Holding on to your identity as a contemporary artist: community, queerness, perceptions and traditions

In this episode of IETM Global Pod, moderator Silvia Ribero is joined by Femi Adebajo (Nigeria) and Miloš Janjić(Serbia) for a rich and deeply personal conversation about artistic identity, marginalisation, queerness, community, and the realities of creating contemporary performance work outside mainstream structures. Together, they explore how artists navigate social expectations, build alternative support systems, connect local and international communities, and use art as a tool for resistance, visibility, and social transformation.GuestsSilvia Ribero (Italy)Performing artist, artivist, and cultural strategist based in the Italian Alps. Silvia works with Biloura, an intercultural and transdisciplinary performing arts collective focused on both local and international artistic exchange.Femi Adebajo (Nigeria)Dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, and artistic director of Future of Dance Company in Lagos. Femi’s work combines movement, film, performance art, objects, and multimedia to explore identity, tradition, queerness, and contemporary Nigerian society.Miloš Janjić (Serbia)Choreographer, multimedia artist, producer, and representative of Serbia’s independent dance scene. Based in Belgrade, Miloš works across contemporary dance, collective organising, queer artistic practice, and cultural advocacy.Episode HighlightsArtistic freedom beyond disciplinary boundariesBuilding contemporary dance communities in Nigeria and SerbiaCreating art outside mainstream cultural institutionsQueer identity, visibility, and representation in performanceSelf-organised learning and peer-to-peer artistic exchangeThe relationship between local communities and international collaborationArt as activism, resistance, and social responsibilityChallenging traditional perceptions of artists and performanceKey Discussion PointsFinding Artistic Freedom Through Interdisciplinary PracticeThe guests reflect on how their artistic journeys evolved beyond single disciplines, combining dance, film, performance art, multimedia, costume, and community work to create more authentic forms of expression.Creating Contemporary Art in Marginalised ContextsFemi and Miloš discuss the challenges of working in environments where contemporary dance and experimental art remain underfunded, misunderstood, or socially marginalised, and how independent communities become essential support systems.Self-Organisation & Peer LearningThe conversation explores the importance of informal education, collective learning, and self-organised artistic spaces where artists exchange knowledge, skills, and support outside traditional institutions.Queerness, Identity & VisibilityThe guests discuss how queer perspectives shape artistic practice and reflect on the social pressures, stereotypes, and public perceptions surrounding queer bodies and non-conforming identities within their communities.Tradition, Ritual & Contemporary PerformanceFemi shares research from his performance work exploring gender expression and masquerade traditions in Nigeria, revealing how historical and cultural practices complicate modern assumptions about identity and queerness.Art as Social ResponsibilityThe episode closes with a powerful reflection on the responsibility artists carry to challenge oppression, respond to social and political realities, and create spaces for empathy, visibility, and change.Memorable Quotes“You teach me what you know, I teach you what I know.” — Silvia Ribero“I needed to go to a place that my dance language would be appreciated.” — Femi Adebajo“The surroundings are somehow also queer because of this fluidity of identity.” — Miloš Janjić“Once someone shifts their point of view, this is a change that is going to provoke actions.” — Silvia RiberoAbout IETM Global ConnectThe IETM Global Pod is part of the IETM Global Connect programme, bringing together performing arts professionals from across continents to exchange perspectives on urgent global issues shaping artistic practice today.More information:IETM Global Connect — IETMCreditsProduced by:Margherita Petti, Lottie Atkin, Giselle Musabimana & Ilaria De MarchRecorded, edited & produced by:Ben Phoenix /  NEXI MediaCo-funded by:IETM Associate Members & the European Union