With Dopplereffekt live and special guests.

This event takes place in the British Library.

A night of electronic music, art and fantasy inspired by the extraordinary vision of Drexciya, whose futuristic sound was entwined with an alternate Black history and mythology.

The event culminates in a live performance by Dopplereffekt who build on a long career of experimentation within the machine-human interface. Sometimes characterised as electro, they create a revelatory experience that is physical as well as neurological; precisely rhythmic and symphonic, deeply emotional as well as uncertain. With visuals by Maria Mendes.

They are preceded by a live set by Speaker Music (19:40), Drexciya collaborator-artist Abdul Qadim Haqq in an illustrated conversation with DeForrest Brown Jr (20:10) and guest DJ, the exceptional Josey Rebelle.

This after-hours event at the British Library includes access to the exhibition Fantasy: Realms of Imagination at no extra cost.

A combined ticket can also be booked to include the panel conversation Black To The Future presents Genre Marauders with Irenosen Okojie, Rivers Solomon, Tade Thompson and Chella Ramanan. This runs from 18:30-19:45 in the British Library Theatre ahead of Late at the Library. 

The event is also part of Black To The Future, an Afro-Futurist celebration of outstanding Black artists and a space for visionary imaginings to thrive.  A festival founded and directed by Irenosen Okojie MBE in collaboration with the Royal Society of Literature and the British Library, with a focus on invigorating dialogues and genres within which Black literature and art is flourishing.

Half price tickets available for British Library Members, students, under 26s and other concession groups.

Please note this is a standing event with only limited seating. Doors open at 19:30. Last entry to the exhibition 21:30. 

Record stall courtesy of Honest Jon’s. Plus book signing with Abdul Qadim Haqq of the Books of Drexciya 1 and 2. 

With additional support from the US Embassy in London and the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library.

Abdul Qadim Haqq is an American visual artist who is considered Detroit's number one ambassador of art for world-renowned techno music artists. Haqq collaborated with Drexciya on several projects, notably Neptune’s Lair (1999), and his artwork is featured on classic Detroit Techno records from Juan Atkins, Transmat, Planet E and Underground Resistance. In 2020 - 21 he created and published graphic novels The Book Of Drexciya Vol 1 and Vol 2 with contributions by Dai Satō and artists Leo Rodrigues, Alan Oldham, Hector Rubilar, Leonardo Gondim, Daniel Oliviera and Milton Estevam.

Josey Rebelle has been described as “the genre-bending DJ dominating top-tier dancefloors worldwide” (Mixmag). Having made her name at legendary London basement club Plastic People and on Rinse FM, she now plays mesmerising sets at the world’s most iconic clubs and festivals. Her accolades and awards including DJ Mag’s 100 of the World’s Best DJs 2022 list, BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix of the Year 2019, DJ Mag Best of British Award for Best Compilation 2020 for Josey In Space, Resident Advisor Mix of the Year 2020 and a coveted DJ Mag cover.

DeForrest Brown, Jr. is an Alabama-raised, Ex-American rhythmanalyst, and writer. Brown's debut book Assembling a Black Counter Culture was released on Primary Information in 2022. As Speaker Music, he channels the African American modernist tradition of rhythm and soul music as an intellectual site and sound of techno-vernacular expression. He has released three albums on Planet Mu; 'Of Desire, Longing' (2019), 'Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry' (2020) and 'Techxodus' (2023).

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