Spaces of Resistance: Art and Social Justice in 1980s Brixton
Join Autograph Gallery at this symposium examining the social history and legacy of Brixton in the 1980s. Tickets £15. Book via Autograph.
IRIE Mind weekly Supermarket & Cafe
IRIE Mind is holding an expanded programme of cost of living support with funding from Hackney Giving. This runs for 12 weeks for Hackney residents of Black, African and Caribbean heritage experiencing the most urgent need. Every Friday they run a culturally diverse food bank and weekelt community hot means for Black residents. Find them at The Recovery Hub 15a, Homerton Row E9 6ED. Find out more about Irie Mind.
Cafe opens: 10.30 - 11.30
Supermarket 11:30 - 12:30
Interactive Storytime
Join Suezette from Mummy Off Maternity for a fun, interactive session for toddlers. With a focus on African heritage and history, there are stories, songs, craft activities, toys and instruments! 11am, every Friday at Clapton Library.
For Those Who Need Hugs
For Those Who Need Hugs is a ethereal space for sensitive souls to explore healing through soulful music and holistic moments with full live band and 3 amazing artists. You can expect genres like R&B, Soul, Reggae, Afrobeats delivered with a vibe like no other. Book now via Hoxton Hall
Nourishment presents: Vision Night
Join Nourishment for Vision Night, an intimate evening designed for creatives to map out their dreams, set game-changing goals, and gain inspiration. They’ll explore setting SMART goals (think achievable and life-changing, not overwhelming), discuss dos-and-don’ts for 2025, and craft vision boards that turn your aspirations into tangible works of art. Whether you’re team paper and glue or all about digital aesthetics, we’ve got you covered. There will be opportunities to write a letter to your future self, bring your own photos and participate in group tasks. Expect a vibrant space for networking, meaningful conversations, and even sparking collaborations with new creative homies. Book here.
IRIE Mind weekly Supermarket & Cafe
IRIE Mind is holding an expanded programme of cost of living support with funding from Hackney Giving. This runs for 12 weeks for Hackney residents of Black, African and Caribbean heritage experiencing the most urgent need. Every Friday they run a culturally diverse food bank and weekelt community hot means for Black residents. Find them at The Recovery Hub 15a, Homerton Row E9 6ED. Find out more about Irie Mind.
Cafe opens: 10.30 - 11.30
Supermarket: 11:30 - 12:30
Interactive Storytime
Join Suezette from Mummy Off Maternity for a fun, interactive session for toddlers. With a focus on African heritage and history, there are stories, songs, craft activities, toys and instruments! 11am, every Friday at Clapton Library.
Slow Jams & Spoken Word
Get ready for a night of love, creativity, and soul at Slow Jams & Spoken Word, our special pre-Valentine’s open mic event on Tuesday, 4th February 2025 at Grow, Hackney. Expect spoken word poetry, live music, interactive games, and a carefully curated playlist of slow jams, R&B, neo-soul, and more. Plus, there’s a pop-up photoshoot with our founder Ovyuki to capture the magic!
£5 on the door or book via Eventbrite
Babymother - The First Black British Musical + Q&A
The Rio Cinema and Never Watching Movies is excited to announce a special screening of Babymother (2000), the FIRST black British musical on February 13th with the film’s director Julian Henriques in person for a Q&A.
Synopsis: Musician Anita (Angela Lauren Smith), brings her friends Sharon (Caroline Chikezie) and Yvette (Jocelyn Esien) together to form an all girl music group but come in conflict with Anita’s reggae artist husband Byron (Wil Johnson) who wants her to set aside her dream and focus on raising their children. Following a series of revelations around the truth of her mother Anita is pushed to find balance between pursing her dreams, taking care of her children and finding herself. With stunning costume and make-up design, the film delivers a gorgeous reflection of Black British creativity, style and sisterhood.
The film’s director Julian Henriques is a British filmmaker, researcher, writer and academic. He is a professor at Goldsmiths, University of London, in the Media and Communications Department, with his particular research interests being culture, technology and reggae sound systems.
