Learn about Afro-Colombian history, diaspora identity, and the impact of 3 special trips to different regions of Africa. Eileen Ivette joins Matt and starts off talking about her viral video on “How Braids Became a Secret Map for Escaping Slavery”. She then talks about her Afro-Colombian heritage, diaspora identity, and experience navigating Blackness in the Latinx community in Houston. Eileen then talks about her decision to go to Howard University and the impact of attending an HBCU. She reflects on her decision to go to China during her freshman year and describes the experience that she and 15 other Black students had there. Eileen then talks about her long term boyfriend from Sierra Leone and her experience traveling back to Sierra Leone with him to meet his extended family and document some oral history. Eileen then talks about traveling to South Africa and Morocco and how different they are from West Africa. She also talks about her career in journalism, working for AJ+, and producing hidden history projects, including one on how “Latin America Tried to Erase Black People…and Failed”.
Hosted by Matt Bowles
333: Afro-Colombian Storytelling, Hidden Histories, and Traveling to Sierra Leone with Eileen Ivette
Episode #333: Afro-Colombian Storytelling, Hidden Histories, and Traveling to Sierra Leone with Eileen Ivette
Hosted by Matt Bowles
333: Afro-Colombian Storytelling, Hidden Histories, and Traveling to Sierra Leone with Eileen Ivette
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Eileen Ivette
Eileen Ivette is an Afro-Colombian award-winning video producer, digital storyteller, and travel influencer on a mission to inspire and empower others to explore the world while celebrating cultural diversity. As an Afro-Latina traveler, she combines her passion for history, culture, and travel with resources illuminating Black history, events, and businesses across Latin America and the Caribbean. She is the Founder of Black Latin History which recently won the award for “Best Travel Series” at the Black Travel Film Festival, and she has now partnered with global brands and destinations ranging from Tripadvisor to Visit Brazil. And she will be a featured speaker at the upcoming WITS Travel Creator Summit in New York City.
What You'll Learn
- What it’s like traveling to China with a Group of Black Students
- The Dynamics of Navigating Afro-Colombian Identity in the Diaspora
- The Power of Traveling to Sierra Leone and Documenting Oral History
Links From the Episode
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MEET MATT AND EILEEN AT THE WITS TRAVEL CREATOR SUMMIT 2025 IN NEW YORK CITY (Get a $75 discount here)
WATCH EILEEN’S AJ+ VIDEO
WATCH EILEEN’S VIRAL SHORT
WATCH EILEEN’S AWARD WINNING TRAVEL SERIES
OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN COLOMBIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
UNIVERSITY WHERE EILEEN STUDIED
SHOW MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Eileen: New Jersey
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Beijing
- Boon Island
- Cape Town
- Caribbean
- China
- Colombia
- Great Wall of China
- Johannesburg
- Khayelitsha Town
- Mexico
- Morocco
- North Africa
- Palestine
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- Texas
- Toronto
CONTACT AND FOLLOW EILEEN
- Black Latin History Instagram
- Eileen on Instagram
- Eileen on LinkedIn
- Eileen on TikTok
- Eileen on YouTube
- Website
FOLLOW THE MAVERICK SHOW AND DM MATT
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:10] Introducing Eileen Ivette
[2:54] How Braids Became a Secret Map for Escaping Slavery
[4:54] Eileen’s Afro-Colombian Heritage and Navigating Her Diaspora Identity
[11:27] Growing up in Houston and Deciding to go to Howard University
[17:51] Choosing to go to China in Her First Year of College
[19:29] Eileen’s Experience in China with 15 Other Black Students
[24:38] Her Relationship with her Sierra Leonean Boyfriend
[28:37] Traveling to Sierra Leone to Document Family Oral History
[33:25] Comparing Sierra Leonean and Afro-Colombian Culture in the Diaspora
[36:30] Traveling to South Africa
[38:56] Traveling to Morocco
[41:12] Tips for Traveling to The Continent for the First Time
[42:27] Cape Town vs. Johannesburg in South Africa
[45:47] Eileen’s Career Trajectory in Journalism
[48:54] Working for AJ+ and Documenting “Hidden Histories”
[53:37] How to Follow and Contact Eileen
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