ABOUT BLACK BEYOND BORDERS
In late 2022, Ebony stood at the Door of No Return on Gorée Island in Dakar, Senegal—a site central to the transatlantic slave trade. With ancestral roots stretching across seven West African countries, she felt the weight of history and the triumph of survival. The proverb echoed in her mind: “They tried to bury us, but didn’t know we were seeds.” Having been across the African diaspora, Ebony had seen the ways in which Black people have colored, flavored and textured the world. She wanted to share the beauty, creativity and dynamism of Blackness across the globe with others.
That moment planted a vision. In October of 2024, Ebony returned to Senegal to attend the Biennale, the country’s contemporary African art festival, and to begin her remote working year across the African diaspora. Her goal was to spend a month or more in 4 different countries across the Black diaspora. Armed only with a vlogging camera, my iPhone, and deep curiosity, Ebony set out to capture what I saw and felt—not polished or high-budget, but real, raw, and from my own lens. She shot TikToks, snapped photos, and told stories as they unfolded.
What began as a personal experiment evolved into Black Beyond Borders—a docuseries born out of passion, purpose, and the desire to share the food, music, creativity, and connections she experienced in Senegal (and cross the Black Diaspora) with friends, family, and a growing audience.
The Series
Black Beyond Borders is not a glossy production—it’s gritty, intimate, and intentionally DIY. The series is about capturing the beauty and dynamism of Blackness through Ebony’s eyes, around the world, on the ground, with the tools she had in her hands.
Each season will spotlight one country in Africa or the diaspora, dedicating 3–4 short episodes to exploring its history, art, food, and culture. Through a mix of TikTok-style vignettes, photos, and storytelling, she aims to highlight the vibrancy and diversity of Black life—as a traveler, a daughter of the diaspora, making connections along the way. Ebony goes on tours, visits friends, engages locals, meets expats and visits museums, neighborhoods and all the things the places she visits have to offer – touristy and off the beaten path.
Season One: Senegal
From street food to art galleries these episodes trace Ebony’s journey through Dakar’s dynamism. Along the way, she reflects on history, meets new friends, and tries to capture the essence of Senegal’s creativity and spirit.
The Vision
Black Beyond Borders seeks to:
• Celebrate the beauty and diversity of African and Afro-descendant heritage.
• Shift narratives about Blackness beyond stereotypes, showing vibrancy, innovation, and joy.
• Connect audiences to the cultural ties linking Africa with the Americas.
• Inspire travel, cultural exchange, and deeper appreciation of the global Black experience.
Fans of shows like High on the Hog will love this series—but instead of polished food shots and big budgets, you’ll get something raw, intimate, and personal. It’s travel, culture, and connection told the way Ebony lived it.
About The Host/Creator
Ebony Walden is a traveler, storyteller, life coach, and racial equity strategist. With stamps from 48 countries and all 50 U.S. states, she weaves her wanderlust into stories of connection, culture, and transformation. Ebony believes travel is a portal for transformation—a way to step into deeper liberation, and to move beyond our own borders, literally and figuratively.
By day, she runs Ebony Walden Consulting, helping organizations advance racial equity and build inclusive communities. She is also the creator of the Richmond Racial Equity Essays—an essay anthology, video, and podcast series exploring racial equity—and author of the forthcoming memoir (She Writes Press Sept 2026) about her 2010 journey around the world to 17 countries and 5 continents, where she wrote poetry, collected stories, and explored the beauty and brokenness of the world and within herself.
At the heart of all her work—whether consulting, coaching, writing, or content creation—is one vision: to create spaces for liberation, transformation, and deeper connection, across borders and within.
Her writing has been published in Sisters, on her Substack: Beyond Borders, and in outlets including Next City, Intrepid Times (forthcoming), Business Insider (forthcoming), The Hill, The Nature of Cities, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond Magazine, Christianity Today, and C-Ville Magazine. She has conducted workshops and talks at local, national, and international events such as Race Forward’s 2022 Facing Race Conference, SXSW, and the Caux Forum in Switzerland.
Ebony is the host of the Black Beyond Borders Podcast, which amplifies stories of Black repatriation and entrepreneurship abroad. She is also the co-host of Black Coochie, a bold creative podcast exploring the sexuality and spirituality of Black women.
She holds a Bachelor’s in business administration from Georgetown University and a Master’s in urban and environmental planning from the University of Virginia.
Mostly, she likes to laugh out loud, quote 90’s movies and songs, write about the lessons she is learning, delve into good conversation and of course, travel.
Ebony lives in Richmond, Virginia.
ATTEND A SCREENING
LAUNCH SCREENING
October 14
6 pm - 8 pm
Common House Richmond Screening Room (Basement)
303 West Broad Street
Join us for the premiere of the first two episodes, followed by a conversation with Ebony and special guests.
VIRTUALLY (EBONY'S 45TH BIRTHDAY!)
November 5
12-1 pm (est)
Celebrate Ebony’s 45th with a virtual watch party of the final two episodes. Open to the first 100 zoom registrants.
MORE SCREENINGS TO COME...
SUPPORT FUTURE SEASONS
Ebony has hours of footage from her 2024 Ghana trip and 2025 month in Medellín, Colombia. She wants to create the same kind of raw, story-driven episodes—highlighting food, culture, and the connections she made on the ground.
✨Ghana – Two episodes capturing her return to the continent, exploring food, art, history, and the spiritual depth of this vibrant nation.
✨Colombia – Two to three episodes from Medellín and beyond, highlighting Afro-Colombian culture, cuisine, and her time at The Festival of the Diaspora.
Your donations will help cover the costs of:
• Editing and post-production
• Branding and design
• Promotion, screenings and community events
By donating, you’re not just supporting a series, you’re helping shift narratives, celebrate Black culture, and amplify the global connections that bind us.
My goal is to raise $15,000 and the next season out by early 2027.
Your support will help make it possible.
CONNECT WITH EBONY
Copyright 2025 | Ebony Walden | Black Beyond Borders