GINI Impact Gala
GINI Impact Gala 2026 - African Diaspora Value Creation ✨
In collaboration with AfroEuro Foundation
📅 Held on 28 February 2026
📍 Nationaal Jenevermuseum, Schiedam
💡 Save the date for the next GINI Impact Gala: 20 February 2027, Middelburg
What happened 2026 edition
On 28 February 2026, we gathered 50+ guests in an intimate, high-trust setting in Schiedam. The evening brought together African diaspora impact makers at the centre of the room. There was cross-sector representation from North African and Sub-Saharan communities, members of the Afro-diaspora across the Atlantic, with non-profits, grassroots organisers, investors, institutional actors and committed allies.
This edition centred African diaspora-led value creation and access to capital. We broadened the definition of capital beyond money to include moral, social and spiritual capital, recognising the relational and cultural value that often remains invisible. The evening created space for visibility, collaboration and grounded structural dialogue.
Indra Diallo's opening performance called 'Source' - 📸 By Jermaine Aroma JACOP.art
Program highlights
🎤 Opening performance by Indra Diallo
🎙 Welcome by Virginia Scheele (GINI.travel)
🏛 Opening statements by Kofi Ogún (NiNsee)
🎭 Artistic storytelling performance by Abdulaal Hussein
💬 'Access to Capital' dialogue
🚀 Impact Maker Showcase
🏆 GINI Impact Awards 2026
🥂 Cultural networking with drinks & bites
Access to Capital Dialogue
Moderated by Virginia Scheele (GINI.travel)
The selected jury for the GINI Impact Award reflected on money, access and structural equity
Ruben Brave – Dutch New Narrative Lab
Naomie Veerman – Chair of Comité 30-juni/1-juli Stichtse Vecht & founder of Akuba Communications and Studio Awarra
Karim el Oteify – Founder of The Wheels of Impact
Dr. Meverly Adjhei Benjamin – MAB Consultancy firm
The jury dialogue addressed creative and cultural, the risk of exploitation within impact ecosystems and the reality of structural funding barriers that many diaspora-led initiatives face. The conversation explored that capital is sometimes also about access an ellaborated on how we can collectively build healthier capital narratives that honour both impact and fair compensation.
📸 Ruben Brave & Naomie Veerman | By Jermaine Aroma JACOP.art
Diaspora Impact Maker Showcase
Moderated by Vincent Gambrah (AfroEuro Foundation)
Cross-sectoral impact initatives presented their work and vision:
Auset Ankh Rhe | Founder of Socialization+ & The African Calendar
Niamara van Woggelum - Nanere | DEI strategist bridging education & space
Ahilya Elbers | Founder of Levenswijs op Reis
Reina-Flor Okori Makendengue | Four-time Olympian & Founder, Beauty of Sport
Oriana Bos | Founder of The Connect Academy
Sandra Esseboom | Founder of The Bridge Diaspora
Sisa Akima, Brada Sam & Brada Ryaen la Rose | Yeyetakiseti Amsterdam
🏆 GINI Impact Awards 2026
This year we honoured:
🏆 Established Business – Sandra Esseboom
🏆 Inspiring Individual – Niamara van Woggelum - Nanere
🏆 NGO – Yeyetakiseti Amsterdam
Award recipients received recognition and a 3-course dinner offered by The African Granary, our catering partner of the evening.
📸 Sandra Esseboom | By Jermaine Aroma JACOP.art
Artists & Creatives
Artistic and cultural labour is professional labour. We were honoured with the contribution of these creatives
Indra Diallo – music, strategy & social impact
Abdulaal Hussein – theatre & storytelling
Jermaine Aroma – visual artist & photographer
Whitney Klapwijk – upcoming content creator
Regina Olifant – handicrafts artist
📸 Abdulaal Hussein | By Jermaine Aroma JACOP.art
With Appreciation
The African Granary
Mollyn Mugisha-Otim & Stephen Otim
Nationaal Jenevermuseum & Sodabi 2.0
Special thanks to Sodabi team:
Bryan Oudhoff
Prince Leopold of Togo
Alwine van Winsen – Serious Bee Distillers
The location carried symbolic depth. Schiedam’s jenever history connects directly to Dutch colonial trade routes and West Africa, reminding us that economic systems, cultural exchange and extraction have long been intertwined. Curated experiences to Schiedam are possible with GINI.travel.
📸 Official photo album
When sharing please credit Jermaine Aroma
Check photos
Support Fair Compensation
Though this edition was ticketed, the gala was largely self-funded and self-organised. We, paid forward community seats to keep the space accessible and inclusive. In mutual agreement, our main speakers, jurors and artists invested their time and energy at reduced or symbolic compensation levels.
We are committed to moving forward toward fair compensation. 🎯We're raising €3.500 before 31 March so we can compensate our contributors at their professional rates. That translates in 70 individuals contributing €50.
We are open to institutional partnership proposals for the 2027 edition and beyond.
📸 Sisa Akima - Yeyetakiseti Amsterdam | By Jermaine Aroma JACOP.art
Media & Press
🎙 Radio Mart interview with Norman van Gom
📡LIVE YouTube by Letras Muvuma from Stichting Omroep AfroNet
We welcome broader media attention around (African) diaspora-led value creation and access to capital.
What’s Next?
GINI.travel
✨ Mama Baranka Tour | 17–21 March | Amsterdam
Artist-led dialogue walk through Amsterdam exploring remembrance and regeneration.
✨ GINI connect | 10 April | TBA
African diaspora gathering with moderated dialogue and networking.
AfroEuro Foundation
✨ Ghana Cocoa Connect 2026 | 15-16 April | The Hague
✨ Netherlands-Ghana biz fair | ~August TBA | The Hague
✨ Monthly Young Entrepreneurs networking to help young professionals set up their business