023
Nigerian Diaspora
An exploration of Nigerian Diaspora success + a Review of Wizkid's 'Made in Lagos'
26 Jun 2023
Staying Connected to your Culture
An exploration of how the diaspora stay connected to their culture away from home. With my guests Ras.I and Emerald, we speak about our parents, our heritage and society.
26 Jun 2023
Oppression Reinvented
Episode 4 Explores the experiences of ethnic minorities in current day Britain.
26 Jun 2023
DMX, Immigration and the changing world
A Tribute to the late DMX and an exploration of the different experiences between Diaspora and their immigrant parents.
26 Jun 2023
Uk v US Music Clash
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26 Jun 2023
Music Review: Drake, J cole, Kanye and more
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3 Jan 2023
Grime, Drill and UK rap: A Discussion
A couple of music heads discussing the origins of grime, the mergence of drill and UK rap culture.
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