Spotlight: Asian Persuasion - In conversation with founders Joni & Christopher
This May, Asian Voices Europe spoke with Joni Sheila and Christopher D’havé, founders of Asian Persuasion. What began as a project to support Asian artists in Belgium has grown into something more meaningful: a platform for solidarity, care and visibility in a space where many have felt invisible. Their stories reflect a shared journey of navigating bicultural identity, longing for belonging, and daring to build something new.
***
AVE: Let’s start with you—can you tell us a bit about yourselves, and what’s shaped you along the way?
Joni: Hi, I’m Joni. I’m Filipino and I grew up in Belgium. From a young age, I always felt like I didn’t fit in, especially in my white family and at my white school, where I was the only Asian kid. I looked more Asian than my sisters, and I barely saw anyone who looked like me: not at school, not in politics, not on TV.
Music gave me a voice when I didn’t feel I had one. I have a degree in communications, but school was never for me. For years, I have been a full-time musician. I often wondered: why wasn’t I getting more opportunities? Was it because I’m a woman? A solo artist? A street performer? Or… because I’m Asian?
Growing up, I have faced discrimination, racism, and sexism— all of which shaped me deeply. My white father couldn’t understand why I was struggling. “But you’re Belgian,” he would say, “you speak the language, so what’s the problem?” There was no recognition of privilege, no understanding of the impact of words or attitudes. Over time, I realized that music wasn’t just a passion — it was survival, it was how I made myself seen.
Christopher: I’m Christopher, half Filipino, with a Belgian father and Filipino mother. For much of my life, I felt I had to perform whiteness to succeed, to fit in, to be accepted. My parents, with their best intentions, raised me to prioritize being Belgian first, sidelining my Asian heritage.
Academic success was everything in my family. But as a sensitive and shy kid, who was bullied and discriminated against for being a mixed Asian—my confidence took a real hit.
Like Joni, music became my sanctuary. But like many (Asian) parents, mine didn’t see music as a ‘real’ future. They believed only education and resilience mattered. For years, I wrestled with these tensions between identity, expectations and dreams. Only later did I realize how much of that struggle was tied to being Asian in Belgium.
That sense of in-betweenness, of not fully belonging anywhere, would eventually lead Joni and Christopher both to create the space they longed for.
Joni and Christopher, the founders of Asian Persuasion (Photo credit: Sara Moreels).
AVE: How did Asian Persuasion get started? Was there a moment, a conversation, or a feeling that sparked it?
Joni: It really started because we felt isolated as artists and as individuals. We thought: why not create a platform for Asian creatives and Asian voices? Somewhere we could come together, support each other, lift each other up.
Christopher: We didn’t want to wait for permission, for institutions to give us space. We wanted to build it ourselves. It wasn’t just about putting Asians on stage. It was about creating a place where we could be safe, be seen, be heard—for ourselves, and for each other. Asian Persuasion isn’t just an organization, it is an answer to years of feeling invisible.
AVE: Who’s part of Asian Persuasion today? How would you describe the vibe, the shared values, or what holds you all together?
Joni: It’s really diverse. We’ve got artists, poets, chefs, dancers, academics… people from all over Asia, and the Asian diaspora - whether they’re mixed, adopted or migrants. Some people come to perform, others just come because they’re tired of being the only Asian in the room. What brings us together is care. It’s not just about events, we’re building something that feels like family.
Christopher: It’s not perfect, but there’s a shared understanding that we’re here for each other. Even when we’re figuring things out, we still show up. The work of our artists is deeply personal, but also quietly political. Every gathering is an act of resistance against invisibility. For us, it’s not just about celebrating culture, it’s about inclusion, mutual respect, and understanding. That understanding is key to everything we do. We also stay mindful of things like cultural appropriation, because being thoughtful about how cultures interact truly matters.
A photo of an event organized by Asian Persuasion
AVE: What does it mean for you to create space for Asian artists in Belgium?
Joni: We use our platforms (our website, social media and especially the stage) to share a message: it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or who you love, be proud of yourself. Society often pressures us to choose: you’re either Belgian or Asian. Why should we? Carrying multiple cultures doesn’t make you less, it makes you more.
