Philou Louzolo has made significant strides within the Afro community in the Netherlands. A beloved face at festivals like Dekmantel, Thuishaven, and Into The Woods, the Zierikzee-born DJ opens up about his upbringing in his documentary, AFRICAN GOLD.


The documentary is a deeply personal collaboration between the African-rooted artist and director Wietske Overdijk, who explained the nature of their bond during the Q&A. Louzolo had always been part of her family life, though they did not truly discuss cultural views until recent years.

Growing up in a predominantly White neighborhood, Louzolo felt profoundly underrepresented because of the lack of people who looked similar to him. That experience led him to pursue his artist’s journey, but not without cost. Through years of coping, a battle with substances plagued the DJ on two occasions before he ultimately released his debut album, African Gold.

“Directing this documentary gave me a new sense of what it felt like to be African in a Dutch community,” director Wietske Overdijk confessed. “Philou had always been part of the family, but it was only recently that I opened my eyes to how the world looks at him.”


The collaboration also touched on ‘Woukoundo’, Louzolo’s vision for a sci-fi futuristic music label centered around the idea of Afrofuturism. His desire to combine traditional African music with other genres like Techno or Anime soundtracks is front and center of where he wants to take his music.

While we sadly couldn't view the documentary, both the director and the star artist provided more than enough context to compel interest. With such a diverse palette of influences, coupled with a desire to push the culture forward, Louzolo possessed a compelling narrative that demanded a thoughtful documentary like African Gold.