In celebration of Black History Month, the AWCH proudly presents an evening dedicated to the voices, visions, and creative power of Black female artists shaping Hamburg’s cultural landscape today. Moderated by acclaimed writer and curator Lubi Barre, this intimate conversation brings together the work and perspectives of Mabel Preach and Sola, while also offering a glimpse into the literary voice of the AWCH’s own new Vice President.

Through discussion, reflection, and artistic insight, the evening explores themes of identity, visibility, belonging, and creative resistance. It is a space to listen closely, to celebrate lived experiences, and to honor the ways Black women continue to create history—on stage, on the page, and in Hamburg. 

Drinks will be available for donation during the evening, admission is free to AWCH members.

This event is presented by the AWCH in cooperation with HILLDEGARDEN e.V.
Located atop the former flak bunker on Feldstraße, Hilldegarden is a unique urban nature and community project rooted in the St. Pauli neighborhood. Since 2014, the initiative has accompanied the transformation of the bunker into a new green urban space, dedicated to urban gardening, arts, culture, community engagement, and to making the history of the building known to visitors. Hilldegarden's location offers an inspiring setting for dialogue, creativity, and connection. Learn more at https://www.hilldegarden.org/

Moderator: Lubi Barre
Born in Paris and based in Hamburg, Lubi Barre is a writer of poetry and short stories whose work has appeared in numerous national and international publications, including My Old Man (Canongate Books), Here and There (Punktum Verlag), and Kontinentaldrift – Das Schwarze Europa (Wunderhorn Verlag). She is the founder of the reading series Sprachlos and FRAMED, co-curator of the first Black Writers Book Festival of Hamburg (2024), and founder of Davenport Books, Hamburg’s first English-language cultural space and bookshop. Barre has curated and moderated multiple literary festivals and continues to teach creative writing at universities across Germany.

Artist: Mabel Preach
Mabel Preach is a director, actress, and choreographer who is reshaping Hamburg’s theater scene with bold, socially engaged work. A media management graduate, she has contributed to productions at Kampnagel, the Sprechwerk Theater, and within the independent theater scene. Her artistic practice centers young people, people of color, and other marginalized communities. She is the founder and artistic director of the youth culture festival Formation Now!, and her recent works include Opera of Hope (Kampnagel) and K(no)w Black Heroes and I am. We are at Schauspiel Hannover. Learn more at https://www.mablepreach.com/

Artist: Sola
Sola is a performer and aspiring comedian whose work is deeply shaped by her experiences of navigating identity across cultures. Growing up between a small village in Germany and London, she often found herself negotiating expectations of race, belonging, and visibility. Choosing a shortened version of her Nigerian name, Sola developed a voice that fills space with humor, honesty, and reflection. Her performances draw from lived experience, exploring what it means to be seen—and unseen—while claiming one’s own narrative.