Black Ink Presents: Poetry Night Series

Black Ink cultivates a safe and brave space for BIPOC creatives, grounded in open dialogue and meaningful connection. Each Poetry Night is a chance to celebrate the power of spoken word poetry as a force for artistic expression, with feature performances from established Black Ink poets, the opportunity to participate in guided writing exercises, and an open mic session.

Black Ink presents: Art is a Language

Saturday 8 August, 6:00 – 8:00pm, doors from 5:45pm

The fourth Black Ink Presents event will respond to the exhibition 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial: After The Rain, and showcases feature artist Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi.

Optional Dress Theme: An accessory that was gifted to you

Question: What is the best way to stay inspired as an artist

Prompt: ‘After it rains…’

Artists

Huda Fadlemawla

Huda Fadlemawla is an internationally recognised spoken word poet, educator, and activist, renowned for her powerful improvised poetry. A proud Black Sudanese Muslim woman, she uses her artistry to challenge narratives, ignite conversation, and foster deep connections between audiences and writers. With over a decade in the arts, Huda has made history and broken barriers. She won the Australian Poetry Slam in 2021 and became the first spoken word poet invited to the World Slam Poetry Championship in Belgium. Her impact spans global stages, having performed at Singapore Writers Festival, Ubud Writers Festival, London Queens of Poetry, and Readers Festival, as well as major Australian literary events like Bondi Writers Festival and Adelaide Writers Festival.

Black Ink

Black Ink is an open mic platform based in Magandjin (Brisbane), dedicated to centring Black diaspora artists and cultivating a safe and brave space for BIPOC creatives. Over the past year, Black Ink has grown into a vibrant community hub where artists can gather, share, and evolve - grounded in open dialogue and meaningful connection. Each Black Ink event is curated with a unique theme and invites attendees to make connections beyond their usual circles. Their poetry nights feature incredible local artists and include a Question of the Night - a moment designed to spark conversation, reflection, and community bonding. At its core, Black Ink is about showcasing talent and creating space for new voices to find their way to the mic.

Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi

Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi also known as Vika Mana, is from the Zagareb and Dauareb tribes of the Meriam people in the Torres Strait, the village of Fahefa in Tonga, the village of Fusi in Samoa, the district of Bisharri in Lebanon, and Fiji. All of her ancestry informs her practice as a poet. She is the founder of Strait Climate Action, a Torres Strait Islander youth collective focusing on language revitalisation, sovereignty, storytelling and climate justice.

Credits

Photo credit: Ellamay Fitzgerald

Location

135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217

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Black Ink Presents: Poetry Night Series