La Guinéolese Cultural Exchange Salon 2026

Presented by La Guinéolese in collaboration with the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability & Office for Institutional Equity, University of East London.

Join us for the inaugral Cultural Exchange Salon, a curated cultural forum presented during Black History Month UK 2026, exploring Francophone African heritage, cultural identity, diaspora and belonging.

Bringing together cultural practitioners, researchers, creatives, students, community representatives and wider audiences, the Salon creates space for thoughtful discussion and cultural exchange beyond celebration alone.

The evening will feature a curated panel discussion, an Emerging Research Spotlight and a mini cultural archive exhibition, followed by refreshments, networking and informal cultural exchange.

Meet the Panel

Joy Miracle

Cultural Producer & Creative Health Practitioner

Joy Miracle is a cultural producer and creative practitioner whose work explores movement, communication and creative expression. Through her creative practice, includingDiplomacy’s Diction, she explores movement and the body as forms of non-verbal dialogue, and how creative expression can connect people across cultures, experiences and identities.

Anaïs Auvray

Founder of The Inspired Plate & Africa Affairs Analyst

Anaïs Auvray is the founder ofThe Inspired Plate, a London-based networking platform bringing creatives and allies together to uplift African and Black artists. As an Africa Affairs Analyst, her work and perspective contribute to conversations around African affairs, culture, community and the experiences of the African diaspora.

Elvis Guérite Makouézi

Author, Dictionnaire de la Sape

Elvis Guérite Makouézi is the author ofDictionnaire de la Sape, documenting the language, culture and expressions surrounding La Sape. His work offers a distinctive perspective on Congolese cultural identity, fashion, heritage and the ways cultural expression evolves across generations and borders.

Paul V. Dudman

Archivist, UEL Library, Archives & Learning Services

Paul V. Dudman serves as Lead Archivist for the University of East London (UEL) Archives Service, a position he has held since 2002. He is widely recognised for his work on documenting, preserving and exploring the ethical representation of refugee and forced migration narratives. At the Salon, he brings a perspective onarchival memory, documentation and cultural preservation.

Moderator

Dr Jummy Okoya

Dean, Office for Institutional Equity, University of East London

Dr Jummy Okoya will moderate the discussion, guiding the conversation around cultural identity, heritage, belonging and cross-cultural understanding.She leads UEL’s EDI strategy as a cross-cutting priority of Vision 2028 and brings more than two decades of experience as an HR expert and EDI academic. She is also a leading advocate for increasing the representation of Black women in academia.

The Programme

5:30 PM — Cultural Welcome Experience

Arrivals, registration and informal networking accompanied by a curated La Guinéolese music playlist and visual experience.

6:00 PM — Opening & Welcome

6:10 PM — Founder Story & Vision

An introduction to the origins and wider cultural mission of La Guinéolese and the vision behind the Cultural Exchange Salon.

6:20 PM — Emerging Research Spotlight

A short presentation connecting academic research with questions of diaspora, heritage and modern identity.

6:30 PM — Curated Panel Discussion

Cultural Identity in a Global World: Bridging Heritage & Belonging

7:15 PM — Audience Q&A

7:30 PM — Closing & Transition

7:40 PM onwards — Cultural Archive, Refreshments, Networking & Cultural Exchange

Guests will be invited to explore the accompanying mini exhibition featuring selected cultural objects, archival material, literature, textiles, artwork and musical/cultural exchange material.

Info: An introduction to the origins and wider cultural mission of La Guinéolese and the vision behind the Cultural Exchange Salon.

Info: A short presentation connecting academic research with questions of diaspora, heritage and modern identity.

Info: Cultural Identity in a Global World: Bridging Heritage & Belonging

Info:
Guests will be invited to explore the accompanying mini exhibition featuring selected cultural objects, archival material, literature, textiles, artwork and musical/cultural exchange material.

Event venue & nearby stays

Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, 4-6 University Way, London, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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