Doc 'N Roll presents: God Said Give 'Em Drum Machines
GOD SAID GIVE ‘EM DRUM MACHINES is the story behind one of Detroit’s great contributions to world culture: techno, the electronic-music phenomenon created by Black artists in the 1980s that would transform dance music worldwide and ultimately blossom into the multibillion-dollar EDM industry of today. In the spotlight: and more. This is an African-American story delivered straight from the city that gave birth to it: Motor City native Kristian R. Hill directs, Detroit-born Jennifer Washington and David Grandison are producers, and in the spotlight are creative forces including Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Blake Baxter, Santonio Echols, Eddie Fowlkes and more.
For more info and to book tickets visit the Rio cinema.
Ballet Black: Shadows
Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black makes its return to Hackney Empire with an exciting new double bill including Pancho's darkly comic adaptation of Oyinkan Braithwaite's international bestselling novel, My Sister, The Serial Killer.
The double bill is completed by Brooklyn-born, award-winning choreographer Chanel DaSilva, making her British choreographic debut.
Ballet Black has transformed the landscape of British ballet, creating a prominent platform for dancers and artists of Black and Asian descent, as well as establishing a new canon of ballet repertoire that resonates with audiences around the world.
Memories 2025: Past, Present and Future
Join Hackney Empire for the Memories Celebratory Event 2025, marking the 20th anniversary of Robert Levy’s passing, a courageous 16-year-old who lost his life to knife crime while aiding another. This evening honours young victims from our community through powerful dance, spoken word, music, and film performances.
Celebrate the achievements of Rise.365, Inspired Futures, prominent local organisations and community groups. The event will feature special guest performances and the presentation of the ‘Inspired to Rise’ Award to young individuals making a positive impact. Book now via Hackney Empire
Interactive Storytime
Join Suezette from Mummy Off Maternity for a fun, interactive session for toddlers. With a focus on African heritage and history, there are stories, songs, craft activities, toys and instruments! 11am, every Friday at Clapton Library.
Sidney Poitier’s A Warm December
This festive season, join the Rio cinema for the suspenseful and soulful romance of Sidney Poitier’s tender drama A Warm December (1973) complete with mulled wine and mince pies.
Starring Earl Cameron and Yvette Curtis this London-set classic is the perfect winter warmer. Book your tickets now via the Rio.
Tastes of Africa
Arcola Theatre & Elufowoju jr Ensemble invite you to share your sounds, your looks and your taste of Africa at a big celebration of all 54 African nations.
Call To Action presents Set It Off film screening
Reclaim The Frame presents a special screening of SET IT OFF as part of our Call to Action season, centering women of colour in front of and behind the camera in the action genre.
SET IT OFF is a beloved 90s cult classic, reclaiming and transcending the male dominated heist genre by centering the unshakable bond between women. For a conversation around the film, they will be joined by activist & UK Black Pride CEO Lady Phyll, film journalist and presenter Ellen E Jones, moderated by producer and our Trustee, Tolu Stedford.
Hackney Picturehouse. Book your ticket now. bit.ly/RTFSetItOff
Black British Film and Activism
A panel discussion exploring the role film has played in Black British activism, particularly in telling the often-silenced stories of women.
In Conversation with Marcia Carr - Black History Season
‘In Conversation with' will shine a light on the talents, skills and experiences of her guests through the lens of the theme of this year's Black History Month - reclaiming the narrative.
Ferguson Rises + Q&A
Before the explosive global uprising condemning the murder of George Floyd, there was a small town in Missouri that erupted in protest after the Aug 9, 2014 killing of unarmed Black teen Michael Brown Jr. by a white police officer. It was this small town and its people that propelled Black Lives Matter to international prominence and inspired a new global civil rights movement. To understand this present moment, we must understand what happened in Ferguson.
It‘s okay to begin where we begin: An archival research workshop
In response to Peer’s current solo exhibition by artist Onyeka Igwe, history is a living weapon in yr hand.
Students from MA Curating and Collections at Chelsea College of Art, University of the Arts London curate a collaborative archival research workshop to explore personal and historical archives together with Igwe and a small group of contributors.
To My Sisters Live in London
To My Sisters is back for the 4th live show of the year!
From the creators of the award-winning hit podcast, To My Sisters, is the annual gathering of the sisters in no other than the city it all started in: London.
