This is the first Kiota Lab Podcast with:

-Poet Amena Kofi
-Theatre-maker and Vocal Artist, Aisha Ali.
-Spoken Word Poet, Film Maker and Writer Shagufta Iqbal as host.

We talk about artistic process during lockdown and the role making art plays in our lives. We also talk about the ways we support ourselves as artists and the value in making work that reflects the landscape of the times.

(Please note there may be differences in the volume of the recording - we are learning how to podcast on the job!)

Kiota Lab 1

Trailer for the upcoming Kiota Podcasts, hosted by Shagufta K. Iqbal and Aisha Ali, in conversation with some of the most exciting South West based POC artists.

Kiota Podcasts

Kiota Podcast Trailer

-Hosted by Aisha Ali

-Poetry from Vanessa Melody 

Vanessa Melody is singer-songwriter and poet of Afro-Caribbean descent, born and raised in Bristol.

In 2018, confined to her bed due to a 3 week bout of illness, she produced over 50 poems that were later compiled and published through Balboa Press, in a book called 'Rise To Freedom Her Story in Rhyme'

Her poem, Mother Nature, is about how she spends a lot of time in the natural spaces in the area where she lives in Eastville. Mother Nature takes care of her, guides her and when she is still enough,  she can hear, feel, see and taste the essence of life that sustains her. She believes it is the same for us all because we are one, we are all connected.

-Comedy from Pravanya Pillay

2008 Sir Henry Floyd Form Representative Pravanya Pillay is a comedian and youth empowerment leader. In 2017 she founded Stomping Ground, an organisation which empowers young people of colour by transforming Bristol’s arts and cultural landscape so that it is fully accessible and representative. 

A director, writer and performer her comedic style is like marmite (yeasty) and leaves you wondering: “did I hate that?”. Pravanya Pillay’s surreal, absurdist humour is always silly, always fun and always a bit pointless. Critics say “well she’s having a good time” and “wow, that’s a lot of energy”

-Pravanya chats to Aisha about her comedy inspiration, what she's learned in lockdown and her plans for the future.

Kiota Lab 4

A collective of BIPoC creatives in Bristol celebrating us and working towards decolonising Arts Spaces.

Kiota Bristol