Driven by rolling log drums, syncopated rhythms and infectious melodies, amapiano and other electronic sounds from across the African diaspora are finding new audiences in a city celebrated for its musical heritage. Behind these parties is a new generation of black promoters passionate about creating spaces where black people can hear their music, celebrate their cultures and feel like they belong. But for some, building these spaces has also meant confronting the familiar challenge of finding spaces where black music and the communities around it are welcomed and not feared.
Bristol-based promoter Unkle Mykel's journey into events began in his own back garden after he moved to Bristol in 2017. What started as garden barbecues gradually grew into a way of bringing people together, particularly members of Bristol's black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. "It's about celebrating our cultures, bringing people into that fold and connecting," says the 32-year-old, who hosts Bristol Barbecue Family and The Aux Social.
Originally from Kenya, Mykel moved to the UK in 2005. Since then, he has witnessed changes in the visibility of African music. "There was no Afrobeats on the airwaves," he laughs, recalling his early years in the country, when he says Caribbean reggae, dancehall and soca were more prominent in the musical landscape he encountered.
Now, he sees the growing popularity of genres such as amapiano - a popular South African house music subgenre - as an opportunity to broaden the scene. "We don't need to pretend to be nobody else, we're just us. It just took a while to get there." For 30-year-old DJ and promoter Khiah Lou, representation, she says, is central to her work.
Last year she launched Khaya Nights, an event dedicated to amapiano and other African Caribbean electronic dance music. Having performed internationally, she had seen how other cities had developed a wider range of events celebrating these sounds. Bristol, she felt, was lagging behind.
Rather than wait for the scene to develop, Khiah decided to help build it herself. "If we don't do it, who else is going to do it?" she says. "Young black people are starting to make a way for themselves because I don't think we have a choice." Khiah says these nights provide a place where people can connect with their identities and see their cultures reflected in the city around them.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
