Melanated Media

For many young people within the Black community in the Netherlands, there is a lack of spaces where culture, history, creativity, and identity come together. From that absence, Roots & Rhythm was born — a cultural event created by a young founder with a clear mission: to create connection, strengthen representation, and make space for real stories.

For MELANATED Magazine, we spoke with founder Lovemyka Zegers (18, Haitian roots) and team member Magan Chukundah (18, Nigerian roots), who is part of the organizing team.

A Space That Was Missing

The concrete reason behind Roots & Rhythm was simple yet powerful: there was no place where everyone could come together. Many cultural events felt limited — either in target audience or in content. Within the Black community, there are also many differences in background, culture, and lived experience.

Roots & Rhythm did not want to ignore that diversity, but instead bring it together.

“Representation is important,” Lovemyka explains. “We wanted people to discover who they are within the Black community, without their background becoming a dividing line.”

From a Small Gathering to a Broader Movement

The first edition mainly focused on young people between the ages of 16 and 22. It was smaller in scale and intended for those who wanted to learn more about Black history not just as a history lesson, but as something to celebrate.

Since then, the vision has expanded. At its core, Roots & Rhythm remains a safe space for Black youth, but it is also open to people outside the community who want to learn and understand.

“It’s beautiful when people from outside our community can see how much we have grown,” the team shares.

More Than a Cultural Event

What sets Roots & Rhythm apart from other cultural events in the Netherlands is the combination of everything into one complete experience.

The event brings together:

• Panel talks
• Creative showcases
• Space for visitors to speak themselves
• Guest artists
• Fashion shows
• Entrepreneurs and innovators

It is not a standalone performance or debate. It is a fully integrated event.

The young organization also sees their age as a strength. They recognize what is happening on social media faster, understand what young people need, and can quickly respond to the community’s wishes.

Black Ownership as a Foundation

Black ownership plays an important role in Roots & Rhythm, both creatively and professionally. The team largely consists of Black youth. This is a conscious choice.

“The connection to the community is closer,” they explain. “When you stand further away from the community, it’s harder to understand what is truly needed.”

It is not about exclusion, but about safeguarding authenticity.

Measuring Success: Feeling Over Numbers

Instead of only looking at visitor numbers or statistics, the team measures success differently.

During events, they observe:

• Are people engaging in conversations?
• Are new connections being formed?
• Is the event being shared on social media?

For them, impact lies in community feeling and visible connection.

Lovemyka’s Personal Drive

For founder Lovemyka, it all began with a personal search. As an adoptee, she grew up in an environment where there were few Black people and little Black history present. That absence weighed heavily on her.

She searched for her Haitian roots but found that this often remained within smaller, specific communities. She longed for something broader, a place where different backgrounds could come together.

“I didn’t feel Black enough,” she shares openly.

At sixteen, she decided to build what she had been missing herself: a space where young people feel heard and seen, even when they struggle with their identity.

Impact So Far

Roots & Rhythm has made an impact by giving young people more awareness of Black history and identity.

In everyday life, many people do not constantly reflect on it, it is simply their reality. But by intentionally creating space for it, deeper understanding develops.

The event makes visible how diverse and rich the community is, and what it truly means to be Black in the Netherlands.

The Future Vision

Within one to three years, Lovemyka envisions Roots & Rhythm as an official foundation, registered with the Chamber of Commerce.

She aims to organize approximately three events per year. Not too many so that each edition remains special and something people look forward to.

Recognition, impact, and sustainability are central.

A Lesson Rarely Spoken About

As a young Black founder, Lovemyka has also learned important lessons.

One of them: be careful about who wants to “ride along” and who genuinely wants to help.

Not everyone who seems enthusiastic has the right intentions. Building within the community requires both discernment and trust.

Roots & Rhythm shows what happens when young people take control of their own narrative. It is more than an event. It is a movement where identity, culture, and community come together.

And perhaps that is exactly what this generation needs: not a place where they fit into a framework, but a place they built themselves. The Interviewees

Although Roots & Rhythm is powered by a larger team of young creatives and organizers, for this article we spoke with:

Lovemyka Zegers
18 years old — Haitian roots
Founder of Roots & Rhythm
Instagram: @lovemykajz_
TikTok: @lovemyka

Magan Chukundah
18 years old — Nigerian roots
Part of the organizing team
Instagram: @magandc_
TikTok: @magandc_