GUAP’s V&A Friday Late Takeover Celebrating 75 Years of Windrush

Following a successful celebration of African Fashion in August 2022, V&A and GUAP collaborated once again to curate an evening of celebration, collaboration and education, but this time celebrating 75 years of Windrush.

Photo by Tolu Elusadé

It’s been 75 years since Caribbean communities from across its islands sailed into London’s embrace. A journey that ignited a flame that continues to burn brightly, leaving behind an enriching legacy by those who dared to dream. On the 25th of August GUAP and the V&A Museum came together to celebrate the Windrush generation and their descendants through DJs, talks, performances, film and workshops, from lovers rock and reggae to dancehall, the evening will weave through sound system culture, carnival and much more. 

Photo by Tolu Elusadé

It’s been 75 years since Caribbean communities from across its islands sailed into London’s embrace. A journey that ignited a flame that continues to burn brightly, leaving behind an enriching legacy by those who dared to dream. On the 25th of August GUAP and the V&A Museum came together to celebrate the Windrush generation and their descendants through DJs, talks, performances, film and workshops, from lovers rock and reggae to dancehall, the evening will weave through sound system culture, carnival and much more. 

Co-curated by GUAP’s Community, Programmes and Events manager Elsie Ayotunde Cullen, and Meneesha Kaur Kellay the V&A’s Senior Contemporary Curator, the event featured a range of partners who took over 10 spaces across the Museum. Read on for more information and highlights from the night.

Home Sweet Home Grand Entrance Takeover

Curated and managed by: @home.swt.hme  a Caribbean-rooted community lifestyle brand paying homage to home through celebrating heritage & championing culture. They took us on a musical journey to showcase the sounds of the Caribbean and its influence on Britain. Featuring a stellar line up Shaun Sky Ella DHC Keyrah and Donch

Photos by Remy Bourdeau

Caribbean Fashion Dance and Music

We were joined by Verona, founder of Ignition Dance and Miss Rose for a Dancehall Workshop and showcase set to the sounds of DJ Hasani, hosted by Miss Jason; followed by a special performance by Savannah Dumetz. GUAP also put a call out to emerging Caribbean diaspora designers whose work will create a vibrant backdrop for the evening featuring work from Tyreis Holder, Claudia Smith Taneshe Oliver Lodge, Clariscia Gill, Antonia Thompson, Shanna Bent, Fabien Zou, Rebecca Wong, TraiCeline Pratt , Tamar Cheriene

Carnival Tiara Making workshop

We were joined Carnival Village Trust by the creatives behind the spectacular Notting Hill Carnival costumes at a Carnival Tiara workshop and learned the skills to create a tiara for the road!

Ubele and Black Cultural Archives Workshop

Ubele Initiative, a community organisation empowering Black and minoritised communities in the UK, joined forces with the Black Cultural Archives for a ‘Children of Windrush’ workshop exploring the experiences of the first generation of modern Black British children, growing up in London 1950 and 1975.

Celebrating Windrush: Tracing a Living Legacy

Join the Windrush Co-production group for screenings of ‘Tracing a Living Legacy’, a short film reflecting on the Windrush Generation’s continuing legacy through personal stories and memories. Following the screening audience members were invited to share their own memories and experiences from the past and present and add these to the display Celebrating Windrush: Tracing a Living Legacy.  

Hairouna Film Festival  

Hairounda Film Festival is an NGO based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines committed to supporting the development of Caribbean storytelling through film. In collaboration with GUAP HFF presented a carefully curated collection of short films in celebration of Windrush 75. We saw films that explored the emotional landscapes of Caribbean people affected by Windrush and migration. Snapshots of Caribbean life reflect the anxieties, resilience and hope of the Windrush generation, as well as the struggles of our colonial past. Crafted through the lens of contemporary filmmakers, they chart a throughline that reaffirms our shared culture and heritage.

Steel Pan Performance

It was steelpan that rang out the first sound of Carnival on the streets of Notting Hill in the mid 1960s. 

