For the first time this DON’T SLEEP ON US event will also be live streamed, book a free livestream ticket.
In our first event of 2022, we will come together to explore the ways that Black and non-Black people of colour have historically been grouped together as a monolith, and why it’s essential to unravel our diasporia identities in all their multitudes.
Join us to ignite curiosity in the nuances and disparities within Black and non-Black people of colour communities and how these have affected the ways we interact with each other.
Let’s use the space to reflect, have honest conversations and celebrate, so that we can collectively progress the conversation in a safe space curated exclusively by us, for us.
DON’T SLEEP ON US is not a traditional networking event. As usual there will be conversations followed by an open-mic section in true DON’T SLEEP ON US style for (absolutely) anyone who’d like to share their perspectives and projects.
There will be music, DJ Dibs and Adesuwa on the decks and you can expect the opposite of a cliquey vibe. You can come alone and not feel alone.
Ticket prices are a reflection of us trying to be inclusive – please choose concessions if it helps to pay less.
Face-masks will be mandatory.
Rich Mix is a wheelchair accessible venue, and there will be a quiet room for anyone who may feel overwhelmed.
This is a standing event – though lots of people sit on the floor cross legged. There will be chairs available for those who need it or prefer it.
SPEAKERS:
Banseka Kayembe – Banseka Kayembe is a freelance writer born in the UK, focusing on issues around race, gender and young people. She founded Naked Politics, an organisation that engages the youth in political issues, providing a platform for their voices and a transparent space to inform and educate. Banseka has written for a number of publications including British GQ, Vice UK, British Vogue, The Independent and Bustle UK.
Jonah Batambuze – Jonah Batambuze is a Ugandan-American, interdisciplinary artist, activist, and founder of the BlindianProject. Jonah created BlindianProject after researching anti-Blackness within South Asian communities and wanting a space to connect with Black x South Asian couples, create a platform to normalise and allow cross-cultural relationships between Black and South Asians to be seen. Later this year, the BlindianProject and the sister site, South Asian for Black Lives, will launch a curriculum to remove negative stereotypes and build solidarity between Black and South Asian communities. The BlindianProject has been featured by BBC World News, The Lily/Washington Post, The Times of India, and many other publications.
Yazzie Min – Yazzie Min is an artist, poet, activist, facilitator and community builder who founded the Stand for Humanity movement in 2016 to challenge apathy around social justice and invite people to recognise their power as individuals to make change. Yazzie leads organisations through racial justice work, creator and co-facilitator of Active Hope London leadership trainings, as well as holding sacred spaces for women of colour each month. Whether through performance poetry, as a speaker, facilitating workshops, or building communities, Yazzie’s goal of true Oneness remains the constant throughout it all. After recently becoming a mother, Yazzie has become Chair for the board of Neighbourhood Doulas; a service offered to vulnerable women and birthing people, to prevent them from having to birth alone. Her work has been featured with various organisations such as the BBC, her own TEDx talk, MTV, Samsung, Sony, Warner Music, Amnesty International, CBC Canada, Camp Bestival to name a few. Yazzie was also awarded the Woman of Excellence award for her leadership in humanity in 2019 at the Women’s Economic Forum, in Delhi, India.
PERFORMERS:
Shanaz Dorsett is a Londoner by way of Montserrat and Northern Cyprus and best known as one third of dance-pop trio Benin City. Having enjoyed support from Okayplayer and Afropunk, Dorsett opened for Kelis at a sold out Jazz Cafe show and her last EP, ‘Mother Tongue’ has been streamed over a million times. 2022 is set to be a transformative year with Dorsett releasing her first solo work since 2018. Expect lo-fi hiphop beats paired with shades of the artists who raised Dorsett – Joni Mitchell, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse and more. Dorsett says her music is borne of “my heritage, people on the train, Black Feminists, zines and immigrant aunties gossiping.” In many ways, Dorsett hopes to remind us all that the stories we encounter in our everyday lives are worth retelling.
Amrit Kaur Hailing from Tottenham, Amrit Kaur’s music has been described by OZY Magazine as the place ‘where Aretha soul meets Punjabi folk’. Praised by Rick Rubin for her live ability, Amrit Kaur has been named a BBC Introducing artist and a BBC Asian Network Sound of 2020 artist. She is a power-house vocalist and plays the Sarangi. Her notable performances include Glastonbury Festival and UN General Assembly alongside Skip Marley. During the pandemic, she featured on the new version of ‘One Love’ by Bob Marley, alongside the Marley family and musicians from around the world in support of UNICEF.
DJs:
Adesuwa is a DJ, Radio Presenter and Problem Solver whose mixes seamlessly blend her favourite genres, Afrobeat, Amapiano, RnB, Dancehall and everything in between.
Dibs is a London based DJ & creative coder. She plays a mix of Afrobeats, Alté & R&B inspired by her early years growing up in Lagos, Nigeria. Dibs has carved out a reputation for herself on the London scene and worked with brands and nights such as ASOS, HBO, Lovebox, Afropunk festival & Supa Dupa Fly to name a few When she’s not behind the decks she runs ANIM Sessions, a creative tech consultancy and enjoys travelling and making connections across the diaspora. Recently joined as a duo with Pedro, Mothaland aims to create unique experiences across the African diaspora through sound, culture and nightlife.
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We’ve reduced capacity for our events. Find out more about how we’re keeping you safe.
If you have any access requirements, please contact our box office team on 020 7613 7498 or email boxoffice@richmix.org.uk
