Da Banda | Os Kuduristas
Led comprehensive cultural program across multiple platforms to create global stage for Angolan kuduro artists (music, dance, fashion). Developed multi-channel brand that authentically showcased Kuduro* culture while building bridges between Angolan and Western creative communities.
Role: Creative director managing designers, developers, art directors, experiential designers, and on-site production across international markets.
Insight: Western audiences craved authentic cultural experiences beyond surface-level exposure, yet existing platforms either appropriated or oversimplified African contemporary movements - creating demand for genuine artist-led cultural exchange.
Role: Creative director managing designers, developers, art directors, experiential designers, and on-site production across international markets.
Insight: Western audiences craved authentic cultural experiences beyond surface-level exposure, yet existing platforms either appropriated or oversimplified African contemporary movements - creating demand for genuine artist-led cultural exchange.
My Approach: Developed comprehensive brand strategy coining "Os Kuduristas" name and creating identity system inspired by Kuduro's mobile phone origins and Angolan minibus culture. Created multi-channel platform architecture spanning music, dance, fashion, education, and live events with bilingual content serving global audiences.
Led international cultural exchange programs bringing Angolan dancers to Stockholm, Amsterdam, Paris, NYC, and D.C. for community-building workshops and collaborations. Expanded program to include cultural exchange with schools in Brooklyn and Kilamba, expanding cultural reach and demographic influence.
Designed authentic experiential framework with "Quintal" pop-up experiences recreating traditional Angolan backyard gathering spaces for Western audiences.
Led international cultural exchange programs bringing Angolan dancers to Stockholm, Amsterdam, Paris, NYC, and D.C. for community-building workshops and collaborations. Expanded program to include cultural exchange with schools in Brooklyn and Kilamba, expanding cultural reach and demographic influence.
Designed authentic experiential framework with "Quintal" pop-up experiences recreating traditional Angolan backyard gathering spaces for Western audiences.
Nourished creative communities globally across Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm, NYC, and D.C. while providing Angolan artists with international showcase opportunities. Created replicable cultural exchange model demonstrating market viability for authentic African contemporary culture in Western markets.
︎ What is Kuduro?
Kuduro is an Angolan subculture that was born from the cultural and political changes over the past 25 years. The music is characterised by a strong 140 bpm electronic tempo that is accompanied by raucous, bone-defying dance moves. These moves are steeped in history, telling the story of Angola's growth and revival since the civil war. Kuduro is a therapeutic art form and storytelling for a generation that still remembers a time of war.