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Pascale Obolo

Film researcher, independant curator, publisher
March-April 2025

  • Cinema
  • Social Sciences and Humanities
  • New York

“This research project begins in the United States, in New York, where double dutch took root thanks to the Fantastic Four Double Dutch, a group of four young Black girls from New York […] who became world champions and pioneers of this discipline.”

Who?

As a film researcher, independent curator, and editor of the contemporary art journal Afrikadaa, I interrogate archives through the construction of historical narratives from a decolonial perspective, exploring knowledge transmission practices and pedagogies in art and activist spaces.

In the 1980s, I founded the pioneering double dutch group, Dutch Force System, before joining Ladies’ Night, a group of dancers and rappers who contributed to the popularization of double dutch in France. As a member of the Non-Aligned Filmmakers, I co-initiated the #memepaspeur movement at FESPACO in 2019 to raise awareness of the challenges faced by women filmmakers and actresses in Africa.

My films address themes of memory, identity, and the erasure of minority narratives, such as Calypso Rose: The Lioness of the Jungle, which won the Yennega Silver Award at FESPACO in 2013.

In my curatorial practice, I focus on erased narratives and collective forms of cultural production within a process of reconstructing inclusive stories. Currently, I am conducting research on the role of women after 50 years of Hip Hop in France, concentrating on the practice of double dutch, a discipline often overlooked in the history of Hip Hop. As co-director of MissRead (Berlin art book fair) and director of the African Art Book Fair, I support independent and activist editorial practices. As a member of the curatorial team for Les Artist Talks by The Eyes (Paris Photo), I was named among the 100 most influential women in culture in France in 2023.

 

Pascale Obolo, a film researcher, independent curator, and editor of the journal Afrikadaa, interrogates archives through the construction of historical narratives from a decolonial perspective, exploring knowledge transmission practices and pedagogies in art and activist environments. In her curatorial practice, she studies resistance strategies, geographies of affection, and care ecologies, highlighting marginalized narratives. A member of the Non-Aligned Filmmakers, many of her films have received awards, such as Calypso Rose: The Lioness of the Jungle, which won at FESPACO in 2013. She is also a co-director of MissRead and the director of the African Art Book Fair. In 2023, she was listed among the 100 most influential women in culture in France.

What?

My research project focuses on the history of double dutch, a hip-hop discipline often overlooked and forgotten in the history of French hip-hop. This book project begins in the United States, in New York, where double dutch took root thanks to the Fantastic Four Double Dutch, a group of four young Black girls from New York—Delores Brown Finlayson, De’Shone Adams Goodson, Robin Oakes Watterson, and Adrienne “Nikki” Adams Howell—who became world champions and pioneers of this discipline.

The Fantastic Four Double Dutch, still active in New York, now participate in international institutions such as the American Double Dutch League and the National Double Dutch League, with iconic events taking place at the legendary Apollo Theater. Their visit to Paris in 1983 inspired the creation of the first double dutch group in France, the Dutch Force System, of which I was a founding member.

For me, New York represents the pinnacle of this practice. Therefore, during my residency, I will conduct in-depth research in New York, exploring living and recorded archives, including films, photographs, and interviews with the pioneers of double dutch. My goal is to trace the origins of this discipline and understand how it has evolved over time. I plan to meet and interview key figures in double dutch, as well as observe and document the young groups who still practice today.

This residency project will allow me to gather essential materials for my book, as well as for parallel film and exhibition projects. By reconnecting with the American double dutch scene, I aim not only to honor the pioneers of this discipline but also to revitalize and document its history for future generations.

Where?

My research in New York is crucial for my project on the history of double dutch due to the city’s unique cultural and political dynamics. New York, the birthplace of double dutch, has seen this practice become rooted in American urban history, particularly within African American communities. The Fantastic Four Double Dutch began their journey here before becoming global pioneers.

New York is a cultural mosaic where various artistic and musical influences converge. This diversity has fostered the emergence of innovative cultural movements such as double dutch. I aim to explore its development in this context and its interactions with other urban cultural forms like hip-hop.

The resilience and creativity of marginalized communities in New York have made double dutch a means of expression and community cohesion, especially in underprivileged neighborhoods. I aspire to understand its impact on social realities of the past and present. Urban policies, particularly in education and recreation, have significantly affected double dutch. I will analyze how these policies have shaped the discipline, either promoting or hindering its development. I will meet with members of the Fantastic Four Double Dutch, historians, coaches, and young double dutch practitioners to document its evolution. Key locations include the legendary Apollo Theater, the neighborhoods of Harlem and the Bronx, the archives of the New York Public Library, and institutions like the American Double Dutch League. My research aims to provide an in-depth and nuanced perspective on the history and cultural impact of double dutch.

In partnership with

Ateliers Médicis

Located in Clichy-sous-Bois and Montfermeil, in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, the Ateliers Médicis endeavors to promote new and diverse artistic voices. Its artistic residencies, open to artists working in any artistic field, support the creation of works conceived in collaboration with French territories and fosters encounters between artists and inhabitants.

 

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