I co-led an arts and craft workshop at 'Echos of Africa' an event held at Factory International as part of Africa day. I facilitated this workshop as part of the CIC myself and two other creatives put together (Rooted Culture) to bring creativity and cultural knowledge to young people in African/ Caribbean communities
I was recently invited to lead a sip and paint session at a private event hosted in a family run restaurant. This opportunity allowed me to test and develop my facilitation skills in a relaxed, community oriented setting, an experience I thoroughly enjoyed and would gladly repeat.I had planned to lead another workshop, inviting women to explore the art of paper making and hair braiding, embellishing their creations with beads while reflecting on the historical ties between agriculture in the New World and the Black diaspora. I shared the flyer with the Black and Brown Creatives Society friends and family. The workshop aimed to foster dialogue around culture, identity, and shared heritage through collaborative making. However, due to a limited response, I decided to cancel the event, planing to use my CIC's platform to improve outreach and reintroduce it with stronger community engagement in the future.
I participated in an exhibition with the Black and Brown Creatives Society, curated by Deeqa Ahmed, themed Seed to Future, inspired by Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower. The concept resonated deeply with my practice, making it a fitting context to publicly present my ackee sculptures for the first time. It was great receiving feedback from viewers who connected the narrative of Kandake with the story of seeds carried by enslaved people. It was rewarding to see how the themes in my work translated clearly and how they interacted meaningfully within the shared space of the exhibition.
Aesthetics, founded and organised by Studio Blck, is a seasonal exhibition celebrating emerging talent in art and fashion. I assisted Saint Busari (The Founder of Studio Blck) with artist liaison, zine production, and the setup of the exhibition space. I also used the event as an opportunity to test a spoken word performance that incorporated audience participation through drumming. The drums proved to be an effective tool for capturing attention and drawing the audience into the performance, transforming them into active collaborators. This interactive element highlighted the communal themes central to my practice, reinforcing the power of shared creative experience.
I was invited to recite poetry at a Kwanzaa celebration, an Afrocentric event marking the start of the year. It was a meaningful opportunity to share work about culture, connection, and celebration with a community that included friends and family. As my first public reading of that nature, it was a special and memorable moment.