Every time we bring an Asian artist on stage, we’re saying: “we’re here, we’ve always been here, and we belong”. It’s not about seeking validation from the mainstream, it’s about showing up for each other and breaking silences. Together, we’re building a space where pride, inclusion, and mutual respect can thrive.
Christopher: Right now, Asian Persuasion is led by the two of us but we’re far from doing it alone. Our events rely on a core group of dedicated volunteers, most of whom come from the community. It’s essential that everything we do is community-driven, built from the ground up. We’re not a top-down organization. Our photographer has been with us since day one. Visitors have become team members. New artists continue to join us through open calls. Over time, we’ve created a real sense of family.
We take time to genuinely connect with people, and we often hear, “I normally wouldn’t share this, but you made me feel safe.” That’s the heart of what we’re building: a space where people feel seen, are supported and are part of something bigger. We want to grow together, share ideas and offer each other care and solidarity, both on and off stage.
Joni hugging an audience member off stage
AVE: How do you hold intersectionality in your work—across race, gender, queerness, class?
Joni: It starts with who we invite, intentionally bringing in artists who reflect a wide range of identities. We want everyone to feel safe and seen in our spaces. And when something threatens that space, whether it's a comment, a dynamic, or a misunderstanding, we address it. We’re also planning a panel on white fragility. It’s a difficult topic, especially with predominantly white audiences, but it’s a conversation that needs to happen. We want to approach it with care and openness—not shame, but reflection.
Christopher: We don’t treat intersectionality as something to perform online or check off in a grant application, it’s something we try to live in every part of what we do. Whether we’re working with artists, volunteers or potential partners, we create space for people to be fully themselves. And it’s not only about being Asian, it’s about the layers: being queer, adopted, neurodivergent, etc. Whatever makes someone feel like they’ve been pushed to the margins, we want to make room for that and make sure everyone feels they belong.
A photo of the audience at an event organized by Asian Persuasion
AVE: What’s a moment, project, or achievement that felt really meaningful to you?
Joni: Definitely our last event in Antwerp. You see, at our first two events, the audience wasn’t very Asian. But this time, after putting in so much energy to connect with the community, they really showed up. I couldn’t help but cry that night. It felt like something had finally bloomed. We weren’t just surviving anymore, we were celebrating. And we weren’t alone.
Christopher: Indeed, I looked around and for the first time, the room was filled mostly with Asian faces. It hit me: this is why we’re doing this. Everything came together so naturally. At a certain point, we just stood there and took it in: The energy, the love, the way the community showed up, it lifted us up. It’s an experience that’s hard to describe, but it’s so rewarding to see that growth happen.
A photo of the audience in a crowded event hall
AVE: What’s your hope for Asian Persuasion’s future—or for Asian diasporic communities in Europe?
Joni: My hope is that one day, a platform like Asian Persuasion won’t have to exist out of necessity. I dream of a future where that changes, where being Asian in Europe doesn’t come with so much invisibility. Until then, we’ll keep showing up, creating space and making sure we’re seen.
Christopher: I hope we can keep building bridges between generations, cultures, and communities. We started small, using art and culture as a way to connect and say, “We’re here. We have stories. We’re not just stereotypes.” I want us to keep growing: bigger events, discussions, podcasts, maybe even books or a documentary one day. But more than anything, I hope we stay soft. In a world that often tries to harden us, it takes real strength to remain open, kind, and vulnerable.
Performers playing the guitar, drums and bass on stage
AVE: And for folks reading this: how can they support, get involved, or follow what you’re doing?”
Joni: Come to an event. Follow us online. Tell your friends we exist. And if you’re an Asian creative, reach out! We’d love to connect.
Christopher: Support doesn’t have to be big. It’s as simple as showing up to an event, sharing a social media post, or saying, “I see you.” That kind of recognition means more to us than you may realize.
Photo credit: Sara Moreels (Joni and Christopher) and Benina Hu (event shots)
***
Asian Persuasion
You can follow Asian Persuasion’s journey and check out their open call for artists and creatives at www.asian-persuasion.com and on Instagram: @asian_persuasion_vzw.
***
📣 Asian Persuasion’s next big event is at Zinnema in Brussels—on 11 October 2025 a full-day celebration with a visual arts exhibition, a market, food, workshops, a panel discussion, an open mic and performances. Everyone’s welcome—no matter where you’re from.
