About this Event
Guyanese Tourism, Literature and Art which will be held on Saturday, 8th November (3pm for a 3.30pm start).
This event will focus on the work of our three distinguished speakers: writer, Shani Akilah; artist, Joan Eytle Kendall; and tourism specialist, Oslyn Kirton. Guyanese food and drink will be available for sale.
The event will take place at Draper Hall, Hampton Street Junction with Newington Butts (next to the Santander Bike Stand), London SE17 3AN. Please see below for WALKING directions from Elephant and Castle Tube Station to the venue. Car Parking in this area is extremely difficult to find. It is thus recommended that attendees travel to the venue via public transport unless already familiar with the area.
Shani Akilah is a Black British Caribbean writer and screenwriter from London. She is the author of For Such a Time as This, which won Best Short Story Collection at the 2024 Cosmopolitan Book Awards. She was literary judge for the Nota Bene Prize in 2023 and holds a Master’s degree in African Studies from the University of Oxford. Shani is the co-founder the Nyah Network book club and The Orange Room Collective and in 2024, the Shani Akilah Library opened in Woolwich in her honour. She has been described by Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo as 'a new glittering voice in the literary firmament'.
Shani will be sharing insights into her career as a writer and reading from her short story collections. For Such a Time as This can be purchased from Amazon and Waterstones but will also be available for purchase and signature at Draper Hall.
Joan Eytle Kendall is inspired by the French textile artist, Louise Bourgeois who famously proclaimed: ‘tell your own story and you will be interesting’. Joan shares that:
“My head is British, my heart in universal, my soul is Guyanese and my body is… ageing. My signature on communications about my creative work reads; Metaphysically Me - Joan Eytle Kendall, Weaver & Stitcher with Words & Threads.
For as long as I can remember I have been involved in the art of crafting. Now in my troisième âge, having finally accepted I have a gift as a textile creative, I am always weaving or stitching, I simply cannot do, cannot be, without it. I make and write to make things right.”
Joan will be talking about the art of crafting and will have some of her work on exhibition at Draper Hall.
Oslyn Kirton is the Executive Director of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG). She has been a key figure in Guyana’s tourism development since 2009, working to expand the sector’s reach and raise professional standards across the industry. Under her leadership, THAG has:
• Advocated for broader membership beyond traditional tourism operators, including caterers, event planners, and even farmers.
• Prioritized training and upskilling in areas like culinary arts, bartending, and hospitality management to meet the demands of Guyana’s rapidly growing hotel and tourism infrastructure.
• Addressed challenges such as staff shortages due to competition from the oil and gas sector, especially in roles like chefs, servers, and housekeepers
Kirton has also emphasized that tourism is a career path, not just a fallback option, and has worked to shift public perception around service roles in Guyana.
Oslyn will be bringing us up-to-date on tourism in Guyana.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Draper Hall, Hampton Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 5.00
