Leeds Libraries inaugural ‘Late’ event, bringing the library to life after hours through an evening of colour and creativity celebrating the explosive impact of Caribbean culture on Leeds and the UK.

From carnival to fashion, dub poetry to sound system culture, the influence and creative gifts of Caribbean people have become a treasured part of modern British society. Throughout history, Caribbean people have turned to culture as a form of resistance and protest, using creative expression to pave the way towards freedom, citizenship and a sense of home.

There’ll be no more quiet in the library as we fill the halls with music, poetry, workshops and talks, including exciting new work created by Leeds-based poets Khadijah Ibrahiim, Malika Booker, Vahni Capildeo with local communities in response to the Windrush: Songs in a Strange Landexhibition. Marking 70 years since the arrival of the Empire Windrush, this free exhibition at the British Library shed new light on the significance of the arrival of the Windrush, and told the story of Caribbean people’s struggles for social recognition, self-expression and belonging throughout history. It also explored the ways in which art and culture have been fundamental to this struggle. In this thrilling late event we’ll be breathing life into the exhibition and reinterpreting it for Leeds audiences, with the help of a talented selection of contemporary British-Caribbean artists from all corners of the creative landscape.

Take a journey between the bookcases and discover a burst of Caribbean culture behind every shelf, featuring:

AYANNA WITTER-JOHNSON

ANTHONY JOSEPH

DUB POETRY with ROGER ROBINSON

SOUND SYSTEM CULTURE PANEL with KHADIJAH IBRAHIIM

DJ FLUID IRIE

OPEN MIC with TESTAMENT

Plus:

LEEDS SOUND SYSTEM in ROOM 700

SEWING AND STORIES with MALIKA BOOKER

YOUNG AMBASSADORS from the GERALDINE CONNOR FOUNDATION

ARCHIVAL TOURS with VAHNI CAPILDEO

and POETRY BUSKING

Start your evening in the Tiled Hall café, where we’ll be providing all the maps and information you need to embark on your Caribbean adventure.

This event has been created as part of Poet in the City and the British Library’s project Collections in Verse working with Leeds Libraries, poets and communities to bring the British Library’s exhibition Windrush: Songs in a Strange Land to life in Leeds.