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At the heart of LEAP are four fundamental thematic pillars that will guide the project’s activities and events throughout its 14-month duration.
The historical and cultural contributions of people of African descent in Europe must be acknowledged. From art and culture to politics and social movements, the African presence in Europe has profoundly shaped the continent. Yet this legacy is often overlooked.
In Portugal, Lusotropicalism, a theory by Brazilian sociologist Gilberto Freyre that was later adopted by the Estado Novo regime, reinforced the myth of an exceptionally soft Portuguese colonialism. It framed colonial rule as inclusive and harmonious due to cultural mixing and miscegenation, masking the realities of exploitation and racial hierarchy. This narrative has fueled historical denial, delaying the recognition of structural racism. LEAP seeks to help dismantle this myth and expose similar distortions in other national contexts.
Colonial violence and systemic racism remain largely denied in post-colonial Europe. In Portugal, the glorified colonial narrative persists in schools and the media, obscuring stories of forced labour and racial hierarchies. Across Europe, reframing these narratives is essential to acknowledge past injustices and their ongoing impact. LEAP aims to promote this change through dialogue, education and artistic expression.
Women have long faced oppression in the context of slavery, colonial rule, and patriarchy, with their resistance and contributions often erased. Today, women — especially racialised women — continue to experience intersectional discrimination, deepening social and economic inequality. LEAP advocates for gender equality as a cornerstone of justice, human rights, and citizenship.
Over the course of 14 months, the LEAP project will run a series of workshops, training sessions, exhibitions, film screenings, artistic residencies, debates, and more. The activities will take place in person, in several cities, or online. Find out more below.
Location: Goethe-Institut in Lisbon, Portugal
Founder of the digital community, Afrolink; Director and artistic director of Teatro GRIOT
10:45 – 12:45 (Continental Portugal Time)
Organization: Gerador
This initiative is closed to the public, but we have 5 open seats for anyone interested in participating. Sign up by May 12 on the button below.
For one morning, we will bring together organizations and professionals from the cultural sector for a training session aimed at deconstructing certain narratives that still shape cultural institutions and public discourse. How can we identify the discourses of power that are still taking place? How to decolonize the gaze and practices of cultural work? The goal is to create a space for learning, sharing and discussing that will offer critical and practical tools to anyone working in this sector.
10h45
Guest reception
11h00
Welcome and presentation of the LEAP project, by Gerador
11h15
Presentation by Paula Cardoso, founder of Afrolink, the platform that showcases African and Afro-descendant professionals residing in Portugal or with connections to the country
11h30
Presentation by Zia Soares, director and artistic director of Teatro GRIOT, a theater company dedicated to exploring themes relevant to the construction and problematization of contemporary Europe and its reflection in theatrical discourse and aesthetics
11h45
Wake up call: an open conversation, without moderation, with Paula Cardoso, Zia Soares and the participants
12h25
Coffee Break
12h45
Closing session
This event is related to the themes: Afro-descendants and European diversity and Lusotropicalism and denial theories.
Location: Guadalupe
Organization: Les Anneaux de la Mémoire
Exhibition of a selection of works created in the context of the project MANIFEST, which between 2022 and 2024 reflected on new artistic perspectives on the memories of the transatlantic trade of enslaved people. The exhibition will be on the island of Guadeloupe, accompanied by a program of parallel activities.
This event is related to the themes: Afro-descendants and European diversity; Lusotropicalism and denial theories; Transatlantic trade of enslaved people, colonial slavery and its contemporary consequences; Women’s subjugation and gender bias.
Location: Goethe-Institut in Lisbon, Portugal
Organization: Gerador
A series of online conversations bringing together cultural and political actors from across Europe to reflect on how colonial legacies continue to shape institutional practices. Through the sharing of diverse perspectives and contributions from experts, these sessions aim to foster a shared European understanding of how to build more inclusive and historically aware cultural frameworks. The full programme will be announced soon.
This event is related to the themes: Afro-descendants and European diversity e Lusotropicalism and denial theories.
Location: Gorizia, Italy, in a venue to be announced
Organization: BJCEM
As part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 in Gorizia (Italy), this event includes an artistic residency and an exhibition under the theme “Without Borders”. Artists are invited to explore art as a tool for social and political change.
This event is related to the themes: Afro-descendants and European diversity; Lusotropicalism and denial theories; Transatlantic trade of enslaved people, colonial slavery and its contemporary consequences; Subjugation of women and gender prejudices.
Location: online (first and second session) and in person in Brussels, Belgium in a venue to be announced (third session)
Organization: Gerador
Over three days we will bring together young people to develop educational tools and solutions around the decolonization of narratives, with the support of mentors and experts.
This event is related to the theme: Afro-descendants and European diversity
Location:Nantes, France, in a venue to be announced
Organization: Generator
Screenings, debates and mini-conferences “History in Images” that analyze racist and sexist prejudices in Europe, encouraging active participation in the decolonization process. The program will be revealed soon.
