A FESTIVAL BY CREATIVES FOR CREATIVES
It is global gathering of the dopest artists, thinkers, entrepreneurs and change-makers of our time. We are coming together in the midst of great global challenges to celebrate our lives, learn from each other, share our stories and inspire each other for the road ahead.
WHY BLOOMFEST NOW?
One of the most urgent questions in our world today is, “how will we all work together to solve the most challenging issues of our times?”
Increasingly it has become important for us to work collectively across differences of geography, ideology, identity and status.Â
BLOOMFEST provides a safe environment for you to ask the most powerful questions, play, collaborate and share deep stories as you unleash more of your passions, talents and gifts to the world.Â
The purpose of BLOOMFEST is to be a platform for collaboration between creatives from Africa and its diaspora. By creatives we mean, artists, entrepreneurs, organization leaders, community activists who are each working on a B.I.G. idea.
By using BLOOMFEST as a platform, we are working together equitably to create enterprises, initiatives, and collectives that move us beyond the trauma resulting from religious and spiritual bigotry, political polarization, economic oppression, inter-generational wounds, and our disconnection from the natural environment.
At stake is the loss of the human capital embodied in today’s creative leaders and Africa’s youth population that is expected to double by 2050.
BLOOMFEST COMES ALIVE WHEN...
...WHEN we listen, reflect and remember our connection to our ancestors, to life and to our purpose. ...WHEN our passions are pursued and we honor the unique journey of each soul. ...WHEN we allow our talents to be seen and appreciated. ...WHEN there is empathy, compassion and vulnerability. ...WHEN we allow ourselves to be seen as we really are. ...WHEN we work together in equity, each giving first the best of what we have, then knitting our gifts together to create abundance for everyone.
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BLOOMFEST is storytelling, exploration, creativity, connection and community building
BLOOMFEST happens in:
NEW YORK: JUN 19–21
ACCRA: AUG 9–12
LAGOS: AUG 14-17
LONDON: AUG14–17
PARIS: AUG 11–14
ROTTERDAM: SEPT 18–21
 Each year, the goal of BLOOMFEST is to measurably change the lives of five million creatives in Africa and its diaspora.
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WHO WE ARE...
BLOOMFEST is a creative expression of BLOOM ~ a grassroots collective of creatives: artists, entrepreneurs, organization leaders and change-makers. This Festival was held for the first time in Ghana, August 1-14, 2022. The Festival in 2022 was hosted and produced by the AWO Hub. AWO is collective within BLOOM. AWO is a creative collective based in Accra, Ghana. AWO exists as a home for artists, wellness professionals, thought leaders and change-makers in Africa and its Diaspora. The goal of BLOOMFEST is to leverage our individual and collective value to inspire, inform and celebrate five million collective leaders from Africa and the Diaspora.
BLOOMFEST exist to explore these questions...
We see life as a collective enterprise. Though individual courage is vital, no one accomplishes anything truly meaningful alone. Also needed is the ability to balance collective work with the courage it takes for each individual to show up and deliver their gift.
- How will freedom and creativity survive when governments and democratic institutions no longer have the will or intention to support the masses who are the source of the innovation vital to our survival.
- How can Africa’s creatives – Black creatives around the globe – collectively leverage our resources of time, experience, skills, knowledge and connections to create a sustainable economic environment with valuable products, services and brands that have a global impact.
BLOOMFEST is a platform created to support collective building and collective leadership. Specifically, we are focused on supporting collectives and collective leadership in Africa and its diaspora.
We believe the collective exists to support the delivery of each individual’s unique gifts, and it is the delivery of these gifts that are vital to the existence of deep democracy and thriving communities.
BLOOMFEST is produced by the BLOOM - A Global Collective of Collective Leaders, who are creatives – artists, entrepreneurs, organization leaders, community activists who are each working on a B.I.G. idea. The BLOOM COLLECTIVE is guided by Olubode Shawn Brown
Olubode works with organizational leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers to help them as they think through the complexities of their lives, businesses and enterprises. He is the author of two books on well-being, life-purpose and balance: BLOOM The Essential Journey- A New Guide to Balance Growth & Well-Being and FINDING YOUR B.I.G. - Finding New Purpose In Changing Times. In them he introduces a new way of thinking and asking fundamental questions based on the five elements that grow and balance life. This body of thought is called “The Philosophy of BLOOMING.”
Olubode’s work is focused on working with diverse leaders who are thinking collectively, working cooperatively, and acting globally in the fields of Well-Being & Mental Health, Social Justice, Economic Empowerment, Equity and Community Development.Â
He spends his time between Accra Ghana, New York City, Los Angeles, California and his native Jamaica.
Some BLOOMFEST events are free and open to everyone. Others are for BLOOM MEMBERS ONLY. See our BLOOM MEMBERSHIP OFFERS here.Â
OUR HISTORY
Where we have been and where we are going.
BLOOM has been building a local and global community of B.I.G. creatives for the past 15 years. In doing so we have created a solid foundation for the festival.Â
BLOOMFEST 2022 was the culmination of over 4 years of community engagement between AWO and BLOOM. During this time Kweku and Olubode have led FYBIG workshops for local university students, artists, and entrepreneurs. Currently this collective of over 100 strong community members are working together to help fund and resource each other’s B.I.G.s, provide housing, empowerment, economic opportunity and education for its members in Ghana.
