10 Questions with… BOKITANI Collective
Welcome to '10 Questions with...' where we ask people 10 questions about the cool stuff they are doing. For this edition, we are asking OKA, founder of BOKITANI Collective, about the new venture into the music scene.
What is the Bokitani Collective?
Bokitani is an artistic collective dedicated to highlighting Afro-diasporic narratives through various mediums, including music, visual arts, and film.
Why did you start Bokitani Collective?
I created Bokitani in response to the need for spaces where Black voices can connect, create, and share knowledge within the French artistic landscape. Although our struggles and cultures are becoming increasingly visible, it can still be difficult to find opportunities for expression outside institutional frameworks.
Why is the collective named Bokitani?
"BOKITANI" means "legacy." Through this project, I want to nurture new imaginaries at the intersection of contemporary issues and the desire to preserve collective memories.
What does the collective do?
The collective is still very new, but we already have many projects in the works, including film screenings, club nights, photography exhibitions, and potentially even audiovisual productions.
How do we join the collective?
You can reach us at bokitanicollective@gmail.com. No matter who you are or what you have to offer, the idea is to support one another and occupy space without compromising our identities.
Who was the first person you told about the collective?
I think it was my sister. We’ve always had hundreds of ideas at the same time, so I knew she would listen to me and encourage me.
What has surprised you about running the collective so far?
The response I’ve received has been incredible, especially considering that our first event is taking place on June 21st. What has surprised me the most is being able to connect with French and international artists and collectives whose work I’ve been following for quite some time.
Where can we see the Bokitani Collective?
You can find us on Instagram at @bokitanicollective, and in some of my favourite self-managed and BIPOC-owned spaces. Also, we have our first event ‘Paris x London Crossover’ for Fete de la Musique at Le Mistral Gagnant, 2 Rue Saint-Mathieu, 75018 Paris from 4pm to 2am on Sunday 21st June 2026. We got DJs and musicians from Paris and London playing all day so come party with us there.
What does a normal weekend look like for you in 10 years?
I’d love to wake up late. (I'm slowly making peace with the fact that I’ll never be a morning person) in a space where I can dance freely and feel the sun on my skin from home.
I’d fill my schedule with meetings because I love connecting with people who inspire me and imagining a better future for Afro-descendant communities around the world together.
And I’d probably end the day at a concert or a club night, or head home after a long day of filming.
What do you hope Bokitani Collective will be in 10 years?
If you’ve watched Insecure by Issa Rae, you’ll understand what it means to me for Bokitani to have the same impact as The BLOCC: creating connections with local Afro-descendant artists as well as artists from Black diasporas across the world, spotlighting underrepresented art forms, creating opportunities, and above all, doing things on my own terms and according to my own vision.
We would like to thank OKA for answering the call and hope to see them out on the dancefloor soon. BOKITANI have their first event at Fete de la Musique this Sunday in Paris in collaboration with EuroTrippin if you want a taste of what the collective is about. You can follow the OKA and BOKITANI journey here:
Instagram: bokitanicollective
Instagram: okashung
Reporting for SIBLING RADIO,
Bubbler B