About this Event
Join us for an intimate Valentine's Day celebration exploring love through African gazes.
Uthando (meaning "love" in isiZulu) is a pop-up exhibition honouring the art of Zulu love letters—intricate beadwork historically used during courtship in Zulu societies. This afternoon gathering showcases a photographic series inspired by Betty Nosipho Hlela's donated Zulu love letter housed at Black Cultural Archives, inviting you to reflect on your own memories and rituals of love.
What to expect:
- Intimate photographic exhibition featuring the Uthando series
- Short film responding to the love letter
- Live poetry performance
- Our signature Malawi Shandy
- Interactive experience: share your love stories and rituals to be archived for future generations, and take home a Polaroid from our love booth as your keepsake
This is more than an exhibition—it's a space to honour how we express love across different cultures and generations. Southern African histories are often invisible in British cultural memory, and Uthando is creating space for these narratives to be heard, seen, felt.
Perfect for: couples, friends, solo attendees, anyone curious about African heritage and storytelling
When: Saturday, 14 February 2026, 14:00 - 16:00
Where: Chocolate Studios, Hackney
The afternoon timing means you can join us and still have your evening Valentine's plans. Come celebrate love, learn something new, and be part of preserving cultural memories.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Chocolate Studios, 7 Shepherdess Place, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
