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The Chronicles of Black Joy podcast invites a collective of dynamic storytellers to use their art to express what black joy looks, feels and sounds like to them. As an LU Arts (Loughborough University art centre) supported podcast we also invite an array of emerging writers/students of Loughborough to share a short story on identity beyond struggle in our short bitesize episodes. We invite you to sit back and enjoy the first two artists who have been invited to contribute to this platform. E ...
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Bittersweet explores joy explored through the lens of an elder statesman talking to the youth encouragingly and exploring the disparity between their generations and the life moments navigated with the gift of experience. The spoken word piece highlights that a major part of black joy is another’s joy that we adopt as our own. And that there’s some…
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Tulia translates to “Be still” in Swahili; exploring the shifts in how we have been structured to view ourselves. The short story was written, produced and performed by an exciting and much acclaimed voice in the underground music scene, Musumba, who presents a simply beautiful story piece that shadows the theme of being “still” throughout the chao…
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Royal Radiance is a narrative of four individuals who have not been blessed with the greatest of circumstances with each verse covering a glimpse of their journey. Despite their battles, their joy is their weapon as they represent just a few examples of changing the narrative of black culture. The short story was written and performed by producer/r…
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Come As You Are speaks to each of us who have only ever been taught to conform. Learning to express ourselves freely can be a life-long lesson but there is great joy to be found on the way! The short story was written and performed by twiced-published poet and current Loughborough student, Yasmin Nwofor who challenges the idea of seeking the “big” …
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Furaha Ya Watoto (The Joy of Children) is a nostalgic musical journey into black joy through the lens of Magero’s childhood. Written and performed by poet Magero, the short story portrays elements of Black British culture as well as his Kenyan roots and upbringing. It is a comical fusion of storytelling and poetry accompanied by afro sounds and mel…
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Litmus is a consideration of black joy through the lens of what remains, what survives and what doesn’t—and the small, important signs that resilience and beauty are still happening. The short story was written and performed by emerging Nigerian-American writer N/A Oparah (Ngozi/Alexis) As part of our bitesize episode segment we invite students of …
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Ayomide, is a sonic collage that explores the joyous moments and memories of three generations of Black women. The short story was written and performed by poet and playwright Lanaire Aderemi, featuring two important women in her life, her mother Adebimpe Aderemi and her grandma, Adenike Sangosanya. In this episode, creative producer, Rennae Walker…
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Too often the narratives of the Black British experience perpetuated is one tainted with trauma and struggle. This is true for our experience as a people and should not be negated. And though we’re still on a journey of healing from and combating racial trauma this does not make up our whole identity; leaving little room for black stories of joy. A…
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