Hello dear reader,

2016 is drawing to a close and it’s been memorable year to say the least, and whilst the increasing lean to the right across the West has been challenging, it has been encouraging to see the work, creativity and entrepreneurship of the Afro-European diaspora continue to produce excellence and share its voice.

Robert Farris Thomspson, who coined the term ‘Black Atlantic’ wrote about the West African tradition of ‘the mask of cool’ which is ‘to do difficult tasks with an air of ease and silent disdain’ or in the words of Mos Def ‘Navigate the treacherous and make it seem effortless’.  This is a mood we hope to carry into a 2017 of politically tumultuous European continent and a US president who represents the stuff of nightmares.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading the stories we’ve highlighted/shared with you this year. We’ve taken the time to compile a list of the most liked, shared, and clicked posts on Afropean social media for 2016, and look forward to sharing more in 2017.  Our stories are needed now more than ever.

The Afropean Team

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Lost in otherness: Growing up as a mixed race child in eastern europe

Afropean Anthems 7, Tawiah: I wanna dance with somebody

Afropean Business of the month October 2016: Ewala