Journeys and Identity at Royal Albert Hall

Nitin Sawhney discusses the themes of ‘journeys’ and ‘identity’ with guests Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Dr Maya Goodfellow, live in the Elgar Room.

Ayanna Witter-Johnson is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, pianist and cellist. She has a phenomenal mastery for seamlessly crossing the boundaries of classical, jazz, reggae, soul and R&B, to imprint her unique musical signature with her virtuosic tap, strum and bow with her cello into her sound and vibe. “As a second-generation Jamaican born in Britain, my music is a body of work that represents, celebrates and pays homage to my ancestral heritage, culture and identity.” – Ayanna Witter-Johnson.

Dr Maya Goodfellow is an academic and writer, specialising in the relationships between race, bordering and capitalism. She is currently Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow at SPERI, the University of Sheffield, where she is conducting a research project exploring these themes. Through this work, Maya is particularly concerned with the politics of ‘the centre’ and the material elements of racism.