Patrice Naiambana – Actor/Storyteller
Patrice Naiambana is one of UK’s most established actors and storytellers, regularly working for the BBC, Channel 4 and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He recently created his own award-winning solo show, which has since toured internationally, and founded his own theatre company dedicated to making stories from the African Diaspora more visible.
Bode Lawal – Choreographer/Dancer
Bode Lawal is an award-winning dancer and choreographer who is one of the finest dancers to have emerged out of West Africa. As a post-traditional choreographer, he uses traditional forms within a contemporary context and has created his own language of movement, which draws on his influences from around the world.
Emmanuel Taiwo Jegede – Poet/Visual Artist
Emmanuel Taiwo Jegede is one of Nigeria’s foremost artists of his generation. Working in a variety of media including sculpture, painting and print he draws influence from his Yoruba Ekiti background whilst retaining his own distinct visual language. He is also a poet and storyteller steeped in Yoruba culture and has given numerous recitals all over the world.
Tunde Jegede – Composer/Musician
Tunde Jegede is a composer, producer and musician who has toured internationally for many years working with orchestras and chamber music groups including, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta and the Brodsky String Quartet. He is also a pioneer of African Classical Music and an exponent of the Kora (African harp-lute).
Richard Olatunde Baker – Percussion
Richard Olatunde Baker is a multi-percussionist who has worked closely with Sakoba Dance Theatre and the choreographer/dancer, Bode Lawal. He has also worked with Tunde Jegede in many of his orchestral projects including his Cello Concerto, Invocation and his chamber music piece, Reminiscence.
Sunara Begum – Visual Artist/Filmmaker
Sunara Begum is a young visual artist and film-maker who explores movement, memory and visual narrative storytelling in her work. Using film, photography and installation, she has already created her own distinct and original voice within the worlds of art and film, and she has exhibited internationally in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Derek Richards – Visual Artist/Lighting Designer
Derek Richards is an award winning producer and multi-media artist who has worked internationally in media, music, film and television. He has won a total of 11 awards for his digital/new media production work for BBC, Channel 4, Motorola, the Science Museum and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
