Museum of Black Futures: Returning to the Sacred Mother (2025)

This summer, Junadry and I visited Gorée Island, in Senegal. As you probably know, this island carries a complex history of slavery, explained in what is known as the Maison des Esclaves.

Inside that house stands a Door of No Return, just like in the forts of Elmina and Cape Coast (Ghana), Ouidah (Benin), and Badagry (Nigeria). It’s the passage through which enslaved ancestors were forced to walk on their way to the ships. That doorway marked the next step in a life of enslavement. It also symbolizes entry into a colonial world order whose afterlives still shape our daily realities.

But… Can the power of that symbol also be reversed? Or even undermined?

It might sound naïve, in times like these, to imagine new possibilities, but perhaps it’s necessary. That’s why our first Museum of Black Futures at Theater aan de Rijn, is all about turning the Doors of No Return inside out in order to imagine new futures for ourselves. We ask questions, make space, and invite other ways of remembering, living, and dreaming, in a program titled Returning to the Sacred Mother.

During this evening filled with performance and conversation, we have transformed Theater aan de Rijn into our museum for the night. Together, we explored how we can reverse the Door of No Return — through exhibitions, artworks, and practices that help us imagine new futures. A form of reparations that goes beyond financial compensation, one in which we ourselves are in charge.

It's a pleasure working with Theater aan de Rijn, cause while this museum is not a building yet, nor does it have its own collection, they were very helpful in creating space to think freely.

Our program:

Glasshouse – 8:00 PM | We opened the evening with a beautiful performance by author Munganyende, bassist Julian Tjon Sack Kie and harpist Ranie Ribeiro.

Main Hall – 8:30 PM | Yadhira de León Matos – Everybody’s Looking for Mambo. Through movement, Yadhira dives into the culture of mambo — also known as Street Merengue — from the Dominican Republic. A music and dance style that has traveled, shifted, and been reimagined through the migration of Black communities.

Main Hall – 9:00 PM | Live podcast on the theme Returning to the Sacred Mother — exploring creative ways in which we, as descendants of colonialism and slavery, can return mentally, spiritually, and physically. Want to get a sense of the tone and energy?

Foyer – 10:00 PM | Book sale by The Bijlmer Bookstore and a surprise performance by the talented actrice Serah Doku a.k.a. Serlibelle!

Soon you'll be able to listen it back!!

And check out these photo's taken by Henck.

Museum of Black Futures

Richard Kofi Museum of Black Futures

Bijlmer Bookstore selling books at the Museum of Black Futures