Mama Baranka Tour - Decolonial Amsterdam walking tour

A journey of remembrance, resistance and radical presence

The Mama Baranka Tour is not your typical city walk. It’s a decolonial journey through Amsterdam’s hidden histories, tracing the resilience of Afro-Caribbean communities and other voices too often left out.

Co-created with Elvira Semmoh (Mama Baranka Foundation), Nelson Carrilho (sculptor and cultural guardian), and Robin van Erven-Dorens (history storyteller), this experience uncovers stories of migration, identity and resistance, culminating at the symbolic Mama Baranka sculpture, created in memory of Kerwin Duinmeijer, a teenager murdered in a racially motivated attack.

Whether you’re rooted in this city or discovering it anew, this tour offers a new lens on truth, remembrance and belonging.

The Mama Baranka Tour is an inspiring, behind-the-scenes journey through Amsterdam, uncovering stories often left out of mainstream narratives. As we move through historical sites and present-day landmarks, you’ll hear about Afro-Caribbean memory, migration, cultural resistance and the people who helped shape the soul of the city.

This is not your typical city tour, it’s a layered exploration of history, identity and belonging. The experience culminates at the powerful Mama Baranka sculpture, honouring heritage, resilience and remembrance through art and story.

The Mama Baranka Tour takes you on a journey of discovery, exploring overlooked communities, resilience and cultural identity in the city.

Meet & introduction at studio Nelson Carrilho

We begin at the studio of Nelson Carrilho, sculptor and cultural guardian behind Mama Baranka. Get an intimate look into his artistic journey and the meaning behind his public artworks.

Hidden stories city walk

Together with your guides, explore key locations that highlight untold narratives — from colonial traces to migration histories and community resistance.

Mama Baranka reflection at Vondelpark

The tour ends at Mama Baranka in Vondelpark, where we reflect on the journey, its impact, and the power of representation.

Join us for an eye-opening experience that reshapes how you see the city and whose stories it holds.

This tour is not about tourist landmarks, it’s about the people, communities and stories that have shaped the city from the margins.

This ~2,5-hour tour covers approximately 5 km of walking, you’ll be invited into a deeper way of seeing Amsterdam, through stories often left untold.

With a maximum of 15 participants, the experience stays intimate and reflective, allowing for meaningful engagement and open conversation.

What’s included:
  • Guided city tour exploring hidden histories
  • Stories of migration, resilience and resistance
  • Exclusive insight into Mama Baranka and her meaning
  • Intimate group experience for deeper reflection
What to bring:
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Rain gear (we’re in the Netherlands!)
  • An open mind and heart
  • Curiosity about identity, history and culture
Language:

Tours are offered in Dutch or English, depending on the group. You’ll be informed of the language beforehand.

Weather:

If the weather isn’t ideal but still manageable, the tour will partly take place indoors at Nelson Carrilho’s studio and follow an adapted route through the Jordaan and Westerpark. Mama Baranka will not be visited on this route, but her story remains central, told through a different lens, along different streets.

In case of very bad weather predictions, the tour may be rescheduled.

This hosted walking tour includes:

  • A 2 to 2.5-hour guided experience through Amsterdam

  • Insights and stories shared by Nelson Carrilho and Robin van Erven-Dorens

  • Coffee, tea and small snacks

  • A closing ritual at the Mama Baranka sculpture in Vondelpark

10% of all proceeds go directly to the Mama Baranka Foundation, supporting remembrance work, cultural healing and decolonial education.

Interested in a custom Mama Baranka Tour? Mail contact@lifeofgini.nl for more info.

Mama Baranka Tour

from

€69,-

p.p.

Decolonial Amsterdam city tour & hidden stories

Mama Baranka Tour

Cities are full of hidden stories but not all are told. The Mama Baranka Tour takes you beyond the mainstream, into the voices and experiences of overlooked communities that have shaped Amsterdam’s cultural and historical landscape.

This decolonial walking experience is co-created by artist Nelson Carrilho, storyteller Robin van Erven Dorens, and cultural educator Elvira Semmoh of the Mama Baranka Foundation. Together, they offer a powerful exploration of identity, resilience and remembrance, grounded in lived experience.

The journey begins at Studio Nelson Carrilho, where you’ll gain exclusive insight into his artistic process and the deeper purpose of public sculpture. Along the walk, Robin and Elvira guide you through layered histories of migration, activism, and the shaping of public memory.

A central story in this tour is that of Kerwin Duinmeijer, a 15-year-old boy murdered in a racially motivated attack in 1983. His death remains a painful but essential reminder of the realities of racism in the Netherlands. The tour concludes at Mama Baranka in Vondelpark, the sculpture Nelson created in Kerwin’s honour a monument to resilience and a call to remember.

Originally organised by Elvira Semmoh, Nina Herdigein and Virginia Scheele in collaboration with Pakhuis de Zwijger for the Week Against Racism, this tour continues through GINI’s community-rooted mission. It remains a living act of remembrance, education and cultural healing.

A portion of all profits goes directly to the Mama Baranka Foundation, supporting ongoing work in decolonial education, cultural storytelling and community remembrance.

Step into the stories that shaped the city and change the way you see it.

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Connecting people across cultures

GINI experience

GINI believes that travel should remember, restore and reconnect us to stories that matter.

It should be a way to engage deeply with place, honour the past, and support a more just and inclusive future,  especially by helping to rewrite the narratives that have long been distorted or erased.

