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Sounds of the Diaspora

Tumi Mary Ogundamisi 16 Episodes Dec 24, 2025

Sounds of the Diaspora, hosted by Tumi Ogundamisi, explores the music created by first and second-generation black immigrants and how their dual heritage shapes their artistic expression. The podcast uncovers the roots of emerging genres and examines the significant influence of black music on the contemporary music industry. It provides insight into the experiences of black artists and the impact of their work on the broader music landscape. The show is produced and edited by Zina.

Episodes

Movement as Justice, Movement as Healing ft Jada Wooten Dec 24, 2025 3694 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 ma

Grief as a Portal, Ancestry as Guide ft Malaika Ogukwe Nov 12, 2025 3804 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

Redefining Cultural Experiences ft Ilayda & Dilara Bakare Apr 22, 2025 3397 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.

Thru da Lens: Capturing Black Joy ft. DreLenses Apr 15, 2025 3314 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 connecti

From Lagos to London: Zina’s Take on Afrobeats, Belonging and Public Relations Dec 31, 2024 3821 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 transformat

The "Urban" Conundrum: Black Artists and The Limitations of Genre Feb 13, 2024 3064 Open your eyes and ears as we explore the concept of genre and its implications for Black musicians.

Wu-Tang, Collectives and Cyphers Jan 2, 2024 3718 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.

New Beginnings, Liminal Spaces and Sounds of Seville Oct 7, 2023 2329 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

Grime, Drill and UK rap: A Discussion Jan 3, 2023 3568 A couple of music heads discussing the origins of grime, the mergence of drill and UK rap culture.

Music Review: Drake, J cole, Kanye and more Jun 26, 2023 3081 ..

Uk v US Music Clash Jun 26, 2023 3254 ...

DMX, Immigration and the changing world Jun 26, 2023 3926 A Tribute to the late DMX and an exploration of the different experiences between Diaspora and their immigrant parents.

Oppression Reinvented Jun 26, 2023 3557 Episode 4 Explores the experiences of ethnic minorities in current day Britain.

Staying Connected to your Culture Jun 26, 2023 3949 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.