Steelpan remains an integral element of Notting Hill Carnival today, bringing the unique sound and energy of the Caribbean to the streets of London. We enjoyed a vibrant and enchanting welcome performance by Carnival Village Trust, a development agency dedicated to the art of Carnival. 

Windrush Legends: Dennis Bovell MBE and Norman Jay MBE  

Two of British music’s greatest innovators came together for a special performance at the V&A. Sound System, Rare Groove and pirate radio pioneer Norman Jay and Lovers Rock producer extraordinaire Dennis Bovell both revolutionised the sound of British music.

Jords – Dirt In The Diamond 

We had the pleasure of watching a screening of ‘Dirt in the Diamond’, a twenty-minute short film directed by Renee Maria Osubu and Jords, inspired by Jamaican mourning rituals. 

Cells of A Generation

We learned more about why it’s important for more people from African and Caribbean backgrounds to sign up for blood donorship with Cells of A Generation. Visitors also had the opportunity to sign up on the spot and start their blood-giving journey.

GUAP : Caribbean Legacies of Community Wealth

Following Windrush, Caribbeans across the UK contributed to a rich legacy of community wealth  building, of which many still reap the benefits today. We teamed up with Tallawah a creative event platform for Caribbean creatives to curate a panel, hosted by Bre Antonia, reflects on the foundations that generation left behind and the ways in which today’s generation of leaders continue that legacy. Featuring Aliyah Hasinah, founder of Black Curatorial; Shannie Mears, co-founder of The Elephant Room; Janay-Marie, founder of Tallawah; and Lavinya Stennett, founder of Black Curriculum

UD Music Presents: Open Mic   

UD Music, a charity dedicated to Music curate d and produced a special Open Mic for artists of Caribbean heritage, who wanted to perform in an iconic, historical setting in the heart of London. We heard incredible spoken word, R&B, Hip-Hop, Grime

Full credits below:
GUAP Lead Curator and Producer: @ayosartofgiving
V&A Senior Contemporary Curator: @mishkk
V&A Contemporary Programme Manager: @copernicanportraits
V&A Contemporary Programme Manager: @faunsiatucker
Cultural Advisor: @tallawah.uk @janaymariexo
Event management assistant: @sayo.olu
Graphic assets by: @malaikafrancique
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The Grand Entrance
Curated and managed by: @home.swt.hme
DOME DJs: @shaun.sky @elladhc @___keyrah @donchdeejay
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The Raphael Cartoons
Stage Manager and Fashion Display Curator: @shida__
Assistant: @f_a_b_i_a_n_a_
Music by: @hasanihotsteppa
Hosted by: @itsmissjason
Dance Workshop Curated by @misslulucreates
Dance Workshop Leaders: @dancingverona @missroseuk
Performance by: @savannahdumetz
Fashion Presentations by: @_tyreis_ @centuryb4 @by_taneshe @clariscia gill @toni.textures @maisonbentofficial @fabienzou @beccagracewong @traicelinepratt @tamarcheriene
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The Garden
Performances by: @dennisbovell @normanjaymbe
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The Lecture Theatre
Panel Co-produced by: @tallawah.uk
Hosted by: @breantonia
Panelists: @shannieloves @gottabelavin_ya @janaymariexo @aliyahhasinah
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The Daylit Gallery
Produced and curated by: @udmusicldn
Hosted by: @nayana.ab @ree_sewell
Talent list to follow
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Films by: @jordsonline @reneemaria_o @somesuchandco
Film Festival by: @hairounafilmfestival @aikoroudette @developmentgirl
Windrush Workshop by: @ubeleinitiative @bcaheritage
Blood Donor Registration Stand: @cellsofageneration @sharonbpeter
Steel Pans and Carnival Tiara Making workshop by: @carnivalvillage
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Honourable shout out to @blackeatsldn for trying so hard to help us feed you on the night. Due to logistical issues we weren’t able to get it over the line, however, look forward to working with you again in the future