Festival Launch Event: Lewisham Lyricists curated by Emma Warren – Livestream

Join online to celebrate Lewisham's rich history of MCs and poets at this unique event, bringing together music, lyricism, poetry and spoken word; curated by Emma Warren.

The title Deptford Literature Festival in chunky black lettering outlined in bright yellow, sits on a background in pink and pale pink. It’s an illustration that includes an image of a hand with a pen, a closed fist, and the words ‘whose stories are told?’, ‘resistance’, ‘community’, and ‘history’.

Free to attend online. BOOK VIA EVENTBRITE HERE. 

Join us online and step into the vibrant heart of Lewisham’s lyrical creativity at this unmissable event, celebrating the borough’s rich history of MCs and poets. From the fast chat pioneers of the Saxon Sound System era of the 1980s, to today’s contemporary wordsmiths, experience performances that honour Lewisham’s vibrant culture and celebrate its future. Curated by Emma Warren, the event will include sets from Lezlee Lyrix, Belinda Zhawi, Cecil Ba and No Hats No Hoods (DJ set), a short film screening from SignKid, all accompanied by atmospheric and immersive soundscapes from the acclaimed Anja Ngozi. This one-of-a-kind evening bridges generations of creativity, capturing the heart and soul of Lewisham through spoken word and music. Join us for a celebration of music, language, rhythm and community that’s uniquely Lewisham.

**This listing is for the online livestream. To attend the event in-person, please visit: https://www.thealbany.org.uk/shows/lewisham-lyricists/

Access information:

  • This live stream will be captioned
  • If you require additional access provision in order to attend or take part in the Festival, for example, larger print handouts at workshops, or a scribe, please get in touch before the Festival day at: [email protected]

For more information about the access provision available, please visit: spreadtheword.org.uk/access-at-deptford-literature-festival

MORE INFORMATION AND BOOK TICKETS VIA EVENTBRITE

About the artists

Emma Warren

Curator


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British-Irish dual national and Lewisham resident Emma Warren has been documenting grassroots music and culture for decades. She is the author of Dance Your Way Home (Faber, 2023), Make Some Space, and Steam Down: Or How Things Begin which told the story of the Deptford jazz jam. Her pamphlet, Document Your Culture, has become a cult read for renegade archivists worldwide. Hosting a radio show on WWFM for six years, she also has a background in youth work.

Anja Ngozi

Festival artist


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Quietly redrawing the lines between genre and style, Anja Ngozi is a producer, DJ, soundtrack composer and visual artist.

Operating away from the centre, the south east Londoner has built a reputation with her own productions and DJ sets. Following a catalog of praised independent releases, she has brought her uniquely eclectic and intuitive sonics to soundtracks for Tate Modern, ICA, The Couch (Het Hem), V&A and more.

Her sought-after DJ sets move at her own freethinking pace, whether she’s exploring noise, ambient or high-tempo footwork. The same is true, doubled, for her club nights and collaborations through the collective she leads, Síbín.

Over the past few years, she's made a notable impression with her work and aesthetic, (often including elements of youth or community work) and establishing herself artistically with a list of collaborators. These include creatives such as Tirzah, Puma Blue, Fatima, Wu-Lu & Maiya Blaney.

Cecil B

Festival artist


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Cecil b is a poet rapper and musician from deptford. A proud lewisham native his work explores class, London, mental health, politics, love and more.

Collaborating with a number of fellow lewisham residents his work spans over ten years, and multiple genres with heavy influences from garage, punk poetry and uk hip hop.

Belinda Zhawi

Festival artist


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Belinda Zhawi (b. Zimbabwe) is a literary & sound artist based in London & Marseille, author of Small Inheritances (ignitionpress, 2018), & experiments with sound/text performance as MA.MOYO. She heavily collaborates with musicians in the ever growing South East London jazz and beat-making scene - mainly with harpist Marysia Osu. Her literary & sound works have been featured on various platforms including The White Review, Vogue, NTS, Boiler Room & BBC Radio. She’s held residencies with Triangle-Asterides, France; Cove Park, Scotland; Serpentine Galleries and ICA London. She was a Brixton House Associate Artist 2022 - 24 and is the co-founder of literary arts platform, BORN::FREE. Her debut album was be released on AD93 Records in November 2024.