ROOTS

As part of our “Community Leaders” interview series, ROOTS met with George Patrick .plastic and Richard Akingbehin to talk about care, resistance, and belonging. All interviews in this series were filmed at Refuge Worldwide’s space .space in Neukölln, which was generously made available to us.

Co-founded by UK-born DJs and activists Richard Akingbehin and George Patrick in 2021, Refuge Worldwide is a radio station, cultural platform and event space broadcasting live from Berlin-Neukölln. Built around community, solidarity and diverse programming, it has become a vital space within Berlin’s music and arts scene, creating meaningful connections while responding to the needs and challenges of the moment.

British-Nigerian DJ, curator and co-founder of Refuge Worldwide, Akingbehin draws on the sonic innovations of Jamaican and UK sound system culture, using deep basslines and dub-inspired spatial effects to shape his blend of house and techno. His immersive, introspective approach has taken him to some of dance music’s most respected stages, including Dekmantel, De School, Draaimolen, Organik and Panorama Bar.

Alongside Refuge, he has been running Kynant Records since 2015, releasing deep techno from renowned artists such as Donato Dozzy or Terrence Dixon, while more recently focusing on dub-influenced productions. Through Refuge Worldwide, he has also served as Music Director for the Special Olympics World Games and curated cultural programmes for leading clubs, festivals, conferences and galleries across Europe.

Throughout our conversation, Richard and George reflect on how Refuge grew from a place of solidarity and collective care, rooted in the belief that supporting one another can create lasting change.

Watch our interview to discover their vision of community care and the people shaping it.

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