‘Writing Black Berlin’ – Black and Afro-diasporic voices from Berlin with Yama Tessa Hart, Elisa Aseva & Jenaba Samura

During the evening, Yama Tessa Hart and Elisa Aseva will present their respective literary perspectives through readings and discussion, and talk about their individual approaches to the German-speaking literary scene. The discussion will be moderated by Jenaba Samura.

Yama Tessa Hart is a cultural navigator and has been practising artistic and transcultural work for 20 years as empowering, intersectional processes that challenge power structures and discrimination. For example, she has been at the helm of the Bread & Roses Theatre in London (2012–2022), Goblin Baby Co. (since 2013) and AfroPolitan Berlin (2020–2024), and has worked as a curator for the Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival (since 2020). Dey writes and publishes poetry, prose, essays, children’s books, non-fiction and performance texts.

Elisa Aseva is an author from Berlin who writes short literary pieces and political commentaries online. Her book *Überstunden* was published by Weissbooks in 2021. Alongside her literary work, she is active in the film and theatre sectors, amongst other things, and is passionately involved in anti-fascist networks.

Jenaba Samura (she/her) is a freelance writer, podcast host and presenter; her work frequently explores the intersection with theatre. As a PhD candidate in literary studies, she is currently conducting research into imaginaries of a Black Europe as part of the project ‘Black Narratives of Transcultural Appropriation’. Prior to this, she studied gender and postcolonial studies in Göttingen and London.