Attia: What’s your favorite self-care practice?

Bembona: ufff, I can't pick just one favorite because they all are so interconnected and the recent process of discovering & prioritizing my self-care practices has been beautiful. MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC...music digging, arranging, curating, dissecting, dancing, singin'. Being PRESENT...listening & honoring my body, my breath. Savoring every moment alone or with souls that I love and that nourish me, by using all 5 of my senses (especially when in nature). Saying NO, constantly learning & unlearning. Cooking with love, taking care of my exterior body in ways that I've never before. Unplugging from the outer world, RESTING, honoring the ebb & flow of it all, knowing that I won't be perfect but keeping in mind that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be on this self-care journey. 

Attia: How does DJing and performing impact your health? 

Bembona: It nourishes my spirit! DJing & performing reminds me of my power & my purpose especially since my work is always intentional and for my people. On the other hand, it has definitely had a negative impact on my physical body. When your spirit is on a whole other dimension of light & energy, but your body reminds you that there are limits. I've definitely lost rest, spiritual energy, liver health (haha) and time to balance out other aspects of my life, but I definitely think that this year has guided me in a necessary direction to tackle the future of my career differently.

Attia: Who has taught you the most in life so far?

Bembona: WOW, well definitely every single being that has been placed throughout my life has taught me so much! I'd say that my chosen family & extended family of revolutionaries, creatives, artists, healers etc. continue to enlighten me! They have all in their individual & collective ways (from close & from afar) taught me so much about the importance of community, of intersectional revolution, about love, about joy, about BEING, about making this lifetime & many lifetimes after us, a better place for ALL marginalized peoples. 

Attia: Where do you feel most at home?

Bembona: I would say that the "where" is a feeling; that feeling that's indescribable but when you feel it, you know it's home! I get these range of feelings when I'm having a deep, connective moment with the people that I love, when I'm lit on my way home smiling, basking under the magic of the moon & the stars, when I'm moving my body & sing-screamin' to my favorite songs without a care in the world...when I've taken the first bite of a meal that I've cooked...when I'm staring off into the endless ocean, bathing under the sun. These are feelings in time, very small moments that bring me back to HOME.

Attia: What is your favorite comfort food? 

Bembona: Dannng! This is way too hard to choose because I have sooo much love for A LOT of food but off the top of my head I'd have to say a bowl of soulful ass soup! It can be any season of the year, a bowl of Asopao', Pho, Sancocho, Caldo, etc. brings my body & spirit so much love and comfort.

You can watch some of DJ Bembona’s quarantine-era DJ sets here on Twitch. 

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