From co-organising the Brighton BLM peaceful demonstrations with the aim to create a robust and sustainable  discourse for racial justice, to timeless African-style Ankara prints interpreted through her art, Kaia strives to “create brave spaces to integrate anti-racist practices, embrace humility, to question and strive for an equitable future.”

FORE explores Kaia’s talent and where her pronounced bravery, confidence and gratefulness as a Black artist has stemmed from. Get ready to venture through Kaia’s reality and be vulnerable to “walk the walk” of her progressive embodiment of Black history, excellence and hunger.

“CREATIVITY HAS AIDED AS A PERSONAL CATHARSIS AND SURROGATE VOICE FOR ME, AND THE COMMUNITIES I REPRESENT”

Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.

My name is Kaia Allen-Bevan, I’m 20 years old. I am an anti-racism and racial justice advocate, a secondary school tutor, co-host of a local podcast, 2022 TedX Speaker, artist (through predominantly poetry and digital art), speaker, educator (predominantly digitally through infographics). 

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Brighton, Whitehawk, for the majority of my life. Surrounded by working-class people, who (most of the time) did not conform to the stereotype that is imposed on this class community. 

What is your background and its influence on your culture?

As someone who is mixed-raced, who has lived in and worked in spaces predominantly white, this has further propelled me to wanting to learn about my history, we all can be active participants and allies within the journey towards anti-racism and racial justice. This intrigued, or thirst, to know more has also opened my heart to learn about other cultures, histories, art forms, figures and lifestyles, and how everyone, regardless of whether you resonate or not with different lifestyles, can distil their ignorance and be more receptive to narratives that are not the “norm” (that do not conform under a euro-centric lens and/or uphold white supremacy and other interacting systems of oppression). 

Your craft and what it means to you?

My craft allows me to find liberation, confidence and self-love within my differences. Creativity has aided as a personal catharsis and surrogate voice for me, and the communities I represent, and has drawn me to those within the community who also have a shared vision for the world. My craft has helped me to recentre and reground myself, to be retrospective, to articulate my former and future selves through lockdown, my creativity inspired me to bring Brighton people together to march in solidarity with those participating in the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement, to lead over 10,000 people in a collective call against racism and to chant the names conveniently forgotten who haven’t received justice.

“INSPIRATION FOR ME IS DRAWN FROM LOOKING OUTSIDE OF MYSELF, THROUGH HISTORY, THROUGH SPIRITUALITY, THROUGH CONVERSATION, FROM INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF PEOPLE”

Where did your inspiration come from as a Black creative?

As a Black creative, my inspiration comes from former creatives, like Lorraine Hansbery, Audre Lorde, Langston Hughes and present creatives, such as AfloThePoet, PrissNash, Erin James. Inspiration can be drawn from anything when its translated to creativity, but there is nuance, intricacy and deepness in connection when a creative is writing from a position of being impacted by systems of oppression, because they are able to find their voices when society so desperately wants us to be silenced, to feel smaller, to feel insignificant-to believe the conditioning we are under. From being a stranger in the world, you become someone who is seen, because we all to varying degrees can understand, and even through the misunderstanding there is greatness. As Black creatives, through the power of our artistry, we confront head on the structures that are normalised and call for a manifestation of a bigger and better world, which slowly deconstructs the world we know and builds, step by step, the framework for a holistic, inclusive and healthily-functioning society. I think inspiration for me is drawn from looking outside of myself, through history, through spirituality, through conversation, from individuals and groups of people, because we all have a story to tell, and we don't know what it's like to walk the walk in each other’s shoes, and creativity can bring compassion and “verstehen''.

Who is your biggest role model in your chosen field and why?

