Platform Conference for Black & Asian Writers -Farhana Sheikh Dahlia Publishing Delivers Historic Excellent National Conference

The Platform Conference 4th & %th March 2023, organised by visionary Farhana Shaikh of Dahlia Publishing, an author, publisher, editor, mentor and literary activist, and brilliant conference organiser, based in Leicester. The Platform Conference, was an astounding success, offering important Topics, Panel Speakers, Workshops, with excellent Writers, Black and Asian, with national and international profiles and reach.

The collective and individual, range, the diverse backgrounds, expertise, insights, and success of all these Writers was truly remarkable! There were a large number of Conference attendees, with good questions and positive comments. Farhana is to be highly commended, for putting together such an instructive, informative, inspiring, wholly affirming event – which was accessible online.

Carol Leeming MBE FRSA, was most pleased to be a Panel Member with Wonderfull Writers Gita Raleigh, AM Dassu. Our topic was Finding Your Way as a Writer. We all talked about our individual journeys, and Farhana ably feed in key questions around e.g. about voice, how to nurture your writing craft, how do we sustain ourselves, in a predominately white male publishing literary world.

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Wolde Selaise: RIP Honoured by Leicester City Lord Mayor as Special Citizen for Contribution to the Community

On the 28th February 2023, at Leicester Town Hall, Wolde Selaisse’s Family members were delighted, along with Carol Leeming MBE FRSA to attend Afternoon Tea, with George Cole the Lord Mayor of Leicester. To receive the award, the honour of a certificate, for Wolde Selaisee RIP for his special contribution to the community of Leicester. Wolde Selaisse, is most fondly remembered, and was an active member and organiser, in the African Caribbean Community.

Wolde undertook many different roles, with many achievements, in service of the community. Wolde was a strong, political community activist for many years. As well as being an accomplished poet, performer, and teacher for what her termed Africology and Black History. With other roles,, Lecturer, in Academia, Curator, Archivist and Entrepreneur.

Wolde was a committed Rastafarian, and well-travelled, visiting Jamaica as a poet and as an Ambassador to Zimbabwe and South Africa for Rastafarian organisations. To assist in community activities in those countries. Wolde conducted African libations ceremonies, and was a champion for Black Arts, Artists regionally at Arts Training Central, and Mainstream Partnership, also nationally eg as Caribbean Focus Coordinator for Leicester.

A First for Leicester 2Funky SPACE JAM Afro-Futuristic Themed Promenade Performance Is A Resounding Success for Carol Leeming MBE FRSA Creative Director & Team!

The 2 Funky Space Jam, was Afro-Futuristic themed, with cosmic galactic touches, a promenade performance event March 2nd 2023. It was a fantastic event with. Carol Leeming, Creative Director, Vijay Mistry Project Director and Sam Warren Project Manager, & a brilliant Leicester based Creative Team: of LVT Spoken Word/Rapper, Helder Delgado & Partner, Dancers, DJ’s Ninja Bob,& Wardy (Club Oxygen) Experimental Sound Artists John Richards of Dirty Electronics, Leonie Dubarry -Gurr, Callum Vaughn & Johnny Digital Visual Artists, and live Band Ka Sa Far lead by Lee Boyd Allotson..

The Team all delivered an amazing multi-disciplinary arts experience, for a large enthusiastic diverse audience. The event was designed as a journey, with different stations of performance with invitations at each station, for the audience attendees to actually participate, to vocalise, dance of make experimental music etc. In fact the music jam, at the end of Ka Sa Far music band performance was stupendous. as up to 50 audience members, were invited to take up djembes, samba drums and percussion shakers, for massive music jam which was well synchronised.afterwards at the after party a dance circle formed with a ‘street style’ dance off . Such was the high level of fun and enjoyment, audience members asked when will the next one be. As this event, was a wholly unique multi-arts experience for Leicester, made possible by different funding sources and various local partners in the city.