3rd New Perspectives on the History of African and Caribbean People in Britain Conference
Join in at BSix College for a day filled with insightful discussions, engaging presentations, and networking opportunities.
This 3rd instalment of History Matters New Perspectives Conference aims to spotlight new and emergent research on the histories of African and Caribbean communities in Britain.
Steel Rhythms
Celebrate 36 years of Pantonic Steel Orchestra with music, exhibits, and workshops, honouring Black history and Hackney's steel pan legacy!
If Mi Nuh Laugh Mi Cry! Comedy Night
Athena Kugblenu, Nabil Abdulrashid, Sharon Wanjohi and other guests raise the roof in a hilarious BHM comedy special at the Rio Cinema.
The Sheba Montserrat Variety Show - featuring Winston Reedy
The Sheba Montserrat Variety Show celebrates London’s vibrant talent. Headlining the show is classic reggae singer Winston Reedy.
Half-Term Family Craft Session
Join us for a family craft session celebrating Black History Season! We'll be learning all about adinkra symbols and making our own bookmarks! No booking required. Best for ages 4 and up.
Half-Term Family Craft Session
Join us for a family craft session celebrating Black History Season! We'll be learning all about adinkra symbols and making our own bookmarks! No booking required. Best for ages 4 and up.
A Night in Honour of Gboyega Odubanjo - Readings
Join us for a special night to honour the life and legacy of Gboyega Odubanjo. Includes readings from Kareem Parkins-Brown, Raymond Antrobus, Tice Cin and more. Free.
A Night in Honour of Gboyega Odubanjo - Poetry Workshop
Join Poet and Visual Artist Kareem Parkins-Brown, who will lead a generative poetry workshop using the work of Gboyega as inspiration. All abilities welcome, open to all.
Half-Term Family Craft Session
Join us for a family craft session celebrating Black History Season! We'll be learning all about adinkra symbols and making our own bookmarks! No booking required. Best for ages 4 and up.
Black History Season - War Inna Babylon
Visit Hackney CVS's annual Black History Exhibition and event in collaboration with renowned activist Stafford Scott.
Mr Loverman + Q&A with Lennie James
Dark Matter is delighted to present the first two episodes of the highly anticipated BBC One drama Mr Loverman, here in Hackney where much of the show was shot.
Half-Term Family Craft Session
Join us for a family craft session celebrating Black History Season! We'll be learning all about adinkra symbols and making our own bookmarks! No booking required. Best for ages 4 and up.
Half-Term Family Craft Session
Join us for a family craft session celebrating Black History Season! We'll be learning all about adinkra symbols and making our own bookmarks! No booking required. Best for ages 4 and up.
BABYLON + Special Community Q&A Panel
Rio Cinema presents Franco Rosso's Babylon (1980). Banned on release in the US in fear of inciting riots, Babylon follows Jamaican-British youngster Blue's day to day in Brixton. Includes Q&A hosted by musician Nubiya Brandon. The conversation will take the opportunity to hear the real-life experiences of those who grew up in the Caribbean-British community of 1980s London.
An Introduction to Black British Literature
Join us to explore the work of some important Black British fiction writers.
An Introduction to Black British Literature
This workshop, An Introduction to Black British Literature, is for anyone wanting to explore some important Black British writers, from ER Braithwaite, Buchi Emecheta, Andrea Levy, and Zadie Smith through to Alex Wheatle. We’ll discuss some of the history and context of Black British Literature and read some texts together. Free!
Dr Ronx Presents: How to Save a Life
Join Dr Ronx for a hands-on workshop on life-saving techniques and learn how to be a hero in emergency situations!
Babylon + Q&A Panel
To close Black History month celebrations across Hackney, Rio Cinema presents an in-house favourite with Franco Rosso’s Babylon (1980).
The film will be followed by a live on-stage Q&A panel hosted by musician Nubiya Brandon.
Bushtea and Cake - ‘Reclaiming the Narrative’ Community Debates
Get ready for the four electrifying Friday Evenings to celebrate Black History Month with the theme: “RECLAIMING THE NARRATIVES”.
Growing Minds Workshop
Are you aged 13 - 18?
Are you from mixed African-Caribbean background?
Growing Minds invites you to a 6-week workshop series on mixed-race identity.