Join us for our first listening session part of SAFE & SOUND, our community generated archive and playlist.
In its first iteration we have partnered with @blmfest generating an intentionally Black and Queer playlist.
We recount the history of UK Black Queer party culture and explore its politics both in these space and beyond, accompanied by some of the story's key tracks.
Our first listening session will be chaired by Kayza Rose, the founding director of BLM FEST,
Joining the session are Campbell X, Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir, RHYAN JORDAN & a performance by Dr Keith Jarrett
Kayza Rose is a dynamic creative producer, artistic director, filmmaker, BLM activist and cultural leader based in London, UK. For more than a decade, she has focused her work on creating change for Black and POC through a variety of editorial, creative and artistic endeavours for companies and community-based organisations.
Kayza founded BLM Fest as a way to expand the narrative around Black Lives Matter. The vision is for a future that celebrates Black lives, the breadth of the Black experience and centres the fusion of our many different cultural expressions.
We do this through platforming and amplifying Black achievement through an annual festival and year-round engagements, led and produced by Black people for everyone.
www.blmfest.co.uk
Campbell X is a writer/director who directed the award-winning queer urban romantic comedy feature film STUD LIFE. His film Stud Life was voted by the Guardian as one of the top 10 Black British feature films ever made. It was also in Vogue magazine as one of the best films to watch in 2020. Stud Life was also selected by the British Film Institute as one of the top 8 queer films to view in 2021.
Campbell was one of the writers at the Royal Court for My White Best Friend theatre series. And he Co-directed with Chinonyerem Odimba with Talking About A Revolution at the Pump House, Lyric Hammersmith and Bristol Old Vic produced by tiata fahodzi.
Campbell's latest film Still We Thrive about Black joy and resistance, is now screening globally in film festivals. He directed and produced the short film DES!RE about joy and sensuality for men (trans and non-binary) and masculine women ie studs/butches and the documentary VISIBLE about reclaiming QTBIPOC UK history.
Campbell has just wrapped on his second feature Low Rider which was filmed in the Western Cape region of South Africa starring Emma Mcdonald and Thishiwe Ziqubu.
RHYAN JORDAN is a Multidisciplinary Artist, Musician, Producer and Curator from South East London. With over 5 years worth of experience, RHYAN JORDAN has worked with leading cultural creative agencies such as V&A, Somerset House, Peopledem Collective, WeOutHere Fest, Livity, Westfield, and local councils such as Lambeth. His creative practice as a genre-fluid artist mainly bridges the gap between Music and Art curation either through community or his own endeavours. His work also explores Black & Queer identities - celebrating The Black Experience with Influences ranging from Afro-futurism, African Spirituality and artists like Basquit and Prince.
Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir is an LGBTQ+ activist, cultural producer, and listed as one of the ‘Top 100 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers’ changing the world. She is the founder of Moonlight Experiences, an award-winning experiences company dedicated to the celebration of diverse queer culture and travel. Through harnessing the economic power of tourism and nightlife; Moonlight Experiences is decolonizing travel and tackling the lack of spaces for queer women, non-binary, and Black/POC members. Since launching in London, the organization has expanded to other cities in Europe, Africa, and USA. Aisha’s activism and community contribution also extend to the work she does as Head of Community Engagement for UK Black Pride and as a Trustee for GiveOut.
Dr. Keith Jarrett is a writer, performer and academic of Jamaican heritage. His work explores Black history, religion and sexuality. A multiple poetry slam champion, he was selected for the International Literary Showcase as one of 10 outstanding LGBT UK-based writers. Keith teaches at NYU London and is completing his debut novel.