Exhibition exploring London’s black music spaces on display at the Horniman Museum

A new exhibition has just opened exploring London’s black music spaces at the Horniman Museum.

Dance Can’t Nice, curated by Adem Holness, explores the language and spaces that have influenced the production of British Basement, Garage, Lovers Rock, Grime, Gospel, Jazz and Soul.

The name, which is taken from the Frankie Paul & Sugar Minott song, is an invitation to consider the things black live music needs to grow.

When the 2006-2017 Metropolitan Police risk assessment form 696 made it harder for London venues to put on black music events, many genres continued to flourish in private spaces.

Artists Naeem Davis and deaf rapper SignKid highlight the relationship between Black British music and physical space in the exhibition.

Naeem Davis said: “I want to evoke a sense of nostalgia and create value for the forgotten. I want to honour our spaces.

“As the ownership of black music venues fades and we emerge from the global pandemic, our community and its origins have never been more important.

“Our culture thrives in the underground. Our music is a blessing and privilege to those outside our community who have been granted access.”

The exhibition opened in the Horniman’s contemporary arts space, The Studio and runs until October 24.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/dance-cant-nice-exploring-londons-black-music-spaces/