That’s why we offer journeys and experiences that go beyond the surface, rooted in community, shaped by lived histories and carried by the power of decolonial travel &  storytelling.

All our experiences are built on three pillars:

  1. Do-good / Engage – Every journey and experience invites conscious participation, awareness and cultural respect

  2. Support through donations – A portion of profits supports grassroots foundations and local initiatives

  3. Cultural remembrance – We create space for truth, healing and intergenerational memory

The Mama Baranka Tour is deeply important to us. It embodies all three pillars, with storytelling that disrupts silence, direct support to the Mama Baranka Foundation and a powerful act of remembrance and resistance through public art and collective reflection.

This is not just a tour. It’s part of a wider movement to decentre dominant histories, to see differently and to walk with more awareness.

This is what GINI stands for: travel that decolonises, connects and truly leaves an impact!

Empowerment

Why GINI?

GINI creates purposeful travel experiences that elevate overlooked communities, such as bicultural individuals, queer travellers, and women, providing safe, representative journeys that offer visibility, respect, and empowerment, celebrating the value of true representation in travel.
Through community-focused travel, GINI fosters a sense of belonging, ensuring every traveller feels seen, valued and connected. Our travel experiences build supportive networks, connecting people and cultures, for authentic, life-enriching connections.
GINI crafts inclusive travel experiences that embrace local growth and positive social impact. By partnering with local businesses and communities, we create travel experiences that are representative, culturally enriching, and designed to foster genuine engagement.
Operating on a profit for good model, GINI champions sustainable and fair tourism. Our initiatives actively contribute to social impact goals, supporting equality, reducing inequality, and promoting economic growth within local communities worldwide.

Empowering Overlooked Communities

Inclusieve reiservaringen ontworpen voor over het hoofd geziene gemeenschappen zoals queer biculturele en mensen met toegankelijkheidsbehoeften. Met prioriteit voor veiligheid respect en toegankelijkheid geven we reizigers de kracht om de wereld authentiek en vol vertrouwen te verkennen. Elke reis zorgt ervoor dat iedereen zich verbonden kan voelen kan ontdekken en zich welkom voelt op bestemmingen wereldwijd.

Saamhorigheid en inclusiviteit bevorderen

Een reismilieu creëren dat diversiteit viert, zodat elke reiziger zich gezien en gewaardeerd voelt. Ervaringen bevorderen oprechte connecties en een gevoel van saamhorigheid, met inclusiviteit als leidend principe. Iedereen verdient een plek om vrij te verkennen, zichzelf te zijn en zich volledig geaccepteerd te voelen.

Impactvolle reiservaringen

Betekenisvolle reizen samenstellen die reizigers onderdompelen in lokale culturen en gemeenschappen. Gericht op authentieke ervaringen verbindt elke reis je diepgaand met de mensen en verhalen achter de bestemmingen. Meer dan sightseeing, deze reizen maken impact en verrijken levens en perspectieven onderweg.

Duurzaam & Eerlijk Toerisme

Toegewijd aan milieuvriendelijk, verantwoord toerisme dat lokale gemeenschappen ten goede komt en natuurlijke hulpbronnen behoudt. Door duurzame praktijken te ondersteunen en samen te werken met gemeenschapsgerichte bedrijven geven we prioriteit aan eerlijk toerisme. Gezamenlijk creëren deze inspanningen positieve, blijvende verandering terwijl we de ecologische voetafdruk minimaliseren en wereldwijde verbindingen versterken.

Answers to guide your impact

FAQ

Who is this tour for?

This tour is for anyone who wants to explore Amsterdam through a different lens,  one that centres hidden histories, cultural resilience and decolonial storytelling. Whether you’re a local, a visitor, or someone reconnecting with ancestral roots, this experience invites open minds, reflective hearts and a willingness to see the city beyond the mainstream.

Do I need prior knowledge of the city?

No! Whether you’re a local or visiting for the first time, this tour provides new insights into overlooked histories and communities.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately ~2,5 hours, including storytelling stops and reflections.

How much walking is involved?

We’ll walk approximately 5 km through the city center. If this is too challenging, please email us at contact@lifeofgini.nl to discuss whether we can adjust the tour to your needs.

Who is leading the tour?

The tour is co-hosted by artist Nelson Carrilho and storyteller Robin van Erven Dorens, bringing together art, history and lived experiences.

Where does the tour start and end?

We begin at Studio Nelson Carrilho and end at Mama Baranka in Vondelpark.

Is the tour accessible?

The tour involves city walking, but we aim to be as accessible as possible. If you have specific needs, please reach out so we can explore options together.

Does this tour support a cause?

Yes! A portion of the profits is donated to the Mama Baranka Foundation, supporting its mission to keep these stories alive.

What if the weather is bad?

Since we’re in the Netherlands, we recommend bringing comfortable shoes and rain gear. In case of severe weather predictions, the tour may be rescheduled.

Ready for impact?

Mama Baranka Tour - Decolonial Amsterdam walking tour

Step into an experience that inspires change, book your GINI experience today!

GINI is crowdfunding

Right now, we’re fundraising to bring GINI to life and we’re doing it through crowdfunding. This isn’t just about funding a company: it’s about creating a movement for more inclusive and fair travel. Every contribution helps us build a future where everyone feels seen, heard and welcomed in the world of travel. Want to be part of it?

Join us in making this vision a reality.