This is such a difficult question because I have so many role models, but one person who sticks out to me is Jessie Reyez. She has always stuck out to me as an artist since I first listened to her single “Figures” 6 years ago…she motivates me as a person, from the way in which she incorporates her culture, her pride, her vulnerabilities, her experiences and her personality into music, into dance and acting is something spectacular to me. When you listen to her music, every second is filled with honesty, passion and silent confidence and the willingness to outgrow and let go of things no longer serving her. She also integrates themes of immigration, her parents and their stories, expressing her gratitude for their tenacity and their support for her to pursue her own dreams. You can see the growth in her character through her music, never mind when you listen to her interviews (especially as of recent)…she encourages me to explore poetics that channel my inner child, unfavourable emotions and to move through the difficult things life throws at you. As a person of colour, it adds a layer to her music that I can relate to even more so.

Who are your top 2 Black creatives/inspirational people and if you have examples of their work you love or quotes from them, we would love to hear it.

My first Black inspiration is my mother, she is a testament of resilience, of compassion, of strength…of so many beautiful contradictions that make up her, and she unapologetically shows up as herself. She inspires me to do better, to be better; despite all of her hurdles, she is like a phoenix, rising from the ashes and bursting with fireworks with the most vibrant of colours for all to see and be in awe of. 

No matter where she goes, she glows and just by being herself, she is a role model within each space she inhabits. Her voice hums undertones of truth, of power, of kindness and support, and I am grateful to call her my mum and my best friend- I wouldn't be where I am without her. 

Michaela Ewuraba Boakye-Collinson (known professionally as Michaela Coel), is another Black inspiration of mine; I love her series “I May Destroy You” and the fact that she created, wrote, co-directed, and executive produced, with a predominantly Black British cast, is something to be applauded for, especially with tackling a “difficult” topic like sexual consent and rape. Coel was the first Black woman to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, and has received many awards and achievements before and after too. 

Consciously, she removed herself from the digital realm of social media, and has demonstrated that you can still grasp your dreams without the immediate gratification of social media. In addition, from her experience of isolation and bullying in school, due to being the only Black pupil in her age cohort, (and later transferred to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was the first black woman enrolled in five years.), she has been able to transmute her pain in purpose and power, of which being outcast due to race is a theme that many Black people, never mind creatives, will experience. It's always reassuring to know that there are people out there that look like you who are succeeding despite their differences. 

What motivated you to start your craft? 

I have always been a creative individual, so across the years of my youth I would write, draw, paint and so forth. However, through lockdown, I think being forced to stay indoors allowed me to focus on my hobbies, pursuits and projects, and through sharing my works online, attracted other like-minded individuals. I think the narrative of protesting, both organising and being an active-participant in, fed my hunger for justice to be served, and for the greater unity of people from all different walks of life.

How would you describe the style of your work?

I would say my work oftentimes is a rally cry for community, justice, accountability and humility, so we all can participate in the formulation of a new world. My writing often fixates on a topic, or something personal, which extends outwards to individuals, structures, and groups, which often results in a hopeful and invigorating end-focus. It is almost axiomatic. With my art, I’m deeply inspired by the figure of the Black Woman, of her dichotomies, her labelling and her truth, which often contradicts the colonial depiction of the Black Woman. We associate her with being strong, indestructible, and empowered, but often we negate her softness, her kindness, her serenity, her grace and her vulnerability, which I hope to depict through my artwork and poetry too. I often incorporate African-style prints, such as Ankara prints, as well as the symbols used within African art, like the African village woman; there is a lot of joy within these pieces! Through my mediums of art, I can bring both the modern styles of art and the traditional, to see that this Black Joy is timeless, that despite all that we have experienced as Black people, our Joy is a protest. 

Do you think it has been hard as a Black creative to find limelight in the creative field?

I would say that white supremacy, just like within any field, is still intrinsic within the creative industry, so finding the limelight is difficult. You can find various quantitative and qualitative studies, research and statistics on how the creative industry is dominated by straight, able-bodied, white men. However, I am lucky to say that I have been able to connect with local creatives who create their own spotlight for minoritised individuals, and also with some organisations who have spotlighted my work. The limelight is granted by the well-known saying of “working twice as hard” for the same merit…

Have you come across any setbacks in your craft? If so, how did you deal with them? 

