&#8220;Black kids, Amsterdam, no accounts, opening up a store. It’s crazy.&#8221;
For the first Visions of Visionaries installment of 2026, Globetrotter Lab sits down with a true pillar of global street culture: Edson Sabajo, co-founder of Patta.
Founded in 2004 by Edson and Guillaume &#8220;Gee&#8221; Schmidt, Patta has grown from a local Amsterdam boutique into a world-renowned independent ecosystem. The &#8220;Architecture of Independence&#8221; is their manual—a blueprint that prioritized cities like Milan and Lagos over the traditional industry hubs of Paris and Berlin.
Built on Surinamese roots and a &#8220;people-first&#8221; philosophy, Patta remains the definitive case study on how a brand can scale globally while remaining fiercely sovereign.Recorded at Suudu Lagos—the members-only creative hub and home to Patta affiliates—this three-part series deconstructs the Patta manual.
In Part 1, Edson reflects on the 360-degree journey from his heritage back to the African continent, and the raw energy he witnessed firsthand on the ground in Jakarta.

Conversations with brilliant minds, makers, and creators who continue to inspire and create work that define and shape our cultural landscape.

Visions of Visionaries

Patta’s Co-Founder Edson Sabajo: The Architect of Independece | Visions of Visionaries (Part 1)

Culture

Fashion

Lagos-based industrial designer and artist Nifemi Marcus-Bello has brought his solo exhibition, “Material Affirmations – ORÍKÌ Acts I–III,” home, following a successful tour across the world. The show also proves to be a hometown favorite and has recently been extended for one week until January 17th, due to popular demand.
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Revolving around material and identity, “Oríkì” is a look at the past, present, and future through an exploration of bronze, aluminum, and copper. Named after a practice of praise poetry in the Yoruba culture, the show is a labor of love that took Nifemi around three-and-a-half years to complete.
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Coming back to Nigeria is a full circle moment for Nifemi, who draws from African traditions and finds his inspiration in his family. Speaking with Globetrotter Lab’s Kennedy Ashinze, Nifemi shares his views on the art landscape in Nigeria, his vision for open-source design, and more.

Nigerian Artist Nifemi Marcus-Bello in Conversation

Arts

Chicago-based DJ, music historian, and cultural curator Duane Powell has become a vital fixture on the global soul scene.
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Since 1999, his Soundrotation brand has championed rising Chicago talents, notably through the Sunday Service dance party at Stony Island Arts Bank.
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Powell actively shares Chicago&#8217;s rich, multi-genre history through his Rear View Mirror Sessions lecture series, presented at institutions like UChicago Arts and Stanford University.
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He also gives back to his city by partnering with the Rebuild Foundation and serving on the board of the Frankie Knuckles Foundation.
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Listen now here or on Apple Music, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

A Conversation with Music Historian Duane Powell

Music

Meet Masaya Fantasista, the visionary founder and &#8220;captain&#8221; of the Japanese brand Jazzy Sport. What began over two decades ago as a record label and store has organically evolved into a vibrant community encompassing a dance studio, climbing gym, apparel shop, café, and even a garden. This belief in unity and collaboration extends to his vision for a more connected Asia.
At its core, Jazzy Sport is a testament to Masaya&#8217;s philosophy built on radical inclusivity, where he draws parallels between life, jazz, and sports, emphasizing teamwork and individual strengths. 
&#8220;Each member has their own personality, so it&#8217;s all different,&#8221; he explains. &#8220;You have to find out the strong points and weaknesses of your teammates&#8230; Then, you have to use the others’ strong points and help those with weaknesses. That makes a stronger team.&#8221;
On our recent visit to Japan, Globetrotter Lab’s Kennedy Ashinze sat down with Masaya. He shares more on his vision for a more united Asia, his initiative to purchase a mountain in Nagano for a dog rescue (think &#8220;Jazzy Dog&#8221;), and the importance of inclusive communities.
Special thanks to Zushi Film Festival and Cinema Caravan.

Masaya Fantasista of Jazzy Sport: Music, Sports & Uniting People

Community

Creatives

At 70, Grammy-nominated Sir Kahil El’Zabar continues to push the boundaries of jazz. As the visionary leader of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, he has captivated audiences worldwide for decades.
This year marked the 50th anniversary of Kahil’s group the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. With no signs of slowing down, Sir Kahil has released his 18th album and also embarked on a historic world tour that just concluded in his hometown of Chicago.
To celebrate this milestone, we revisit our conversation with the legendary percussionist and multi-instrumentalist in which we had the honor of visiting his personal performance building/studio, &#8220;The Colabyrinth,&#8221; the labyrinth for collaboration on the west side of Chicago.
In this latest episode of our “In Convo” series, Kahil talks to Globetrotter’s Kennedy Ashinze about witnessing music history, the state of cultural affairs and coalescing a creative culture network, inspiring and still hitting with the next generation of musicians, and more.
Join us as we explore the enduring legacy of this living icon.
Listen now!

The Timeless Maestro: A Conversation with Sir Kahil El’Zabar

Rewind to our chat with Corey Gilkey at Chicago&#8217;s iconic Leaders 1354.
More than just a streetwear staple, Leaders 1354 is a movement on a mission to mentor and inspire the next generation of leaders. At its heart is its charismatic founder, Corey Gilkey, a true entrepreneur and community leader.
In our latest In Convo episode, Corey joins Globetrotter&#8217;s Kennedy Ashinze to discuss his vision for inspiring the next generation, expanding beyond the US, his passion for community, his various entrepreneurial endeavors, and more.

Corey Gilkey of Leaders 1354 on Community, Culture & Commerce

Design

Nigerian-American yoga instructor Chocolako looks to provide ease, steadiness, and coherence to anyone who seeks it.

Innergy by Chokolako

Nigerian-American yoga teacher Chocolako has made it her mission to help others find their inner strength and flavor through her Innergy philosophy. Founded by Chocolako herself, Innergy is described as the balance between inner strength and energy. With Innergy, she looks to provide ease, steadiness, and coherence to anyone who seeks it. When she’s not teaching at the Yoga Barn in Ubud, Bali, Chocolako can be found in classes, workshops, training, and retreats around the world, bringing good vibes everywhere she goes.

Open Table

Chef Christina Alexis is the owner of the catering company, the Pleasure Principle, located in the Bay Area. With her creative recipes and menus, she intends to not only pay tribute to the cuisines of the West Indies and West Africa, but also remember the real history and the people who first brought it to the Americas. 

Globetrotter Lab Founder and Creative Director. 

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