Indo-Caribbean Stories & Chutney Music at The Africa Centre

On July 6, 2024, BlindianProject and Kromanti Rum (@kromanti_rum) teamed up for an afternoon of learning, rum, dancing, and dominoes at the historic Africa Centre in Southwark, London.

Attendance was free, and guests were welcomed with a cocktail curated by Kromanti Rum and Crazy Gin Co. (@teamcrazyco), bringing together the flavours and spirit of the African and South Asian diasporas.

Honouring Indo-Caribbean History

Our panel explored how Indians came to the Caribbean through the 19th-century indentured labour system, and how these communities, through resilience and adaptation, became an integral part of the region’s identity. From Trinidad to Guyana, Indo-Caribbean heritage reflects centuries of migration, survival, and cultural fusion.

We discussed how this journey shaped Caribbean food, music, and everyday life — from roti and curry to calypso and chutney music — and the ways these traditions still connect us across oceans today.

The Africa Centre’s Legacy of Solidarity

Founded in 1964, The Africa Centre has long been a hub for cultural exchange, political activism, and solidarity between communities of colour. During the anti-apartheid era, it was a gathering place for artists, activists, and thinkers envisioning a future beyond colonial rule. Hosting our Indo-Caribbean celebration here linked today’s Black x Brown storytelling to that same legacy of resistance and collaboration.

Chutney Music: A Sound of Fusion

Born in the Indian communities of Trinidad and Guyana, chutney music blends Bhojpuri folk melodies with calypso, soca, and later reggae. Its evolution mirrors the Indo-Caribbean story — carrying the emotional weight of migration, the joy of celebration, and the influence of African rhythms. At the event, live DJs (@chutneyinlondon & @justvibez) brought those sounds to life, showing how music can embody history while pulling everyone to the dance floor.

Culture, Connection, and Play

The event closed with a Caribbean pastime: dominoes, rum, and more music. Inside the Africa Centre’s walls, conversations about history gave way to laughter and dancing, proving that solidarity is not just political — it’s also about joy, memory, and the everyday ways we come together.

Jonah Batambuze is a, Ugandan-American interdisciplinary artist and founder of the BlindianProject, a global platform remixing Black x Brown identity through art, history, and storytelling. His work moves across installation, film, writing, and education—challenging systems of erasure while building new cultural blueprints.

Batambuze speaks and facilitates internationally on topics including Black South Asian solidarity, caste and colonial legacies, diasporic memory, and cultural resistance.

For speaking engagements, workshops, or media inquiries, contact: jonah@blindian-project.com or visit jonahbatambuze.com/speaking