Webmaster & IT, Researcher & Writer
Thomas is the thoughtful, creative webmaster of Voice4Thought and the coordinator of the archive for Voice4Thought Académie Mali. He sees Voice4Thought primarily as a platform where creative, original talent can find its voice and connect with like-minded individuals from different parts of the globalizing world. In this, the use of technological innovations is essential. This combination provides academia with an opportunity to open up their research to the communities they collaborate with.
He studied African Linguistics and African Studies at Leiden University. In 1997, he launched the first online pan-African urban music platform, Africanhiphop.com, connecting artists and fans from Africa and the diaspora. This platform led to various spin-off projects, including documentaries, album releases, music videos, and publications.
Thomas has worked as an editor, producer, and researcher on a wide range of online and offline projects across Europe and Africa, including This Is Africa, Baobabconnections, and Surprising Europe. He works as a webmaster and music researcher, focusing on licensing and writing about African and diaspora vintage music for various record labels. In addition, he is a lecturer in African Studies at Leiden University (Oral Performance in Africa and Swahili Libraries & Indigenous Knowledge).
Currently, Thomas is working on the TiaSauti@Lab project, Voice4Thought Academy Mali, and the African Hip Hop Archive.
Contact: thomas@voice4thought.org