Heartbreak 💔
We met this sweet soul just last week, when he came to our Clothes drop in. We spoke about his love of football and kitted him out with sportswear and trainers. He showed us his football team and agricultural work back home, the wife and daughter he had to leave behind as his human rights work meant he was no longer safe to stay… we spoke about our upcoming food events and native dishes Achu & Kati Kati - he was missing home but so happy to have met us.
He text me on Saturday saying he was playing football in the park in his new trainers and gym kit and we’re hoping to meet again soon.
And then, this. Overnight.
This is inhumane - we are talking about people, human beings not cattle who can just be moved without care, and kept in camps beyond community reach.
This is performative cruelty - with on going reports of depression, anxiety, self harm and attempted suicide… people are being unfairly held in what the government calls ‘Quasi-detention’, while asylum claims are investigated ‼️which can take years ‼️ and is infinitely harder without direct support.
There is growing isolation/ hysteria/ boredom, terrible signal and no WiFi, he is holding up okay, grateful for shelter. But he deserves more - freedom, access to community, mental health support, cultural integration and the best chance of rebuilding his life here through living here, which can’t begin while he is kept there
Like the infamous Bibby Stockholm, RAF Wethersfield MUST close and the 580 people currently kept there, afforded the safety & sanctuary they are seeking - in community not camps.
Please share and send a letter to your MP via our link in bio, it takes two minutes but would mean the world to us 🤍
Big love to the incredible, soulful women who made @dopameets so special last summer - it was a joy to learn, create and grow together 🌱 grateful also for the kind men who celebrated and supported us along the way!
We made magic ✨
Happy International Women’s Day all ✌️
One more year pon dem!
The most gratitude for 35, new capacity for learning, finally discovered a lil peace, reconnected with myself & music and felt love like never before ✨36 - here’s to more joy beyond and behind the decks🧃🧃🧃🧃
if you’ve got some time, have a listen to some bangers n blends that make me a happy girlie from my first ever radio show with @brixtonradiolive 💥 special thank you to my babes @emma_thedj for teaching me the 1’s & 2’s and giving me space to exist exactly as I am 🥹
1. Step by Step 👾 Back to Zanzibar (King Street Mix)
2. Back to Zanzibar 👾In the Neighbourhood (Downtown Mix)
3. Believe in it 👾 Believe (Ministers Vocal Mix)
4. Believe 👾 Lovers Rhythm (The Trip Remix)
5. Shaken to my Soul 👾 Yo Hips, Yo Thighs
6. Through the Wall
Blessings to you all 🤍
(lordy I really am an Aunty now 😂)
This time last year @aneesaimages exhibited an incredible body of work at @saatchi_gallery - March of the Hummingbirds, documenting the rich histories, cultures and communities of the Caribbean.
It’s honour to know so many talented women from our diaspora, even more of an honour to be a subject of their work with my sister @van.doggg (looking badass as hell 🥵) and then to be gifted such a stunning memory in a frame, thank you! ✨
My face was hella twitching and some may say only AI could generate such a peaceful shot of myself 👀… but it’s all real, generations of Indo-Caribbean women and our sacred energy & objects, my shot featured Gma’s Karahi & Dahl Gutni which she carried with her on the plane from Georgetown Guyana to London UK 🤍
Mumsies also enjoyed 👭🏾
dreambaby b2b/hip2hip with Emma The DJ! 👩❤️💋👩🎧
Catch us at scootching n smooching @arch535brixton
this Friday 8-10
£10 on the door
Soft Chaos guaranteed 👾
Big ups to @djdan1210 for having us, this party’s special IYKYK ✨
pon panel with @brixtonproject reminding everyone with love, that there is no such thing as ‘illegal immigration’ and seeking asylum is a human right now and foreva 🤍✌️
Amazing to share the stage with @theblackfarmersmarketnc@living_platform@lambethmutualaid@theremakerylondon@advocacyacademy who all nurture community progress with such creativity and care. Follow & support their work if you can ✨
And heartwarming to see so many local people in the room with us, wanting to explore a cooperative approach to hyper-local issues surrounding social and climate justice.
