A weekend festival of Caribbean literature and liming.
At this biennial two-dayer, writers, artists and raconteurs from the Caribbean and its diaspora, and guest speakers, probe the narratives of Caribbean artistic expression and identity in a convivial and wide-ranging festival.
In a year that marks two 70th anniversaries, the docking of the Empire Windrush and the formation of the NHS, we explore the extent and the symbolism of Caribbean migration and endeavour in England whilst also marking the significant presences and contributions long before 1948. The festival also has a focus on the narratives, experiences and hidden histories of the many ethnicities that form a part of the Caribbean’s history and its contemporary diaspora – including African, Chinese, Amerindian, South Asian, European and more.
Featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson, Kerry Young, John Agard, new poems by Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, Valerie Bloom, Jacob Ross, Kei Miller, Shivanee Ramlochan, Hannah Lowe, Kevin Le Gendre, Anita Sethi, Joy Francis, Kristy Warren, Gemma Romain, Stephen Bourne, Anna Walker, Celeste Ramos, Michael Brome, Nzinga Soundz featuring Junie Rankin and our first festival Calypsonian-in-Residence, Tobago Crusoe.
Festival curated by Melanie Abrahams. Produced by Renaissance One as part of The Independence Project.
Image: Maria Nunes Photography
Tobago Crusoe, Alexander D Great, Melanie Abrahams and James Ingham reignite the passion of calypsonian Lord Kitchener's (Kitch) urban love song, "London Is The Place For Me". Developed as part of Renaissance One's celebration of diversity and orality in a festival of the same name, the video will grow and change as different performers add their own contributions to the song.