the team behind BORN::FREE
belinda::zhawi | she/her
founding creative director
Belinda Zhawi is a Zimbabwean literary and sound artist based in London, author of Small Inheritances (ignitionpress, 2018), & experiments with sound/text performance as MA.MOYO. Her work has been featured on various platforms including The White Review, NTS, Boiler Room & BBC Radio. She’s held residencies with Triangle Asterides, Serpentine Galleries and ICA London.
Belinda co-founded BORN::FREE in 2014 alongside writer and filmmaker Chima Nsoedo. Together, they ran BORN::FREE Fridays, a regular night platforming LDN’s emerging literary and performance talent.
For BORN::FREE, Belinda has initiated partnerships with the British Council and the ICA to facilitate an intercultural exchange between British and South African writers and performance poets; she also leads on BORN::FREE’s education work, programme planning and curation, and company management.
malakaï::sargeant | they/them
co-creative director
malakaï is an artist, producer and educator working across literature and live performance. A Barbican Young Poets alumnus, malakaï co-founded and was Artistic Director of producing theatre company The S+K Project between 2014-19. Aged 21, malakaï was appointed Associate Director at Theatre Peckham, where they were responsible for cultural programming, nurturing young artists and developing new writing.
As a theatre director and dramaturg , they have recently presented performance and installation work with the likes of the National Gallery with UAL, Chichester Festival Theatre, Bush Theatre, Royal Court and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. malakaï is currently undertaking an MA in Black British Literature at Goldsmiths University of London.
For BORN::FREE, malakaï leads on fundraising, programme planning and curation, initiating and managing strategic partnerships, financial planning and budgeting.
fat::lïp | they/them
resident DJ
fat lïp is a multidisciplinary Dj and saxophonist from London of Jamacian and Grenadian descent.
They aim to celebrate the sounds of the Black Global Diaspora blending different musical genres of Caribbean and African origin to celebrate the music of the black diaspora,homeland and beyond to honour and acknowledge the whole community. The ultimate aim is to bring about a discussion on the state of the black diasporic identity centered in how music connects us all.
They are also the founder of VEXED, an online archive to document diasporic stories and art.
nate::ricketts | he/him
resident MD
Nate Ricketts is a drummer and percussionist from North London.
He regularly tours the UK and Europe with Black artists and collective such as Afronaut Zu, Pan Nation UK & Steamdown.
Nate coordinates the Veranda House Band as Musical Director, working with our Production Manager to lead rehearsals and sound checks – as well as working with performing artists to create and improvise original scores around their pieces.
BORN::FREE is powered by is powered by community: a team of freelance artists and creative producers; audiences and participants; plus a team of volunteers including Sohna Ceesay, adoudu olukoga & Gloria Akpoke.
_________________________
BORN::FREE honours and continues to celebrate the life of our beloved friend, poet & editor Gboyega Odubanjo (1996-2023).