"So what is black joy? I think that anything can be. I'm a black person and a queer person and whatever I'm involved in where there is joyful, I just call it black joy and queer joy. Because it is this body that is performing and like enjoying whatever. (...) What I would say has been really important to me is, creating opportunities where joy can be experienced, (...)."
- Ellis George
EDGES AND DRINKS X OSLO PRIDE 2024
Dear friends and Community,
I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our incredible collaboration event during Oslo Pride and express my deepest gratitude to everyone involved.
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to my team, the entire E&D team, including those visible at events and those working diligently behind the scenes. For this particular project, I want to highlight the efforts of Immy, Miriam T, Amarachi, Sergio, Hassan, Dean, Maria N, Grace, Antonio and Ileana - No words can justify my appreciation for all that you do for our mission of changing the narrative of life in the black body in the Nordics. Thank you all for your YES´!
From the left Miriam T., Antonio, Amarachi and Immy
Photo: Mario Henrique
If I were to boil down what Edges and Drinks does to one thing; THAT would be that we hold space.
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Hold space for ourselves, our peers and tribe.
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Hold space so they and we can come together as a community to heal and evolve together.
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Hold space to enjoy our own company on our terms.
What we aim to be is a safe people.
Photo: Mario Henrique
If I were to boil down what Edges and Drinks does to one thing; THAT would be that we hold space.
-
Hold space for ourselves, our peers and tribe.
-
Hold space so they and we can come together as a community to heal and evolve together.
-
Hold space to enjoy our own company on our terms.
What we aim to be is a safe people.
To be a safe people who can be trusted to receive others' vulnerabilities, struggles and fears, all while offering them wisdom, protection and confidentiality in return.
All relational privileges that haven't always been offered to black bodies and especially not black women nor the black queer community.
A week ago, we had the pleasure of holding space for a community gathering that became more of a therapy session with good music, drinks and food.
We had a panel discussion lead by the amazing psychologist Winnie Nyheim-Jomisko and phenomenal panel consisting of Stephen Adom, Lara Okafor and Ellis George.
From the left Ellis George, Lara Okafor and Stephen Adom
Winnie Nyheim-Jomisko
Photos: Mario Henrique
In-spite of all that they already do individually for the black community and other marginalised people in Norway and beyond, they showed up wholeheartedly to our panel discussion about “The intersectionality of Blackness and Queerness”. They shared profound reflections and insights on black joy and black queer joy, societal challenges, trans-and homophobia and community biases. There is a lot of intersectionality within the black community and this panel and discussion helped to validated a lot of the compounded stresses of holding multiple marginalized identities.
We and the almost 100 people present, extend our sincere gratitude to Stephen, Lara and Ellis for imparting their wisdom and experiences with a blend of earnestness, urgency and humor. Your invaluable insights were truly treasured and gratefully received.
I also want to extend my gratitude to Julie Chikane & Co, Adama Janlo, and Banjee for being the architects of the soundtrack of unapologetic black joy, freedom and resilience on this day.
Julie Chikane
Photo: Olav Helland
Adama janlo
Photo: Olav Helland
Photo: Mario Henrique
BANJEE
A humble thank you to our media team; Marcos Paulo Costa (Video), Mario Henrique and Olav Helland on photo. Each of you possesses a talent and foresight that allows you to consistently capture "kodak moments". Thank you for choosing to be a part of this.
To our partners <3 This is only the beginning.
And the cherry on top, the sauce in a cooked meal, the joy in all that we do; our beautiful community, Thank you for allowing us to serve you. Thank you to everyone who attended, shared this special evening with us and for those of you that shared more
than you had expected, your vulnerability and pureness is appreciated and cherished.
Together, we made a mark in history that truly embodied the spirit of Pride.
With gratitude and pride,
View our E&D X Oslo Pride Gallery
