Exhibition
The Music is Black: A British Story
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No Man Is An Island: Dennis Brown Remembered
Join us as we celebrate the genius of Dennis Emanuel Brown in an afternoon of music, memories, and tributes to his extraordinary legacy.
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Past Event
This special day honours Dennis Emanuel Brown the Jamaican-born anglophile who left an indelible influence on British reggae and Lovers Rock.
From No Man Is An Island, his first recording at age 12, to international acclaim with hits including Money in My Pocket, Dennis’ voice touched generations.
Explore his legacy through music, storytelling, rare footage and voice recordings and a segment dedicated to his brilliance as a singer-songwriter.
In full collaboration with Dennis’ family, this moment offers a deeper understanding of Dennis as a child star, reggae legend, husband, father, and cultural messenger in a day devoted to the Crown Prince of Reggae.
Presented ahead of the opening of V&A East and its exhibition The Music is Black: A British Story, this tribute places Dennis at the heart of a musical heritage that shaped eight Black British genres (Lovers Rock, Brit Funk, 2 Tone, Jungle, Drum n Bass, Trip Hop, UK Garage and Grime), and all but one, rooted in reggae’s enduring legacy.
A detailed event programme to follow.
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Header image: Dennis Emanuel Brown, Slow Down, Photograph by Brian Jahn.