Lets Talk Conference: Conversations examining the Global Ethnic Majority and the Cultural Sector with Panya Banjoko, Joon Lynn Goh and Lara Ratnaraja
Conversations about the Global Ethnic Majority* within (or outside) the cultural sector aren’t happening enough. The Let’s Talk conference will address the imbalance by exploring key topics through conversations with artists and communities. Panya Banjoko, Joon Lynn Goh and Lara Ratnaraja will lead conversations exploring the notion of space, connections, and the need for public discourse to be led by, with, and for the Global Ethnic Majority.
Three days full of provocation, conversation, and inspiring dialogue. Find out more here Let’s Talk
*NAE defines Global Ethnic Majority as a collective term that refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or have been racialised as ethnic minorities.
Nonsuch Studios Talk and Q & A with Panya Banjoko
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 7pm
In 1562 John Hawkins, English naval administrator, and one of the foremost seamen of 16th-century England, left England on the first of three slaving voyages defining his career as a merchant in the African slave trade and status as the first English slave trader. Slavery was finally abolished in 1807, however it continued in parts of the British West Indies and was not completely eradicated until 1833.
Today, the living legacies of colonialism continues to impact on Black people across the world and remains an under-explored area in Nottingham. This talk aims to address this imbalance by highlighting significant people, such as architects, financiers, and decision makers with a colonial connection in the city.
This event will consist of a one-hour talk, followed by a Q&A session with Panya after a short break! For more information see Nonsuch Studios
Events 2022
POETS AGAINST RACISM GOES GLOBAL
Thursday 12 May 2022, 7.00PM-10.00PM, The Old Cold Store, Queensbridge Road, Nottingham. NG2 1NB.
Poets Against Racism UK, Poets for Refugees and Poets Against Racism USA will celebrate the power of resistance poetry with a fantastic international poetry evening. The aim is to share the love of poetry and build solidarity with all refugees across the world.
A night of inspiring spoken word from some brilliant poets including, Panya Banjoko (Poet, Writer, and activist), Debbie Allen (Poet and Co-founder of Poets Against Racism USA), Cara Thompson (Winner of SlamOVison global spoken word competition), Laura Grevel, Martin Grey, True Colours, and many more. The event will be hosted by Manjit Sahota, and donations are welcome for Refugee Action.
Creative Approaches to Using Archives Seminar
Thursday 3 March 2022, 6:00PM – 7:30PM, Online – via Zoom
A Black British History Series seminar by the Institute of Historical Research on Creative Approaches to Using Archives. Speakers include: Panya Banjoko (Nottingham Black Archive), Avril Nanton (Avril’s Walks and Talks), and Tony Thompson (Sweet Patootee). For more details click here
Making Research Visible at the National Justice Museum
15 January 2022, Drop-in 11am-3pm, FREE.
Researcher in Residence, Panya Banjoko will be in the project lab at the National Justice Museum sharing some of the fascinating stories she has discovered researching into the building, architecture, and material quality of the museum. Panya will be happy to answer questions about her research and she will be sharing some of the fascinating stories she has discovered and how the research will be used.
If you have stories about the people linked to the making of this historic building, please bring them along too.
Events 2021
03 December 2021, 7pm.
An evening with Candlestick Press: Christmas Movies: A Double Bill of Festive Poems. An online Zoom launch of Candlestick’s new anthology of poems about Christmas films. With readings by a whole host of guest poets from around the world including Panya Banjoko reading ‘The Stopover’ – this will be an uplifting celebration of some best-loved films.
Book your place on Eventbrite.
19 September 2021, 12.00pm – 1:00pm
Black British History Through The Lens – Vanley Burke, ‘the godfather of Black British photography’, is joined by leading writer and campaigner Patrick Vernon OBE, creator of the 100 Great Black Britons list and co-author of the book, as they use a special selection of his iconic photographs as a starting point to explore the last 50 years of Black British history. This event is chaired by leading poet and archivist Panya Banjoko who is co-founder of the Nottingham Black Archive. Location: Blackfriars Prior, Ladybellegate St, Gloucester, GL1 2HN
17 July 2021, 11.00am – 2:00pm
Poetry You Can Hold is part of The Festival of Small Things, a celebration of true encounters, intimate exchanges and the joy of things you can hold.Taking place all around Nottingham.
Panya Banjoko with a typewriter will be stationed across the city of Nottingham, typing out poems by hand for passersby, 11am – 2pm, at A Room Full of Butterflies, Sherwood.
30 May 2021, 5.45pm – 8:00pm
27 May 2021, 10:10am-1:00pm
Derbyshire Creative Heritage Conference
I will be speaking about Nottingham Black Archive as activism at the Derbyshire Creative Heritage Conference. Booking via Eventbrite in the link below.
19 May 2021, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Henry Normal’s New Poetry Society
Panya and Henry chat about life and poetry. Free: Booking required: More info: https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/reading-information/henry-normal-new-poetry-society/
9 April 2021, 10:30-11:30am
WEM Conference 2021: Panel – The Power of Poetry
Poetry comes in many guises and our panellists are as diverse in their outlook and experience as they are in their style of writing. We ask them what it is about poetry that draws them to it, and how it informs their work in general. Can anyone learn to be a poet and can writing poetry make us better writers?
Chair: Emteaz Hussain Panel: Panya Banjoko; Sue Dymoke, John Berkavitch.
25 March 2021, 7:00pm-9:30pm
WRAP Café
WRAP Café gives you a chance to meet up every month with a community of other writers and readers, to talk, listen to their work – and maybe share your own.Sign up beforehand for our five-minute Open Mic slots and read us your prose, poetry, plays – why not take along your work from the WRAP writing workshops? Make your voice heard like never before in this café for creatives. On Thursday 25 March we’ll be treated to a performance from Nottingham poet, Panya Banjoko.
24 March 2021, 7pm
OKECHUKWU NZELU
Supported by Panya Banjoko and Lauren Morey
Chaired by Jenni Ramone
Space is limited; advance registration required. Click here for registration link.
12 March 2021, 10-11.30am
Creative Writing with Panya Banjoko
Get experimental with poet Panya Banjoko and create poetry in response to the theme ‘where the power lies’. Book via Eventbrite here.
Panya the Poet 
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