the team behind BORN::FREE
belinda::zhawi | she/her
creative director
Belinda Zhawi is a Zimbabwean literary and sound artist based in London, author of Small Inheritances (ignitionpress, 2018), & experiments with sound/text performance as MA.MOYO. Her work has been featured on various platforms including The White Review, NTS, Boiler Room & BBC Radio. She’s held residencies with Triangle Asterides, Serpentine Galleries and ICA London.
Belinda co-founded BORN::FREE in 2014 alongside writer and filmmaker Chima Nsoedo. Together, they ran BORN::FREE Fridays, a regular night platforming LDN’s emerging literary and performance talent.
For BORN::FREE, Belinda has initiated partnerships with the British Council and the ICA to facilitate an intercultural exchange between British and South African writers and performance poets; she also leads on BORN::FREE’s education work, programme planning and curation, and company management.
nate::ricketts | he/him
resident MD
Nate Ricketts is a drummer and percussionist from North London.
He regularly tours the UK and Europe with Black artists and collective such as Afronaut Zu, Pan Nation UK & Steamdown.
Nate coordinates the Veranda House Band as Musical Director, working with our Production Manager to lead rehearsals and sound checks – as well as working with performing artists to create and improvise original scores around their pieces.
BORN::FREE is powered by is powered by community: a team of freelance artists and creative producers; audiences and participants; plus a team of volunteers including Sohna Ceesay, adoudu olukoga & Gloria Akpoke.
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BORN::FREE honours and continues to celebrate the life of our beloved friend, poet & editor Gboyega Odubanjo (1996-2023).