Hot Takes 🔥 Decolonisation, nativism & the fixation with ancestry

Unfiltered conversations, global perspectives, and cinematic drinks. Topic of the day: More and more political conversations focus on the past - while some activists on the left demand "decolonisation" others on the right push for "nativism" and everyone's return to their place of ancestral origin. But both sides seem to share one belief: that our identity depends on where our ancestors came from, even if that happened many generations ago. Should our roots really dictate who we are, or does building a life together right now matter more? Let's critique this fixation on our ethnic ancestry...

1. 🍻 The Left-Right Paradox: Why do both decolonisation and nativism label who you are by where your ancestors come from?
2. 🥂 Divided by the Past: Does fixating on our origins and roots trap us in boxes? Does it stop us from coming together?
3. 🏡 Beyond Heritage: Should our origin really matter when choosing who we want to be? Why, or why not?

Join a room of international minds, creative professionals, and cosmopolitans for our weekly late-night conversation lounge. We skip the small talk to dive directly into the gray areas of relationships, modern culture, and society.
Come for the perspective. Stay for the connections.

🍸 THE VIBE

• Curated Conversations: Sharp, spicy, and unfiltered topics. We tackle everything from cultural identity to institutional trust - we focus on personal philosophies and lived experiences rather than rigid point-scoring.
• Cinematic Backdrop: Hosted in the moody lounge of Curzon Aldgate, perfect for late-night cocktails and deep chat.
• Fluid Mingling: An organic mix of curated group discussions, then unstructured socializing over drinks.
• A Global Collective: Connect with international graduates, London's creatives, open-minded travelers, etc.

🕒 THE RUN SHEET

• 19:30 – 20:00 | The Warm Up: Arrive, grab a cocktail, and settle into the lounge space.
• 20:00 – 21:30 | The Hot Takes: We move into our hosted conversation circles. We rotate groups so you meet everyone.
• 21:30 – Late | The After-chat: The lounge bar stays open for late-night mingling and drinks.

📜 HOUSE RULES

1. Challenge Ideas, Not People: We love strong opinions, lightly held. No personal attacks.
2. No Soapboxing: This is an exchange of perspectives, not a lecture. Leave your monologues at home.
3. Be Present: Put the phones away during the conversation circles.
4. Open Minds Only: Bring your cultural background, leave your judgment at the door.

📍 THE DETAILS

• Where: The Lounge Bar at Curzon Aldgate, 2 Canter Way, E1 8PS.
• Entry: Free entry. Kindly support the venue by ordering a drink or snack at the bar.
• Dress Code: Smart/City Casual
• Transport: Aldgate East, Aldgate, Tower Hill/Gateway stations are all within a 5-minute walk.

🌎 ABOUT US
World Citizens is London's premier cosmopolitan collective. For over 15 years, we have curated high-vibe spaces, salon discussions, and cultural mixers for global minds, young professionals, and international expats living in the capital.

*Our other weekly events*
- Friday evening socials every week
- Cafe tour around London every Saturday
- Canary Wharf socials every other Wednesday
- Outdoor fun (hiking, kayaking, etc) every weekend
- Dining, cultural and travel activities on-demand

JOIN OUR TEAM!
We're all volunteers, so if you enjoy organizing activities or events in your spare time, while meeting great people every week, send a message to our team account "TP"!

DISCLAIMER
We are a 100% volunteer-run team. Though we have high standards in planning, this is a private informal activity so we cannot be liable for any damage or inconvenience. However, we put safety and comfort first. We take all complaints seriously, and take severe action against any harassment, verbal or non-verbal, and anti-social behaviour, towards our guests or team members. We collaborate with the police when needed. We take photos and videos which may include you to help promote the community in line with GDPR Data Protection law, as well as stock photos from Pexels or Unsplash. We may restrict or prioritize guests at our own discretion for safety, quality and logistics reasons. While our team's decisions may not be perfect we ask that you follow our decisions first and raise any disputes to discuss with us later and privately. By attending you understand, agree with and respect all terms of this disclaimer.