Style is a kind of speech. Long before I open my (loud) mouth, my physicality speaks volumes. So much of this is outside of my control, with much being dictated to the viewer by thousands of micro messages transmitted down the years. My Blackness reads mammy and savage. My fatness reads misery and gluttony. My […]
Ever since I was a kid, I remember wanting to go and study abroad and experience a different culture. Growing up poor, Black and queer in a small town in Brazil in the 90s, made me feel like nothing was ever meant for me and I could never thrive there. As soon as I could, […]
We’ve all been to a museum. Being shown around by an enthusiastic white male who knows about all the artifacts that the Museum stores. Artifacts from different parts of the world, collected by European ‘explorers.’ Explorers who set sail to discover a new world not ‘looters or invaders’, just explorers. Gifting their kings and queens […]
With the victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the US Presidential election, the storming of the US Capitol last week as well as the controversial suspension and now, reinstatement, of Jeremy Corbyn to the Labour Party here in the UK, the last couple of months have been a rollercoaster in politics. The internet […]
After the success of the Creative Fund fundraiser and the hundreds of applications AZ Magazine received, five recipients have been selected. They will each be awarded £1,000 to create a work of art. In our continued collaboration with DJ Mag they’ll be sponsoring and mentoring one recipient, Xilhu Ese – to create a Dance music […]
Water is an integral part of our lives – the world is made up of more than 71% of it, and the majority of our body too. Swimming is the ultimate way to immerse in and connect with the element – not only does it provide us with numerous mental and physical health benefits, but […]
Before hip-hop tapped into the mainstream it lived in the dingy, naughty underground of western culture, where EDM, funk, jazz, and other predecessors had gone before it – a curious rite of passage which has little to do with musicality, explicit lyrics, or the perils of nightlife, and a lot to do with the negative […]
Christmas holidays are always an exciting time of the year for me. Coming from Brazil, it means summer season, long days and afternoon rosé lightened up by some fairy lights. Since relocating to the UK I started to appreciate the walks in frosty weather with a glass of mulled wine. I guess it gives me […]
Rachael Young is a woman who needs no introduction. A powerhouse of theatre who manages to combine a slew of creative disciplines and social commentary so effortlessly to create the multifaceted work that only she can. “Freeing” is the recurring word in our conversation. I do not need to reiterate that this year has been […]
In my eyes, 2020 is the year Black people across the diaspora collectively decided enough is enough. And after a summer of Black Lives Matter protests around the world that are showing no signs of slowing down, it’s worth remembering that this is not the first time Black people and non-Black allies have rallied together […]
