Origins Untold is a community arts organisation presenting music, poetry, visual arts, fashion and food inspired and created by people of the African diaspora. This summer, as part of the Fringe Open, we're hosting a series of events celebrating Black history and culture in preparation for the Origins Untold Festival, beginning in October 2021. Join us as we share our untold stories in Folkestone – breaking stereotypes, making unseen connections and unearthing buried histories.
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Led by Aida Silvestri, Josie Carter, & Ray Carter
29 Jul & Sat 31 Jul | 18:00-20:30
Urban Room Folkestone, Harbour Street, Folkestone, England, CT20 1TP
A multidisciplinary artists’ workshop focused on telling the untold stories of our lives as people of colour in Folkestone. Join us for an evening of creative exercises, idea sharing, and free time to write, draw or create however and whatever you like. Attendees will have the option to develop the ideas we generate in these workshops for an art exhibition and a poetry performance held as part of Origins Untold’s Black History Month celebrations in October.
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Make Your Mark
5 Aug | 18:00-21:00
Urban Room Folkestone, Harbour Street, Folkestone, England, CT20 1TP
Join us for an evening of connection, creativity, and community building. Mix and mingle with members, friends and supporters of Origins Untold, and help us make our mark on Folkestone by creating original artworks. Drawing to music, spontaneous self-portraiture, collaborative wordplay and flash poetry will be on offer. No booking required - drop in between 6pm and 9pm.
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Led by Randolph Matthews | The WAKA WAKA SHOW!!!
19 Aug | 11:00-12:00
ONLINE
Vocalist Randolph Matthews ( Mr R ) presents his Funny live interactive online game show for young curious minds .Featuring Mr R favourite imaginary family and friends Grandma Ma and Phart Vader ,Inspector Meow Meow , Lilly Twitch and Mr R's annoying little brother Baby Pee Pee. Expect weird and wonderful quizzes ,interviews, funny youtube meme and wonderful quest as if you were in a video game. This game show is for children ages 6 - 10 years old ( and mum and dad).
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Led by Kevin Richards & Simon Lee | Afro-Caribbean Percussion Jam
14 Aug
11.00-13.00 - four 30-minute sessions
Location TBA
An all-ages percussion workshop incorporating the rhythms of the African diaspora. Led by skilled multi-instrumentalists, we’ll sing and play along to Afro-Caribbean and Latin rhythms on agogo bells, shakers, woodblocks, and other handheld world percussion instruments. Booking is required to secure a space in the workshop itself, but in common with many traditional African and diasporic music gatherings, you’re invited to join in, dance, sing along and spectate at your leisure over the course of the four 30 minute sessions.
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Led by Josie Carter | Untold Worlds: an Origins Untold reading group
16 Sept / 26 Sept
18:00-20:00
Urban Room Folkestone
A community reading and discussion group, exploring Black Liberation and anti-racist poetry, fiction, essays, and theory. We will meet every few weeks to discuss a book, essay, poem or other piece of writing, familiarising ourselves as we go with Black and POC writers and their thinking and activism. In sharing our thoughts and reactions to these works we’ll strengthen our ability to take meaningful action against racism ourselves, whether through activism, art, or elsewhere in our lives. Engaged, open, and friendly discussion is welcome, as is creative and personal sharing.
The John Blanke Project: Live ||
Sat 2 Oct
16:00 - 18:30
Hythe Town Hall⠀
Workshop bringing to life the Black African presence at the Tudor Courts of Henry VII and VIII through drawing and writing.⠀
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Who Do You Think We Were
7 - 31 Oct | Thu - Sun
11:00 - 16:00
Hythe Town Hall⠀
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Images of Black Britons of the Victorian era will be contrasted with stirring photographs of local people and sculpture pieces reimagining black Tudors.⠀
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Afro-Caribbean Drumming
23 Oct
11:00 - 12:00
Hythe Town Hall⠀⠀
A participatory drumming workshop incorporating elements of traditional and diaspora uptempo drumming, dance, chanting, singing and improvisation.
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The Waka Waka Show
27 Oct
11:00 - 12:00
Online
Join Mr R (vocalist Randolph Matthews) as he hosts The Waka Waka Show, an interactive online gameshow for children aged 6-10.⠀
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The Ossuary at St Leonard’s Church
28 Oct
17:00 - 18:30
Hythe Town Hall
A talk exploring Hythe’s hidden black history by Ann Petrie, local historian and author of The Story of Kent.
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Fantasy: Symphony of Word
29 Oct
18:00 - 19:30
Hythe Town Hall⠀
Composer, vocalist and producer Randolph Matthews brings words alive from local artists and community groups in a fantasy of symphonic sound.⠀
14 Nov - 30 Dec
Sassoon Gallery
Presenting work from artists@ebunsea2016/ @rayfelixcarter and @anitajisworld plus an auction in support of @greenkordofan
"We at OU are proud to return to Folkestone with this very special exhibition… with never-before-seen in Folkestone work by local artists Ray Carter, Ebun Culwin and Anita McKenzie."
