Dance, Identity & Belonging: Jeannine’s Journey as a First-Gen Entrepreneur
Description
In this powerful episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen, we meet Jeannine, founder of WakaWaka Dance Academy in Lille, France, the city’s largest Afro-diasporic dance school. Born in Cameroon and raised in France, Jeannine shares her journey as a first-generation entrepreneur, leaving her 9-to-5 job to create a space where diaspora voices and young Black and mixed-race girls can reclaim pride, joy, and cultural identity & belonging through movement.
We explore her entrepreneurship journey, the realities of living in a “colorblind” France, building community through dance, and how cultural spaces can serve as tools of resistance, resilience, and healing — a true example of how immigrant stories inspire creative impact.
🕰️ Timestamps:
00:03:00 — Quitting her 9-to-5 for purpose
00:05:40 — Why she started a dance school
00:07:20 — Building a business rooted in identity
00:08:00 — Dance as pride and personal power
00:11:00 — Finding purpose through movement
00:12:15 — Living in France as a Black woman
00:15:00 — The paradox of racism in France
00:18:25 — Her message to Black girls: Joy is your birthright
00:19:20 — The meaning of WakaWaka, inspired by Cameroon
🌍 Keywords:
#AfroDiaspora #BlackInFrance #CulturalPreservation #DanceEmpowerment #FirstGenStories #AfroFrench #WakaWakaDance #BlackGirlsDance #JeannineWakaWaka #LabyrinthPodcast #RoutesAndRoots
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