Image: Artist, Title, Medium, Credit
Black Atlantic is a weekend of public programming in Plymouth where participants are invited to consider how far racial equity and inclusion can serve as creative tactics for the imagination of just and sustainable planetary futures - here and now. The weekend is a celebration of such tactics in all their diversity and combined free events across the city as well as a ticketed programme marking the 30th anniversary of Paul Gilroy’s seminal book The Black Atlantic at The Market Hall in Devonport.
On 25 November at KARST, the day begins with a workshop by educator Tanisha Hicks-Beresford on joy as a decolonial strategy, followed by conversations with artists Sylvie Sema Glissant and Angela Camacho with Jelena Sofronijevic (EMPIRE LINES podcast) about their contributions to Against Apartheid.
The programme then moves to the Market Hall in Devonport, with Musical Passage, a free open jam session led by jazz educators Tomorrow’s Warriors and involving young people from across Devon and Cornwall. The ticketed programme commences with a keynote presentation by Françoise Vergès; songs performed by singer Angeline Morrison reflecting the Black British presence in English folk music over centuries; an in-conversation with renowned decolonial theorist Paul Gilroy and Jelena Sofronijevic (EMPIRE LINES podcast); and DJ Yoda’s 50 years of Hip-Hop set.
Planetary Imagination, an installation by Ashish Ghadiali originally commissioned by The Box, played on a loop inside the Market Hall’s immersive dome throughout the evening.
Throughout the day, food from the team at Jabulani was available at both KARST and The Market Hall.
| SATURDAY 25 NOV, KARST | 11:00–11:20 | Tanisha Hicks-Beresford (Joy Trail) workshop |
| 11:30–14:30 | Food by Jabulani | |
| 12:00–13:00 | Artist talk: Sylvie Sema Glissant with Jelena Sofronijevic | |
| 13:00–14:00 | Artist talk: Angela Camacho with Jelena Sofronijevic |
| SATURDAY 25 NOV, MARKET HALL | 15:00–22:00 | Installation: Planetary Imagination by Ashish Ghadiali |
| 15:00–17:00 | Open Jam Session with Tomorrow’s Warriors | |
| From 17:00 | Food by Jabulani | |
| 17:00-20:00 | Keynote Speech: Françoise Vergès (ticketed) | |
| Angeline Morrisson performance (ticketed) | ||
| In conversation: Paul Gilroy and Jelena Sofronijevic (ticketed) | ||
| 20:00–22:00 | DJ Yoda: 50 years of Hip Hop (ticketed) |
| SUNDAY 26 NOV, PLYMOUTH BARBICAN/THE HOE | 10:00–10:30 | Deep Listening Workshop with Ximena Alarcón-Díaz (Mayflower Steps) |
| 10:30–11:25 | A Silent Walk | |
| 11:25–11:30 | A short performance by Angeline Morrison (Peace Garden, Plymouth Hoe) |
