With technology changing the way we in the diaspora communicate with our counterparts at home on the continent, it only made sense for us to engage and collaborate with the advent of the first social media week in an african city, Lagos.

Digital Diaspora Diva’s @labeautifulmess + @emerhi + @katebomz have joined digital forces to bring an African focused event  to Washington D.C. during #SMW an interactive “Digital Africa : The Diaspora strikes back”  Happy Hour

As usual our role as the diaspora is constantly questioned- are we relevant? one topic to be had over a gin and tonic in hand, is Diaspora voting: is it our constitutional right or an unnecessary privilege? (#Thingsthatmakeyougo :eh eh)

This will be a direct follow up to an interactive debate on our relevance to African politics in the 21st Century  that would have taken place in Lagos during @SMWLagos hosted by Vote or Quench and Sleeves Up Nigeria. To get involved with the conversation in Lagos (http://bit.ly/SMWLagos)  submit your comments and questions through Google Moderator and including  hashtag #SMWDiasporaVote

But wait a minute, are we aware of our yearly $60B in remittances to the continent? This brings us to our second topic of the night (what a tough crowd for gin)–looking at a new innovative way of investing on the continent with Africans in the Diaspora “AiD.”

Lets make our voices heard!

Come out to drink, mingle and meet fellow diasporan thinkers, doers, & of course the posers.

Come prepared to continue the conversation that took place in Lagos with the following topics:

• What  constitutes the Diaspora?
• How can the diaspora better connect with citizens on the ground to push for change on the continent?
• Should we would be advocating a reverse brain drain instead?

As @Labeautifulmess says stretch, hydrate and tweet.  Can’t make it?  #Noworries follow the conversation at #SMWDigitalAfrica

 This event is brought to you by Sonic Diaspora, Kate Bomz, La Beautiful Mess, & Ese  in collaboration with Vote Or Quench, Africans in The Diaspora & DAWN inc.