BHM: IFE NKILI - Black women's arts festival

IFE NKILI is an annual Black women's arts festival celebrating the beauty of black culture, identity and heritage. The term comes from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria and means 'beauty to behold'. 

The festival seeks to deconstruct the perceptions of Black women in art, photography, music, film and literature as passive by bringing 17 Black women artists to the fore. The digital festival will feature a selection of visual artists, creatives, creators and performers in one continuous, uninterrupted, digital arts event on screen. It is one film 17 Artists. 

The festival screening at the RPS will be introduced by its curator and visual artist Chin We alongside five of the artists.  Those taking part are: 

Chin We

Chin We is an award-winning visual artist and curator. Her work explores themes and issues of social/cultural identity, culture, representation, heritage and the African diaspora through photography, film and mixed media. Chin we is a curator at www.chinweart.com a platform and an exciting space dedicated to positively/enthusiastically celebrate Black women creatives. She is also the founder and creative director of IFE NKILI, an annual Black women’s arts festival.

Theodorah Ndlovu

Theodora is a photographer and an aesthetic pleasure seeker. Her eye for capturing beautiful moments that illicit visceral feelings has granted her opportunities of being Resident photographer for BORN::FREE. Her photography illicit a jazz-like feel having worked with artists at Steam Down as well as having captured the glory of feminist powerhouses Thandiswa Mazwai and Jojo Abot. She also documents and sheds light on the stories of Black queer people. Her work has found a home in publications such as Nataal, Girls Like Us Magazine, Kingsplace and elsewhere. She also provided the header image for this event. 

Elizabeth Okoh

Elizabeth Okoh is a documentary and conceptual photographer. She celebrates women in her work and calls on them to embrace all that is within them, from their feminity to their strength, all the way to sensuality. The documentation of her boudoir experience is a time for women to either discover or rediscover the joy of self, an opportunity to build self-confidence and enhance self-esteem. Elizabeth empowers black women and champions self through the art of boudoir

Elsie Kibue–Ngare

Elsie’s photography focuses on portraiture and documentary photography that explores her identity and heritage. Elsie has worked on various assignments and she is a contributor to Alamy. Her photography has appeared in print and online like the Scotsman, The Times, The Guardian, Metro Online, Ebony Magazine, etc

Nyasha Daley

Nyasha Daley is a cultural communicator and performance artist. Her poetic proses, poignant pieces, spoken words and stories explores heritage, language, dialect, identity and pride.

Mercy Iko-Ojo Haruna

Mercy is a portrait and documentary photographer dedicated to capturing fleeting moments of family life. She focuses on stories that capture the beauty of the everyday as well as those that dive into deeper conversations about the realities of motherhood.

IFE NKILI is curated and produced by Chin We.

The festival is supported and funded by Arts Council England.  It is being hosted by the RPS as part of Black History Month. 

Places are limited so please book using the link >>>