Keskidee Centre, Cultural center in Islington, London, United Kingdom.
The Keskidee Centre was a pioneering arts venue located at 64 Gifford Street that featured a library, gallery, studios, theater, and restaurant dedicated to serving the Black community in London.
Established in 1971 by Guyanese architect Oscar Abrams in a converted Victorian mission hall, the center operated as Britain's first dedicated Black arts venue until its closure in 1991.
The center played a crucial role in developing Black theater in London, hosting productions by Derek Walcott and Wole Soyinka while serving as a filming location for Bob Marley's 'Is This Love' music video in 1978.
Originally located at 64 Gifford Street in Islington, the building was demolished in 2012 after fire damage, though a commemorative green plaque marks the site's historical significance.
Linton Kwesi Johnson developed dub poetry as an art form while working as the center's library resources officer, blending poetic narration with reggae music rhythms in groundbreaking performances.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
