Read My World festival: The Beat of Belonging (Sept. 11-13)
When looking at most literary festivals in the Netherlands, Read My World is the one that feels like it takes place on the other side of the Eurostar tracks. With its emphasis on care, comfort, courage and conversations, Read My World is the Netherlands’ closest thing to the picture I paint when someone asks me: “Imagine having your own bookstore/event venue… what would you do?” Being part of the programming team has been a longtime dream. I don’t know the work-place-equivalent of “Don’t meet your heroes…” but being part of this team continuously underlines my faith in the possibilities of dream teams, dream crews… basically all the dreams.

This year’s festival curators are two thinkers whose words, writings and ways inspire me: Lou Mensah (London) and Maboula Soumahoro (Paris). Here you’ll find the complete festival program. Maryse Condé fans? Meet Maboula Soumahoro, prof. Gloria Wekker, Domenica Ghidei Biidu, Ayaan Abukar, Jorabelle Lukoki, Emma-Lee Amponsah on Saturday Sept. 13 for our Ode to Maryse Condé.
Recently added to that program: Friday September 12, 22.00h – Rokhaya Diallo and Maboula Soumahoro in conversation about their friendship.

Read My World: Win Maboula Soumahoro’s book during BPT jazz bingo
Part of Bijlmer Parktheater’s South East Jazz program, is a BPT jazz bingo. On Saturday afternoon you can win Maboula Soumahoro’s book ‘Black is the Journey, Africana the Name’ and day-tickets to the festival. South East Jazz at Bijlmer Parktheater is on Sat. August 30 and Sun. August 31, both days starting at 14.00h and ending around 17.30h. You’ll find the program here.

FRANK – Cherish Menzo
Since its première on Wednesday July 9 at Theater Bellevue, I’ve talked about FRANK almost every other day. Cherish Menzo‘s mind? Oh my goodness… This play left me full and open and excited and invited to ‘stand up straight and be my tallest self.’ The choreographies, the references from Grenada and Suriname to Christina Sharpe and Mary Shelley… the stage design, the lighting… the presence of Cherish and the three other dancers. After seeing it, and directly buying my ticket for the performance the next day, I texted a few lovedones: “If you have plans tomorrow, I urge you to cancel them. You’ll love this. Let’s meet at Bellevue at 18.15h.” Cherish Menzo is a marvel, truly.
Here, you’ll find the complete playlist for FRANK. I recommend going twice in two different venues. I’ll probably be at most of them. FRANK is a collaboration between Cherish Menzo, GRIP, Theater Utrecht and Dance On Ensemble.

Interlude – Quick note I
Let’s see the plays we love more than once. If you had a great time seeing the work and you can afford another ticket… consider going again. I do it often!

Save the dates: Manyaku Mashilo and Larry Achiampong
If you’re in or can make it to Amsterdam on Wednesday October 22 and/or Thursday November 13, please save those dates. This Autumn, I have the honour and pleasure to be in conversation with Manyaku Mashilo (Wednesday Oct. 22) and Larry Achiampong (Thursday Nov. 13).

Manyaku Mashilo is a Cape Town-based artist whose multidimensional practice encompasses mixed-media painting, drawing, and collage. Born in Limpopo in 1991, she addresses themes of spiritual identity, memory, ancestry, community and belonging. Larry Achiampong’s projects employ film, still imagery, aural and visual archives, live performance, objects, sound and game design to explore ideas surrounding class, gender, cross-cultural and digital identity.
More info on about this in the 2nd week of September. Examples of their work are posted in this 2nd image, with Achiampong’s book being on the bottom right and Mashilo’s being top right.

Recommendation: Strange Fruit’s by Sedrig Verwoert
Listennn, how I hype I’ve been since seeing FRANK? That’s how Romana Vrede was when she told me about Sedrig Verwoert’s Strange Fruit’s. Romana saw a preview of it during a Track at Theater Rotterdam and the way her entire face just shined talking about it?? I’ve been on standby ever since. Throughout the weekend of the Track that the preview for Strange Fruit’s was a part of, I received many, many text messages saying: “You. Must. See. This. Work!” So, tickets bought. I’m excited. Tickets can be bought here.
The gorgeous image with the flower? It’s from Strange Fruit’s, made by Amanda Harput.

Outro – Quick note II
For this weekend’s South East Jazz program, I renamed Bijlmer Parktheater’s theatre space the Pablo Nahar Hall. Because in my dream scenario, someone would send me a text, asking where I am. I’d say: “In the Pablo Nahar Hall, ready to see Ronald Snijders and Djuwa Mroivili. Where are you?” And they’d say: “I’m at the Anne-Marie Hunsel pavilion sipping some tea. Just saw Bahghi perform. Meet me here after an hour?” And, I would. Because we deserve that.
It’s maddd to me how little concert halls and festival stages/spaces in the Netherlands are named after Black musicians. That is, indeed, something for a next note.

(waves)