Tangle Café 2018 - "How I Got Here"

This year’s Tangle Café took place on Wednesday 5th September at Yinka Shonibare’s Guest Spaces. It's theme was “How I Got Here” and the evening featured networking opportunities, open mic performances and music from singer-songwriter Geo. Our Company Manager Alexander Mushore was on hand to capture what happened throughout the night…

DOORS AND MARKETPLACE OPEN

The Café began at 7pm with our fantastic team of helpers setting up beforehand. Ben Newell and myself on the door. Taoana Tsiki on the bar assisted by Andrew Gichigi and Gabriel Akuwudike. Paula Morison and Imogen Wright in the kitchen preparing the food ordered courtesy of Rainbow Bakery. We had France Lions in her own space carving soap sculptures. An open marketplace for artists to distribute and market their work. Anna Coombs and Deborah Baddoo MBE multi-rolling. There were feedback walls painted by the artist Keone, encouraging reflection throughout the night with the questions: “What has inspired you?” “What has challenged you?” “What could Tangle do next?”

WELCOME TO TANGLE ARTIST CAFÉ

Guests were welcomed by our excellent MC’s Tonderai Munyevu and Justin Chinyere who explained the course of the evening. Each keynote speaker and open mic performer would have 3 minutes and to wrap off the evening a performance of a selection of songs by our headlining act, GEO. During the evening, guests would have access to a free drink and patties and cake from Rainbow Bakery!

KEYNOTE SPEECHES Our keynote speakers took to the floor wherever they were standing amongst the audience. All our speakers have made a big impact in the arts industry, we asked them to reflect on, ‘How I got there’.

1. Nemz Fola

Nemz is a rapper, he performed his song ‘Freedom’ from his album ‘Due Season’ .Twitter: @NemzFola / See more content here.2. Eugene MackiEugene Macki is an artist and presented some performance art, a series of words and actions.Twitter: @EugeneMacki / www.eugenemacki.com

3. Jennifer Lim and Daniel York

Jennifer and Daniel talked about their upcoming new production at the Arcola called Forgotten 遗忘, the little-known story of the 140,000 Chinese Labour Corps during WW1.

4. Ravy

Ravy is a rapper, singer, songwriter and performed her song ‘Broman’Twitter: @Ravylution / soundcloud.com/user-498594229

5. Mark Thompson

Mark is an actor and a poet he performed his poem ‘Cultural Chameleon’Twitter: @CCP_MrT / www.theccpress.co.uk

6. Joshua Liburd

Joshua is an actor and singer and performed his original song ‘Ooo’Twitter: @JoshLiburd

7. Lateisha Davine Lovelace-Hanson

Lateisha is an artist who spoke to us about a series of workshops she is leading addressing 'explore and engage with this question: ‘How Do We Live Now?’HIT THE GROUND WORKSHOP PROGRAMME / @hitthegroundtc

MUSIC by GEO

GEO and her band fresh from touring and performing in New York! She performs a selection of songs from her brand new album Aura (including Body, Aries and Forty Nights). A true Urban Folk treat!For previews and more details visit - www.geomusic.org/

CLOSING SPEECHES

Anna Coombs, Artistic Director at Tangle closes the evening with a rousing call and response in Shona and thanks everyone that made the evening a success. The team and guests socialise over drink, patties and cake till the end of the evening.