Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story — Copenhagen

A special Copenhagen presentation of Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story, the feature documentary celebrating the life, photography and cultural legacy of Kwame Brathwaite — one of the visual architects of the Black Is Beautiful movement.

Beginning in Harlem in the 1950s, Brathwaite used photography to document Black life through beauty, joy and self-determination. His archive spans more than six decades and includes intimate images of cultural icons including Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Muhammad Ali, Marvin Gaye and the Jackson 5. His work also helped shape the Grandassa Models and the Naturally fashion shows, which celebrated natural Black beauty and helped introduce an Afrocentric visual language that would influence culture around the world.

Directed by Yemi Bamiro, the film brings Brathwaite’s story to life through his photographs, family archive and reflections from artists and cultural figures including Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Gabrielle Union, Jesse Williams and Tyler Mitchell.

The evening will open with a brief introduction from Kwame S. Brathwaite Jr., son of the photographer and Director of the Kwame Brathwaite Archive, who continues to steward his father’s archive and legacy across photography, fashion, music and culture

Following the screening, guests are invited to remain for a brief moment of reflection and conversation hosted by Jennifer Maria Matos Tonndorff, a Copenhagen-based creative storyteller and filmmaker with a background in documentary, creative communication and cultural campaigns. Fluent in both Danish and English, Jennifer will help guide the conversation and support translation as needed.

Presented by Rhymshot and the Kwame Brathwaite Archive, in partnership with Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Treble Clef Audio and Sing Tehus.

Doors: 17:30
Program begins: 17:45
Film followed by post-screening reflections and conversation


Music inspired by the archive:
Explore music by Black Is Beautiful Experience, a multi-artist project bringing together musicians, composers and storytellers in response to Kwame Brathwaite’s photography and legacy. The movement theme “Black Is Beautiful,” along with “Beauty in Bloom” and “Radiance,” feature acclaimed harpist and composer Brandee Younger.

The songs are natural companions to the film, extending its themes of beauty, identity, memory and cultural legacy through music.

Support the project directly on Bandcamp, or listen on your preferred streaming platform.

This screening is organized and presented by Rhymshot, who is the organizer and seller of tickets for the event. Park Bio acts solely as the venue and ticketing agent on behalf of the organizer.