Ona Maka

Love to the mightiest people ! Big b2b2b2b2b link-up this Saturday at @jumbipeckham 🎥 @xotic.global Tickets on RA (@resident_advisor ) 8pm—2am / free before 10pm

Info! Before we usher in the new year, we welcome all for the first run of @onalikehonour gathering this evening. This is a “pour-in” session: an immersive evening of shared collections and deep listening from 7–11pm. A gentle reminder not to rush to the decks—others may be waiting and capacity is limited. If your record complements the moment, just have a word with the current selector or @thisismaka ! “Softer” selections before 9pm, higher energy after. The session ends at 11 sharp, with DJ & Producer @benhauke___ , leading the close with “House brukkk Techno”. Plus, @oscillati0n + @utopia_presents on the terrace all night long. We really want to encourage selectors to share space, and hopefully, everyone will get to share at least a record or two! We’ll gauge the session by ear together. “Softer” sounds before 9pm, and higher energy after. It’s very experimental, but hopefully, it’ll carry a lovely energy <3 Please note: the session will be recorded, and sharing your material implies consent for us to use the audio and video on our social platforms. While not everyone may get the chance to spin, it’s still a good moment to find kin. For accessibility needs or questions, feel free to DM. Photo: Norman Jay’s Good Time sound-system at Notting Hill Carnival (1984). Track: ‘call yu out’ - Last Numbian, Sweet Fruity Bunch (Touching Bass release) Peace.

28th November — Pour In! 
Pour-In Sessions with @thisismaka !
A vinyl-only gathering at Jumbi from 7–11pm. Join us for an evening centered on collaboration and selection — honouring our inner child, reignite curiosity, elevate, and celebrate music and deep listening, all through the exchange of vinyl and good energy 🫂 Super limited complimentary offerings for selectors, courtesy of cousins @rhythmsectionhq ! 
7pm–11pm: Pour-In Session (with you?)
11pm–2am: @benhauke___ 10pm–2am (Terrace): @oscillati0n + special guests Peace. Please note: this session will be recorded. #ToBeAnArtist

charge it ! as we enter the final quarter of the year, it’s been heartening to experience some wholesome moments, especially through what’s been a personally challenging time for me - leaning into thoughtful conversations and a shared commitment to celebrating others and their achievements freely and openly. next month: full details to follow on the first run of an all-vinyl ‘pour in’ session at jumbi, hosted by me. welcoming friends and selectors to keep doing what we’ve always set out to do: share music, share space. anyway, peace.

more life !!!! I really didn’t intend to share these, especially on my birthday lol (as they’re from last year, when we celebrated zine)— but this and all the messages had me tearing up on my way to work this morning like proper softtttty. thank goodness I went with waterproof mascara today. the past year has been a little unforgiving for some of us, but I’m grateful to have chosen family who remind me how to unapologetically celebrate life in doses —
and everyone else (many not pictured here) — with unconditional love, whenever possible. thank you for all the sweet birthday messages x

Finally enjoyed a couple meditative days to myself and managed to finish a quick @substack post ! It’s a brief reflection on my time with @block9official after 10 days on site as their Production Intern. The usual Glasto comedown felt different this time—more like a quiet shift than a drop. I’m grateful for the experience and the people who made it what it was. I caught familiar faces left, right and centre doing the most and best behind the scenes— I’ll share some highlights in time. Link in bio if you can be arsed.💘 Amid all the Glasto highlights, here’s a quieter memory: an archive photo from the London Underground (RIP). Think more than a few people from the @guardian took these photos—sorry I couldn't credit.

Celebrating 10 incredible years with @thisisgala this weekend—side by side with the Jumbi family. Vinyl-only, and forever. Selections made and distributed by:
@brownswood @touching_bass @benhauke___ @oreglo @dreamcast.moe @kokorokomusic @rhythmsectionhq @vynehall @jakartarecords @goya.gumbani @ash_lauryn_ @jadase15 @last.nubian @shabakahutchings @danceregular Handing out more records at the Cornerstone Stage (courtesy of @rhythmsectionhq )— just give us a wink. And for a slower pace this bank holiday, join us at @ontheryefestival Community Day—family-friendly and free to enter. Here’s to a meditative, sober bank holiday. Photo by @aaronpaulwalker_ #TenYearsOfGALA

I feel joyyyy every time I look back at this gorgeous flyer by @pomona_studio 💘 It was an honor to celebrate 25 years at Tate Modern with a rotation of selectors and producers, and to feature a special film by director and photographer Frankie Spence (@frankie__spence ), exploring the theme: Dub Will Save The World. While I’m deeply grateful for the presence of friends, the togetherness, and the music, I also want to acknowledge the silence that often surrounds the institutional roles of our public clubs, galleries, and cultural spaces. There’s a noticeable lack of open dialogue and conflicting emotion about how institutions maintain relationships with systems complicit in harm. I came to celebrate music with people I deeply admire, in what felt like an integrational space for the various platforms taking over this weekend—but I also feel it’s important to hold space for reflection and accountability alongside the joy. Sending good energy to south-east Londons own @foundation.fm —and guest curators @five__fold bringing sounds and literature to the Tanks today 🙌🏽 x

🆙

enjoying a meditative, lovers fuelled afternoon… which got me (maka) thinking about sound-system masters @passaproductions , as Nottinghill Carnival draws closer to its 56th year of celebrating Caribbean heritage in London.  I can’t really talk about this scene authoritatively as its not a scene I'm deeply in, still I greatly appreciate how the culture is an example of how to take up space and make it ‘binding’. British sound systems are eclectic because of the carnival and its Afro Caribbean heritage. For those people in the back who are yet to discover their connection to us and sound-systems: The Mighty Ruler was named after the song of the same name by Jamaican singer Roy Panton and was released on the Blue Beat label in 1962 in the UK. It was built and operated by Count Rob of Wood Green who sadly passed away in the pandemic. It was then found and refurbished by Passa Productions, a group of friends who make up the company and come from various legendary London Sound Systems including the Soca Saga Boyz, Gemi ‘In Ting’ Magic and have a long history of being involved with Notting Hill Carnival up to the present day.  The Sound System is the only known and operational system from the foundation era where early sound operators would construct their own boxes out of repurposed furniture etc to play in Blues Parties.  Its rebirth has seen it being the subject of exhibitions, events and fashion shoots with the new sound crew bringing it into the modern era, one dubplate at a time.  Passa family.  References below: A small but mighty section of Passas’ sound-system. Cockney Translation by Smiley Culture (rip). Norman Jay’s Good Times sound system at Notting Hill Carnival 1984. Passa at Jumbi 2nd Birthday by Fabrice.  Stay steady, stay safe.

Better late than never—many fleeting, beautiful, conflicting moments to reflect on from this year so far. It’s definitely been all about asking for forgiveness, not permission, and it feels good to be harnessing control of what was, for a long time, unregulated drifting without a fixed destination. Thanks to everyone who made the @tate late evening so special for us, especially @rudimd —programming in one of the biggest institutions in the world… it’s notable to read that south london felt represented in this space on that night. A space is just a space until you fill it with something meaningful and purposeful. Love to @thisisgala team for welcoming us to the cornerstone stage, @zineabdi for looking after everyone (always). One deck keeping the dancefloor fullll and joyous forever. It wouldn’t be the same without the people bts—make sure you give them their flowers. I want to see more collaboration and assertion in music ‘til the end.