Shahed Saleem: Where Are You Really From?

Taking the 15th century Torrijos Ceiling and Shahed Saleem’s New Work: Making East London commission ‘I Was Born Here’ as a starting point, the programme will encourage thought and reflection on how we create cultures of inclusion and exclusion in Britain today.


1. Participatory Choir by Bint Mbareh
2pm-2.45pm
Location: Gallery 3 (Torrijos Ceiling)

Vocalist and musician Bint Mbareh takes inspiration from Granada, a trilogy of novels by Egyptian author Radwa Ashour to create a human soundscape. Use your voice in unexpected ways to collectively create sounds with others resonating under the Torrijos Ceiling. Open to all. 

2. Film Screenings + Conversation
3pm-4.30pm 
Location: Creative Studios
 

A series of films to think about histories of racism and identity in East London, with a panel conversation exploring the themes raised in the films and discussing how the recent past informs youth identities and issues in East London today.

Film 1
Extract from the documentary film ‘Defiance’ about the 1978 murder of Altab Ali in Whitechapel and the anti-racist protest movements it inspired.

Film 2
 ‘Chicken’
Set in Tower Hamlets, the award-winning short film explores the phenomenon of fried chicken shops and what they represent to the borough’s diverse communities, highlighting their role as cultural, social, and everyday spaces.

Film 3
 ‘The Long Goodbye’ by Riz Ahmed (2021), Oscar winning short film depicting the rise of racist violence in the UK. 

A response to the films from a member of the V&A East Youth Collective

Panellists
Nurull Islam, Mile End Community Project
Fatima Rajina (Academic and founder of Nijjor Manush Works)
Youth Collective member
Moderator – Shahed Saleem

 

3. Spoken Word + Conversation
4.45-6.15pm 
Location:  Gallery 3 (Torrijos Ceiling)

Spoken word poetry performances followed by a conversation with the artists exploring how they use writing and performing to unpack complex themes and experiences through their work. 

Kinan Salaam, a spoken word poet known for confronting Islamophobia through unapologetic, unfiltered, faith-rooted poetry. His work challenges stereotypes, calls out double standards, and speaks back to narratives that misrepresent Muslims. 

Supported by:
Shazia Ali
 Writer living in Hackney and full-time mother to 3 boys, as an English graduate and former solicitor writing is her long-standing practice.
 Sam El-Bahja
A poet, architectural designer and co-founder of ISO collective, whose practice brings together storytelling and social engagement.

Followed by a conversation with the performers with one member of the V&A East Youth Collective, and one member of the Youth Collective as moderator.