BLOOMFEST is being produced by leveraging the value and resources of the collective’s global membership.
BLOOMFEST 2022Â was the first time that this global community gathered in person. Members from North America, the Caribbean and the UK met members living in Ghana physically for the first time.Â
We believe that this work of intentional collective building creates an ecosystem of individual responsibility and communal generosity that is a solid foundation on which to build economic prosperity for the future.
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HERE IS WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE…
It is our hope that BLOOMFEST becomes a yearly gathering that celebrates the ongoing work of empowering, supporting and celebrating African creatives around the world.
Through our work we are shining a light by supporting, inspiring and celebrating collective movements and creative collaborations in Africa and its diaspora.Â
Throughout the year following the festival there will be workshops (in person and hybrid), performances, B.I.G. MEET-UPS, networking and parties, all designed to build a self-sustaining and cohesive global community of African creatives.Â
It is our hope that over the years the festival will expand to include engagement of other creatives from other countries in Africa.
We can imagine that BLOOMFEST in the future might occur in similar formats in other countries in Africa and its diaspora.
BLOOMFEST OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO...
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BUILD
TOURS
On our OUTBOUND TOURS we will engage with the ritual, traditional and contemporary practices that honor the land, its people and our ancestors.
These tours are an opportunity to build a real global community that makes a difference.
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Currently there are three tours being organized to the Volta Region, to Cape Coast and to the Ada Festival in Nkyinkyim.Â
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CONNECT
ART, PERFORMANCES & PARTIES
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FINE ART, ENTERTAINMENT & PERFORMANCES are among the ways in which we connect the dots between traditional forms of self-expression and our current contemporary African Global style. Film, Fashion, Art, Books, Food and Dance are among the ways in which we will invite you to re-discover and deepen our connection to each other.
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BLOOMFEST offers two Creative Co-Labs. They are opportunities for creatives to meet, tell stories and create work together. What's created will be presented at a showcase open to a public audience.
BLOOMFEST climaxes with a dance party that takes place in a mythical forest in Ghana. It is a party themed to connect us with the magic in nature and the wonders of the natural world.
CREATE
CREATIVITY & BUSINESS COLLABORATION
BLOOMFEST offers curated networking experiences for business leaders & creative entrepreneurs. At our FINDING YOUR B.I.G. EXPO and curated B.I.G. PEOPLE Meet-Ups we will help you create and sustain valuable collaborations across borders.
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BLOOFEST'S B.I.G. EXPO is being designed as a market place for the best products and services that collective members, guests and attendee have created.
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PLAY
JOURNEY THROUGH THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL & HISTORICAL TERRAIN
At BLOOMFEST we use history, media, food, religion, culture, tradition, family and politics to explore the many faces of Ghana. Through an engaging panel discussion, dance party or drumming circle you will discover more about what it means to you to be free!
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Currently BLOOMFEST offers two panel discussions or "thought incubators" for attendees. The conversations are discussions between creatives and democratic thought leaders on what a New Pan African movement can be, and imagines the emergency of a new Pan African aesthetic, and a society, engaged with deep democracy and powered by free creatives.
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GROW
EXPLORE YOUR NEXT LEVEL OF GROWTH & ACCOMPLISHMENT.
 Along with our signature FINDING YOUR B.I.G. Journey, BLOOMFEST through its wellness partners offers experiential sessions on Holistic Health, Yoga & Meditation, Fitness & Nutrition.
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE?
Whether you are an attendee, creative partner or sponsor we want to hear about your B.I.G. BLOOMFEST is a platform to help each of us to celebrate and accomplish our B.I.Gs.
If you have a B.I.G. tell us what it is and how you will use the platform of the Festival to offer its value. We will then work together with you to create something that has shared value for all of us.
So what’s your B.I.G? Tell us. We would love to know!
If you are not clear about your B.I.G. You can access BLOOM’s FINDING B.I.G. JOURNEY in one of its many formats. This journey is designed to help you anchor your vision to a Big. Impossible Goal, a goal that makes all of who you are possible.
At BLOOMFEST "B.I.G. People" will showcase their work, produce events, and collaborate on the creation of valuable assets in the form of merchandising for the Festival, events, Exhibitions, Performances, Installations, Panel Discussions, Tours, and Presentations.
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Should you choose to participate here are some of the questions you might consider.
These questions might help you to further refine what you might do and help us to connect you with other attendees and collaborators who are working in the same direction.
- What does your work heal and reveal in you and others who experience it and what vision of the world does it make real?Â
- What are the multiple interconnected passions and talents you have that are embodied in your offering?
- What are the values being exchanged?Â
- What is the biggest expression of your work? How can the biggest expression be presented at the Festival?Â
- Given the possibility of this Festival and your work, what is the specific intended impact over the short, medium and long term?
When we each bring the fullest expression of a powerful B.I.G. to BLOOMFEST the bigger the tent becomes, inspiring more B.I.G. People to gather. The more B.I.G. People who gather, the more abundance we will have to celebrate.
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