Black Art in London

Read our article about where to buy African and Caribbean art in London

Browse the Arts section in our archives for more features and interviews on Black Art: click here

 

 

 

 

Black Film Festivals in London

Film Festivals are a great opportunity to see independent films that you would never see otherwise. We’re quite lucky that London is home to quite a few, celebrating everything to African, Afro-American and Black British cinema.

Images of Black Women: Our favourite festival. They have screened gems such as Chico & Rita, For Coloured Girls and I Will Follow. Usually over 4 days, the event also includes a filmmaker’s forum and workshops. (March)

Film Africa: This celebration of African cinema has taken many forms and many names over the years. The 2011 festival was the biggest yet and included live music events as well as screenings. (November)

Caribbean Film Corner: Free festival featuring short and feature films from the Caribbean diaspora. A very worthy initiative, as films from that part of the world are often overlooked. (September)

BUFF: The British Urban Film Festival features free screenings of homemade black productions. The programme includes shorts, feature films, documentaries and Q&As. (September)

 

Literary Events in London

The following organisations and venues organise literary events around black writing all year long:

African Writers evening: Writers from the African diaspora and beyond read excerpts from their books every other month.

Book Slam: Their title of London’s best literary night club is totally deserved. The events mix readings, spoken word, live music and DJ; and have featured authors such as Zadie Smith, Ekow Eshun, Andrea Levy, Ben Okri or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Southbank Centre: Their Literature and Spoken Word events line-up is always interesting, with artists such as Lemn Sissay, Nick Makoha Charlie Dark often gracing the stage.

Reggae & Bashment Club Nights

Check out the following promoters for info on reggae, dancehall and bashment nights:

Reggae Roast: Promoting conscious roots music in London and the UK. Previous guests to their basement shows include Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Sly & Robbie, Gappy Ranks, Mad Professor, etc…

University of Dub: Monthly sessions featuring sound-systems playing roots reggae music and special dub plates

The Heatwave: The UK’s number one bashment sound, from their weekly Rinse FM show to raves.

 

Museums

Black Cultural Archives: The BCA collects, preserves and celebrates the contributions of Black people to British culture. The BCA is currently working on relocating to a Black Heritage centre in Brixton.

British Museum: Room 25 at the British Museum includes objects  relating to ancient and contemporary African cultures. Also look out for special exhibitions and walking tours of the museum organised by Black History Studies.

Museum of London Docklands: Visit the only permanent exhibition to examine London’s involvement in transatlantic slavery in the London, Sugar & Slavery gallery.

Victoria & Albert Museum: We love the V&A for their eclectic Friday Late events that include live performances, fashion, displays and installations.  They also host a number of Black History Month Events as well as the Caribbean UK Film Festival.

 

R&B Parties With Progressive Entertainment

If you are looking for a good r&b night, then check out the events organised by Progressive Entertainment:

• Poetry n Motion, the last Sunday of the month, features a live showcase on one floor, while a DJ spins on the top floor
• Spanish Harlem, the first Saturday of the month, features free salsa lessons and 2 rooms dedicated to r&b and salsa music

Also look out for PE’s bank holidays parties (April, Carnival and New Year’s Eve).

Caribbean Entertainment with Poison UK

Poison UK are the number one promoters when it comes to Caribbean entertainment. They organise soca parties all night long; dinner & jazz parties as well as events and excursions around the Notting Hill and Rotterdam carnivals.

Caribbean Parties with Busspepper

Party all night to soca, reggae, dancehall and Caribbean rhythms with Busspepper. They organise club nights all year long at venues as plush as Abacus, APT and The Gable.

Mainstream Film Festivals Of Note

As a rule, film festivals have a programme that is quite inclusive, with productions from all over the world. Below are listed the festivals where you will find interesting movies from Africa and the diaspora.

 

Human Rights Watch Festival London: Documentaries and dramas from all over the world highlighting human rights issues. (March)

I Will Tell Film Festival: A festival that aims to raise awareness of global and local issues: relationships, war, poverty, racism and reconciliation. (September)

The London Film Festival: the biggest film event in the UK. Browse through the World Cinema strand for the best of what modern black cinema has to offer. (October)

 

Kizomba and Afro-Latino Dance With Kizomba UK

Kizomba UK promote Afro-Latin cultural events in London and around the UK. Check out one of their London club nights to dance to zouk, kizomba, kuduro, funana and other Afro-Latin party music.

Find out more about Kizomba UK with this interview 

Spoken Word Events in London

For info on spoken word events in London, please refer to these organisations and venues:

Apples and Snakes: Promote poets and spoken word events in London in the UK. This should be your first port of call if you are a poet.

The Poetry Society: Promote poetry and hold poetry events and readings almost every night in their Covent Garden cafe.

Farrago Poetry: London’s longest-running slam poetry promoters.

ONiT: Focused on raising the profile of spoken word and performance poetry. ONiT PR represents artists such as LeeN, Beyonder and OneNess Sankara. Get on their mailing list to know when these poets are performing.

 

Check out our interviews with two of Londonn’s most notable poets:

Inua Ellams

Dean Atta

 

Live African Music in London

The venues and organisations to check for when looking for live African acts in London:

Kemia Bar @ Momo resto: this basement bar plays hosts to intimate gigs by artists from Africa and beyond.

Passing Clouds: Daily evening events that champion diversity, with gigs that range from Asian to West African music.

Afrobeat Vibrations: Monthly afrobeat sessions with Dele Sosimi (Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80). Followed by DJs playing afrobeat, afro funk until the early  morning.

Barbican: The biggest stars in African music have graced the stage of the Barbican: Hugh Masekela, Angelique Kidjo, Orchestra Baobab, etc…

Joyful Noise: The producers of the annual London African Music Festival

Afropop Live: Their roaster includes Wanlov The Kubolor & M3nsa

Cokobar: For the latest Afrobeats / Naija music events and tickets

Focus Organization: They put the spotlight on music from the African diaspora

Soulful Nights In London

Groove Lineage / Keep The Faith: Hosts of weekly and monthly neo-soul nights and live performances in Camden.

Got Soul: Every Sunday at Juno Bar. With DJs on rotation.

Amplified: Alternative soul collective, champions of neo soul and alternative black music.

Soulbrew: Funk, soul, hip-hop, boogie, reggae and disco from DJs Andy Bird and Spin Doctor (The Doctor’s Orders)

African Club Nights With Atlantis Club

Monthly club night with retro zouk, Caribbean beats, kizomba and afro-beats. Kizomba class from 20h to 21h, followed by a club night. With DJs Djahman (French Caribbean) and DJ Pat (Africa).

Every second & last Friday of the month

Dance Venues and Theatre

Check out the programme of these venues for the latest and best dance shows:

Sadler’s Wells: The #1 venue dedicated to international dance, from ballet and flamenco to jazz and street dance. They host Breakin’ Convention every year in May and count Zoonation as one of their resident companies.

The Place: Centre for dance, with performances presenting independent companies throughout the year.

Stratford Circus: Partners of the East London Company, they host several of their dance shows

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