I wouldn’t necessarily say setbacks, but rather moments of misunderstanding by viewers, because they feel “attacked” or  “excluded” because my work brings a focus on particular groups of people. But that misunderstanding comes with the misunderstanding of justice and equity, or the fears stemming from terms like the “great replacement theory”, that our valid frustrations will result in repeating history on White people. But we do not want revenge, we want to have the same footing, same opportunities, and same treatment - we want inclusion, not devastation. 

Where would you like your work/career to lead

I would definitely like to write and perform more poetry, host more events and workshops (as I have been doing with my YappedOut podcast co-host), build connections with more creatives within and outside of Brighton, work with a variety of demographics to spark their own creative fires and to aid their journeys towards anti-racism, racial justice and pro-active allyship. I would love to do more collaborations with other artists, to tackle “taboo” topics, and to bring the unspoken spoken. I think community work, especially when it comes to re-education, is mandatory because we need to remember our own power as citizens, and how this can be utilized to be of service to those around us, to dismantle what we have normalised, and to redefine the world as we know, for the benefit of not just a handful of social characteristics. As James Baldwin states, “the paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated…”. I have faith in the unknown because I choose to focus on my growth, the positives and the expansion, and that is exciting.

“OUR REALITY IS YOUR CHOICE TO LEARN-DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO MORE, NOT WHEN IT’S SOCIALLY CONVENIENT FOR YOU”

What does black history month mean to you? 

Black History Month for me is a reminder to say THANK YOU to those gone before us, who are here today and getting ready to sing our praises for those to come. It’s to reflect upon the Black excellence, as well as our trauma, to soak in moments of Black Joy, as well as rest and to honour other feelings that come up… [it] encourages me to push beyond the social convenience of this month, to find ways to honour Blackness all year round. It is about setting foundations for progression, so we are not singing the same songs each year and that, step by step, we are working towards a world that incorporates the needs of Black people. It is recognising that Black History is EVERYONE’s history, that our society wouldn't exist without the contributions of Black people; that each aspect of living is sunk in our roots that should be respected and celebrated. 

Do you have any pieces of work that are inspired by your race, if so we would love to hear about your most impactful piece and see some images if possible 

Most, if not all, of my work, is inspired by my race, as well as my other intersections. My most recent art piece was a commission for Osprey for Black History Month. In the light of Chris Kaba, and the many UK and global voices snatched by police brutality and racism, I was inspired to create this commission to shine a spotlight on the names you may not have heard of. It isn’t JUST George Floyd, may he rest in peace. Just because our placards aren’t raised, the names you chanted have not disappeared, just because you have. Black Lives STILL Matter, and Black History is not limited to one month. Our reality is your choice to learn-do the right thing and do more, not when it’s socially convenient to you; this is my bio for the piece itself:

What is your biggest message for young Black aspiring creatives/artists/business people?

I would say my biggest message for young Black aspiring creatives would be to believe in themselves and avoid trying to seek outsider validation in an industry that may not understand nor fully support your creativity and how it manifests. Your creativity is a gift from those you’ve descended from, and they have appointed that baton to you to run with!  Break the norm, be your own leader, and be beautifully and unapologetically Black and proud! 

What changes would you like to see in your industry for your people?

I would like to see more representation, not only in terms of the art that is featured but in positions of leadership, coordination, hosting, curation and so forth. Our narratives need to be told by our people, not just white creatives. Diversity needs to be reflected both on screen and off screen, on paper and writing on the page, on canvases and painting the pieces…projects can’t be made about Black people without the production team being filled with Black folk. The power needs to be equitable, not just through the White Gaze because we are at risk of tropes, stereotypes and myths of Black people being told over and over again - we need to break the narrative

A huge thankyou to our first ever external feature on our blog page. This wouldn’t be possible without you and we are grateful for the inspiration, motivation and support you illuminate! Make sure to connect with Kaia on her networking pages, and let her and us at [FORE] know what you thought, felt and what resonated most from this interview.