FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Sweden
Address
Norra Dragspelsgatan 6Country
City
GothenburgTelephone
+46739796846E-Mail (2)
mamdouh@booking-inquiries.comWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2021Contact Person1
Mamdouh ElmchadJob Title 1
Founder & CEOContact Person 2
Mamdouh ElmchadOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationFields of Activity
Democracy and community development, Gender, Heritage, Human rights, International/Cultural relationsGeneral Information
Founded in 2021 by cultural producer and project leader Mamdouh Elmchad, Not Your Habibi is a platform that uplifts queer voices from the SWANA region through art, music, and inclusive cultural gatherings.
Mission and Objectives
Our mission is to reshape nightlife and music platforms into inclusive spaces for cultural exchange, collective learning, care, and authentic representation. We aim to centre sustainability in all its dimensions—cultural, organisational, social, and environmental—while strengthening alternative cultural ecosystems across the Euro-Mediterranean region and beyond.
Through this project, we seek to:
- Increase visibility, exchange, and mobility for artists across borders, enabling intercultural dialogue and creative collaboration between diverse communities.
- Share tools, knowledge, and organisational practices among cultural workers, fostering a framework of mutual learning and resource circulation.
- Promote equitable pay structures and sustainable partnership models, contributing to fairer working conditions within the cultural and nightlife sectors.
- Challenge dominant narratives within mainstream club culture by reimagining nightlife as a safer, community-oriented, and socially conscious space.
- Strengthen long-term cultural sustainability by building resilient, community-rooted infrastructures that support ongoing collaboration and local empowerment.
- Amplify underrepresented voices, with a focus on SWANA, queer, BIPOC, and global majority artists, ensuring that cultural production reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.
Main Projects / Activities
1. Exhibitions Showcasing Underrepresented Artists
We have curated exhibitions that highlight SWANA, queer, BIPOC, and global majority artists, creating visibility for perspectives often marginalised in mainstream cultural institutions. These exhibitions serve as spaces for artistic expression, storytelling, and intercultural dialogue.
2. Talks, Panels & Community Discussions
We organise public talks and conversations with artists, scholars, and cultural workers. These gatherings explore topics such as cultural identity, diasporic narratives, sustainable organising, and the politics of nightlife. They function as knowledge-sharing spaces where diverse communities engage in learning and exchange.
3. Inclusive Club Nights & Music Events
Our club nights combine music, performance, and community-building practices. These events centre safer-space principles and amplify artists from SWANA and global majority backgrounds. Through these gatherings, we reimagine nightlife as a platform for representation, care, and cultural connection.
4. Cross-Border Nordic Networking Initiative (Ongoing)
We are currently developing a new grassroots-led, cross-border networking initiative—the first of its kind in the Nordic region—focused on SWANA-led cultural organising.
This project brings together NYH, Bukhar (Copenhagen), and Klubb Tarab (Tromsø) to establish a collaborative network that supports mobility, knowledge exchange, and shared cultural infrastructure across the Nordics.
The initiative aims to strengthen community-rooted cultural practices, build long-term partnerships, and create new pathways for SWANA artists and organisers in the region.