GOOD EVENING BRITAIN: LIVE! Join Darkwah Kyei-Darkwah, Zain Shah and Glow with Ola for a night of queer fabulousness
As one of the ten winners of The Special Event Call Out we launched in partnership with Selina last month, London’s favourite queer icons Darkwah Kyei-Darkwah, Zain Shah and Glow with Ola bring you the GOOD EVENING BRITAIN: LIVE! event, which will be taking place at Selina’s new Camden location on Monday 28 June.
If you’re looking for an evening filled with some laughs, deep conversation and total, unadulterated fabulousness, this one’s for you. Ahead of their event next week, we sat down with the trio to find out a little more about what they have planned for their queer, inclusive and interactive alternative to that talk show.
But first up, let’s rewind a bit. In case you’re not fully aware of who the curators of this event are—and the whirlwind of fun and creativity they’ll be implementing through this evening—Kyei-Darkwah is a non-binary content creator, public speaker, activist and art director. “Formerly Fashion Editor at an international LGBTQ+ publication, my work does and has always centred around uplifting the voices of the lesser represented in society,” they explained. Knowing exactly how to push queer visibility and challenge preconceived notions of masculinity in society are just two of Kyei-Darkwah’s many skills.
Next up is Shah, also known as Zaddy Zain, a London-based beauty influencer and skincare enthusiast. “As a gender non-conforming South Asian, I’m constantly thinking of new ways to combine creativity with social activism. My goal is to continue working towards expanding the narratives of brown LGBTQ+ culture, rather than reinforcing stereotypes, to help to ensure a wider range of representation,” shared Shah.
Last but certainly not least, meet Glow with Ola, a content creator acclaimed for their focus on “bringing the fun back into skincare.” If you think skincare and pampering your mental health can’t go hand in hand, Ola will make you think again. “As well as giving you tips on achieving luminous skin, I also focus on instilling people with the tools to overcome their personal struggles. Get ready with me while I spill the proverbial tea in a salacious storytime, or give you tips on empowerment and self-acceptance. Never afraid to tackle controversial topics, my work is peppered with humour, authentic truth, and a ridiculously long set of acrylic nails! Keep glowing!”
Who would ever need to hype themselves up after spending a full evening surrounded by this posse, am I right? GOOD EVENING BRITAIN: LIVE! is a—you guessed it—live version of the homonymous IGTV-native talk show the group has been hosting on for a couple of months now. When asked why they decided to take advantage of the lift of the UK’s restrictions, Kyei-Darkwah explained, “The reason it worked when we did this on IGTV was that we were having good discussions that meant a lot to each of us. We don’t like to structure things too much. What we can assure you is that we will be our most honest, most open and most candid selves whatever the topic of conversation.”
The event will focus on honest conversations surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community. “You may have thought it but we will definitely say it and with that, also hopefully shed some light on the feelings and experiences of others who need to and should be heard more,” they added.
To start the event, all three organisers will bring topics they deem important to the table, which will segue into questions from the audience around those same topics and then anything they wish to ask after. “There’s nothing like a face to face conversation. There’s nothing like reading the faces of people who have found something funny, emoting with people who have been moved by anecdotes or simply sharing a knowing and understanding look with someone,” explained Kyei-Darkwah.
If you care about being a good ally, or are just looking to learn and understand more about the world around us, GOOD EVENING BRITAIN: LIVE! promises to help you do just that. “Look, we aren’t experts either so it’s all a learning and sharing experience. And we hope to bring all sorts of people together so we can grow together as a community that crosses many intersections,” Kyei-Darkwah added.
With a limited amount of tickets remaining—at £22 for the evening’s conversation and £42.50 if you’d like to add a curated dinner at Selina’s POWERPLANT restaurant—the evening is bound to touch on some of today’s most current topics while keeping the atmosphere light and fun, because who likes a one-sided lecture? Certainly not Kyei-Darkwah, Shah, nor Ola.
And if you’re still not fully convinced GOOD EVENING BRITAIN: LIVE! is perfect for you, here’s what Kyei-Darkwah had to say, “It’s going to be an eye-opening, hilarious, caring and honest experience that will hopefully leave you wanting more while having left with a full heart and happy mind.” Sign me up, and get your tickets here.