Keeping the SELFestival rolling!

Today’s morning session was brought to us by Angelique Golding and Florian Stadtler, having insightful conversations around Wasafiri Magazine, the literature and culture of the writers and curators who make it, and as well as the audience who devours it and the important voices it reflects. Angelique who discussed her journey of reading and enjoying Wasafiri Magazine, to now being a researcher in to the Wasafir archives, via an MA in Black British Writing.

The work of those publishing Wasafiri and their process in developing literature really speaks to the time. Florian discussed the processes around how the organisation of the Wasafiri Magazine runs, from keeping the structure of ensuring each writer gets paid, to realising when it is time to work, and when it is time to pass this work to the next generation. Both Angelique and Florian spoke with their passion for the magazine over recent publications, and how each new release lifts another voice across, not just Black British communities, but wider, transnational voices, including Asia, South East Asia and Africa and looks at intersectional issues, with Queer and White themed publications.

In the afternoon, Georga Gachara opened up with some of his experiences as a managing partner for HEVA investment fund in Kenya. George brought a wealth of generous insight into how he builds trust with the people and institutions he funds and shared some of the methods he uses to bring a human and planet – centred approach to investment.

His passion and curiosity for the creative industries shone through and he discussed a variety of projects he’s been involved in across East Africa and the continent. He shared his different methods of investing in enterprises, for example taking a profit share of enterprises, rather than relying solely on a loan model and thus avoiding debt financing. He spoke about the importance of seeing perseverance as strategic as well as emotional, and a stark reminder that resilience comes from a privileged place.