Join us for a special evening celebrating Black queer love and connection in all its forms. You will be treated to the powerful voices of emerging queer Black poets alongside a social dedicated to platonic and romantic connections, brought to you by The Common Press, Dope Black Queers and FEELD.
The event takes place on 6th November from 7-10pm at Second Home Spitalfields.
Together, we’re continuing the important work of amplifying Black writers, performers, and creatives—don’t miss this night of meaningful black queer expression and community!
Please note: This event is purely for Black lgbtqia+ people. If you are an ally and would like to support you can do so by purchasing a pay it forward ticket which will pay for a Black lgbtqia+ persons ticket who does not have the funds to pay for their ticket.
Event information
- Doors open at 7 pm
- Poets and readings from 7:30 pm
- Event until 10 pm.
About The Common Press
The Common Press is London’s queer intersectional bookshop located in the heart of Shoreditch, East London. It’s more than just a bookshop; it serves as a vibrant sanctuary for storytelling, queer culture, and community. As an essential third space for the LGBTQIA+ community, it provides a place to socialise and find literature and resources on trans-inclusive feminism, anti-colonialism, anti-fascism, ecopolitics, and self-care. This radical indie bookshop is led by a dedicated group of queer BIPOC, trans, non-binary folks, and queer women, and stocks over 7,000 curated books, including an expansive fiction collection, niche experimental zines, queer parenting manuals, poetry, guides to queer relationships and polyamory, and much more.
About Dope Back Queers
A community collective that sits at the intersections of Black, Queer, and Trans identity. We exist as a means to create intentional space!
About FEELD
Feeld is a dating app for the curious; those open to experiencing people and relationships in new ways. Polyamory, consensual non-monogamy, homo- and heteroflexibility, pansexuality, asexuality, aromanticism, voyeurism, and kink are just a few of the sexual identities and desires that make up the Feeld community.
Special thanks to The Second Home and FEELD.
Event Address: The Second Home Spitalfields, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
Please note ticket sales will go towards supporting The Common Press and Dope Black Queers.
Some of our featured artists for the evening are:
Chloe AyoDeji Filani:
Chloe AyoDeji Filani is an artist of Poetry, Performance, Black Feminism, Public Speaker and workshop facilitator. Her artistic practice/poetry works with her lived experience of being a black trans woman and the broader themes of identity of power structures and finding hope in the imagination and storytelling. As well as an exploration of the metaphysical and oral histories of Oriki poems She’s performed poetry at Prim Black and Burberry, Blackgirl picnic, Writerz Scribez, Home gallery, Touching Bass, 180 soho House and much more.
Ariel Collier:
Ariel Collier (she/they/we/our) is an accomplished international conceptual artist, writer, researcher and curator currently based in London. Collier's work challenges alienation and estrangement, using multiple mediums and collective organizing to shift our understanding of black queer culture towards our inner worlds, reflections and interconnections. Collier is the founder of Home Studio, a ubiquitous space dedicated to the promotion, empowerment and development of queer and trans global majority artists by hosting workshops, CRITS, making sessions and exhibitions.
Remi Graves
Remi Graves is a poet and drummer. A former Barbican Young Poet, their work has been featured on BBC Radio 4, at St Paul's Cathedral and in various anthologies. Past commissions include ‘a well worn path’ for Arthouse Jersey and ‘On Breathing’ for Barbican. Their debut pamphlet, 'with your chest', was published by fourteen poems in 2022. Remi won the inaugural 2024 Prototype Prize in the short form category.
Munesu Mukombe:
Munesu Mukombe is a London based Multi-Disciplinary Artist who works within writing, performance, and moving image. She writes autobiographical pieces that act as a framework to create intimate & vulnerable spaces for herself and the audience: contextualising abstract feelings around grief, racial oppression, interpersonal relationships, and self actualisation. She is deeply inspired by the subversion of musical theatre, pop culture, and music but is wanting to push this format further by reimagining the aesthetics of performances that incorporate RnB vocal arrangements, commercial choreography and experimental electronic music.
Keith Jarrett:
Keith Jarrett’s work explores Caribbean British identity, religion and sexuality. A multiple poetry slam champion, he was selected for the International Literary Showcase as one of 10 outstanding LGBT writers in the UK. His poem, ‘From the Log Book’, was projected onto St. Paul’s Cathedral and broadcast as a commemorative installation. His play, Safest Spot in Town, was performed at the Old Vic and aired on BBC Four. Selah, his poetry collection, was published in 2017. Keith teaches at NYU in London, is a Poetry Society trustee, and he is completing his debut novel.
Livia Kojo Alour:
An award-winning Nigerian – German-born poet, writer, musician and theatre maker based in London. She is the author of Rising of the Black Sheep, a daring memoir-style poetry collection short-listed for the Polari First Book Prize 2023. She also has a 10-year touring career as a professional sword swallower under her belt. In her music, Livia uniquely combines vocals spoken word & cinematic music to address cultural issues and tell her personal stories.
Her recent single Black Feet was released in July 2024 followed by The Garden. Livia is currently the support act to the British poet Anne Clark touring Europe 24/25.