This event is related to the theme: Transatlantic trade of enslaved people, colonial slavery and its contemporary consequences
Location: Portugal, in a venue to be announced
Organization: Gerador
Training aimed at raising awareness among young artists about the decolonization of narratives, encouraging critical approaches in their creative processes. More information coming soon.
This event is related to the themes: Afro-descendants and European diversity e Lusotropicalism and denial theories.
Location: France, in a venue to be announced
Organization: ACHAC and Les Anneaux de la Mémoire
Exhibition, podcasts and roundtables highlighting the contribution of Afro-descendant communities to European history. Includes an educational kit to engage a wider audience. More information coming soon.
Location: Portugal, in a venue to be announced
Organization: Gerador
Complementing the previous exhibition, “Deconstructing Our Narratives” #1, this approach focuses on lusotropicalism and its effects. It includes contributions from artists and researchers, accompanied by an informative podcast. More information soon.
Location: Hungary, in a venue to be announced
Organization: Pro-Progression
Focusing on the history of colonial slavery and associated narratives, this exhibition is accompanied by educational resources and podcasts. A panel discussion discusses the contemporary legacies of the transatlantic trade of enslaved people. More information coming soon.
Location: Spain, in a venue to be announced
Organization: BJCEM
Exhibition on gender discrimination and the link between colonial and patriarchal domination. Complemented by podcasts, a workshop and a round table with experts and activists. More information coming soon.
Location: Portugal, in a venue to be announced
Organization: Gerador
To conclude the LEAP project, this summit brings together the themes that have been the subject of reflection over the course of the various events. It will feature debates, projections and concrete recommendations addressed to policymakers and European entities.
This event is related to the themes: Afro-descendants and European diversity; Lusotropicalism and denial theories; Transatlantic trade of enslaved people, colonial slavery and its contemporary consequences; Subjugation of women and gender bias.
Remember here the initiatives that have already taken place in the context of this project.
Location: Online
Organization: Les Anneaux de la Mémoire and partners
LEAP officially launched with four workshops open to the public, which defined the key themes of the project. Each workshop lasted 50 minutes and explored one of the four topics that shaped the initiatives and discussions held throughout the project. More details below.
10:00 CET / 9:00 Mainland Time
Although documented, the contribution of colonial troops to the liberation of Europe is not widely discussed. African and African American soldiers were on the front lines of combat, yet their valor was considered inferior to that of European soldiers. These soldiers from across Africa, who fought for countries that had colonized their lands and enslaved their people, were long forgotten in history books and commemorative speeches. Today, this memory is resurfacing in Europe and needs to be promoted and shared in order to acknowledge and celebrate the role of African peoples in the two major European wars. How can we overcome this invisibility? What role can Europe play in this process of recognition?
This event is related to the theme: Afro-descendants and European diversity.
PhD student in Post-Colonial Studies at the University of Coimbra;
Researcher at the Center
of Social Science Studies on the Worlds
African, American
and Asian, in France
11:00 CET / 10:00 Mainland Time
The transatlantic trade of enslaved African peoples and the colonial economy brought about the racialization of the status of enslaved individuals: a correlation emerged between enslaved status and “Blackness.” This modern construction of “race” gradually established patterns of identification between racial positioning and economic function. The link between skin color and socio-economic status still persists in societal representations. This legacy of slavery severely impacts people—whether through being assigned to certain roles or facing discrimination in hiring processes. How can we overcome these prejudices? How can history help us understand this construction? How can we break the roles imposed on racialized individuals?
This event is related to the theme: Transatlantic trade of enslaved people, colonial slavery and its contemporary consequences
14:00 CET / 13:00 Mainland Time
The denial of the harms of colonization is particularly present in post-colonial European societies. In Portugal, lusotropicalism, a theory developed by the Brazilian Gilberto Freyre and later adopted by the Estado Novo regime, led the majority of white Portuguese people to believe that racism does not exist in Portuguese society. This theory argued that the Portuguese had a unique ability to adapt to life in the tropics through miscegenation and cultural interpenetration. The glorifying narrative of Portugal’s presence outside Europe remains deeply rooted, especially in school curricula and the media, and has delayed efforts to confront structural racism. Deconstructing this myth is essential to promoting racial equality.
This event is related to the theme: Lusotropicalism and denial theories.
Historian of the University Institute
European of Florence;
Co-director of the documentary “Décolonisons l'écologie”
15:00 CET / 14:00 Mainland Portugal Time
Racialised women have always faced double oppression, suffering the consequences of slavery, colonialism and patriarchal structures, as well as being exposed to violence. However, they have played a crucial role in the struggle for emancipation and freedom. Today, racialised women continue to be victims of double discrimination, which requires concerted action to build a more inclusive and egalitarian society. How does the violence suffered by racialised women during slavery and colonialism continue to influence gender and race dynamics today? What strategies can be put in place to value and strengthen the role of racialised women in building an inclusive and egalitarian society?
This event is related to the theme: Subjugation of women and gender bias.