Big ups to everyone involved! Brixton is the best.
throwback to spritz stop of the Summer in Devon, celebrating the special love of special friends… the beautiful bride walked down the aisle to this instrumental, everyone was well and truly gagged. I still am 🤍
Real life connection with other humans - there’s nothing like it! Shared with food, art & expression…😮💨👌
It’s been a whole month since we broke bread and celebrated together, as free thinkers of all ethnicities, ages, classes, genders, sexualities, abilities, neuro-diversities, sharing in the common belief that joy is resistance. And we need more of it.
Dopameets was born as a creative incubator for community. A way to hold space for imagination, contribution, belonging because community is only community, if you are socialising with care. And we can only achieve collective progress if we care for one another. Through our first project, Brixton Hospitality, we nurtured local youth with connection & creativity.
Thank you to EVERYONE who touched Brixton Hospitality with their loving energy. It really was what it says on the tin! To all the young people and facilitators who showed up for each other week after week to imagine, create and share together. To Studio Z for providing our dream home for this holding. To all those who joined us to eat, laugh and support one another at the Showcase & Cook Up. To Walcott Foundation who funded our big idea and made it possible… we have the most gratitude 🤍
Our hearts are still full, and we excited to continue our work in October… but if you’re missing that connection join us again, this Sunday 21st September at @studiozbrixton for our sister organisation @gmascommunitykitchen Cook The Ting Fundraiser. Join us in solidarity for our local brothers & sisters, from the refugee and asylum seeking community as we enjoy Guyanese food together 🇬🇾
s/o @_ramzpov for capturing our event so perfectly & @shotbyhamda for the connect 📸✨
We won’t be serving up Gma 🥲 but she will be a Guest of Honour @studiozbrixton if you needed another reason to join us!
This Sundays @ Studio Z is not to be missed! ✨it’s never been more important to show up for the refugee and asylum seeking community in London and beyond 🤍
Join us this Sunday, 21st September for a day of Gma’s family Guyanese recipes, music and games. Entry is FREE however spaces are limited - RSVP today to secure your spot via luma link in bio! Preorder available via Studio Z website 😋
💸 100% of food proceeds will fund our upcoming 2 year programme Gmas Family Family Dinners, where we bring together local asylum seekers for a hearty dinner and evening of communal joy and offer both kitchen training & employment support
📩 Everybody welcome! For those requiring a free meal - drop us a DM to arrange.
✨ Menu:
🥘 Mains - £15
Curry Goat
Stew Chicken
Dal (vg)
All served with Guyanese roti, cook up rice, and baiganees (aubergine fritter)
🥧 Pastries - £3
Lamb Patty
Cheese Roll
Pine Tart
🍰 Dessert - £5
Vermicelli
✨ Games:
🎱 Pool Table
👾 PS2
🎲 Board Games
🎧 DJs on rotation!
🎟 Free RSVP in bio!
🧾 Preorder on @studiozbrixton website
🗓 Sunday 21st September
⏰1PM - 8PM
📍Studio Z, 537 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8QB
🤍 You Eat, We Eat, Everyone Eats! See you there 🤍
We sat down with our Dopameets facilitators to ask them a few questions.
They’ve built such strong connections with our students, and we wanted to share some of their wisdom and insights from the creative industry ✨
Watch short interviews with Kirstie and Daniel J. 🎥
Stay tuned for part 2, 3 & 4!
Share the love & join us next weekend, Sat 16 Aug for a free community celebration at Studio Z, Orphans Yard…
✨Dopameets Presents: Brixton Hospitality - Showcase & Cook-Up✨
🍽 Alfresco communal meal - soulful dishes prepped by Dopameets’ young chefs (2:30 PM sharp)
🎨 Art - from canvas and embroidery to crochet, explore pieces created by talented Dopameets’ creatives.
💡 Youth Microgrant pitches — you vote!
🎤 Open mic + decks - a space to share your sounds, poetry, stories, and thoughts
👕 Clothes swap - bring clean, unworn items and swap them for something fresh!
RSVP link in bio
DMs are open if you’re 18 - 25 and a local artist, singer or DJ wanting to get involved.
Bring a friend (or five), come hungry, and leave inspired.
We can’t wait to welcome you
Artwork by our very own @semirabadesha 😮💨
