Join us as we explore a conversation of the growing black community here in East London and beyond. The conversation will be chaired by K Bailey Obazee, founder and director of PRIM, a platform for storytelling which also produces OKHA, a monthly queer + Black book club.
K is also a curator, consultant and researcher with a focus on storytelling, and in particular ensuring visibility of storytelling by people of Black ancestry. In additional to ensuring this is available and readily accessible. She has so far collaborated with Aesop, British Vogue, AKO Caine Prize. Worked as a researcher for Arts Council England, and been featured in The New York Times and Harpers Bazaar, as well as had guest appearances with Resident Advisor, Apollo Theatre, and gal-dem.
Born a Nigerian and raised in East London, working on building for and with her Queer & Black community in mind is numero uno.
Joining the panel is Nate Agbetu, a Creative Strategist and Cultural Producer who works to democratise design thinking. Their practice revolves around facilitating projects and storytelling with unchampioned voices. Examples of their work includes directing a film with the Design Museum, running co-creation workshops with community groups and leading strategy for the likes of Nike, YouTube, Paul Smith and more.
As well as, Bernice Mulenga is a multidisciplinary artist, prioritising in analog processes, based in London. Mulenga’s work centers their community and the experiences of Black people in the UK, this is amplified in their ongoing photo series ‘#friendsonfilm’. With the use of afro-documentary ‘#friendsonfilm’, is an exploration of the ways in which black bodies throughout the diaspora, navigate various spaces. Their work also explores the reoccurring themes surrounding their identity, sexuality, race and Congolese culture.
And finally, Faith Aylward. Faith is a multidisciplinary artist based in East London. Her mediums include photography, video, and dance (at the moment). Born to a Nigerian mother and British father, she sees her transcontinental upbringing as a big source of inspiration for her work. Her multicultural background has created subtle conflicts in her identity which has allowed her to explore many nuances in regards to personal and collective identity. In this series she turned her lens to the community of black creatives she has surrounding her – who also provide a source of inspiration for her on both a personal and creative level.
Responding to the brief, she has captured local east Londoners to support the celebration of Black History Month 2021. The theme is looking at the creative community that make up Hackney Wick and the surrounding east London black community. This is a celebration of how creatives are still thriving in the midst of a pandemic.
These images are capturing the essence of the work we are doing here at the Good Growth Hub to amplify the voices of the community, capturing key audiences and evoking the core themes of Good Growth Hubs ethos and represent the growth of the East London diversity and development of the landscape and development of the existing Black creative community
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