In the heart of Brixton a queue snakes around the block of The Department Store as shoppers arrive at the highly-anticipated Black Culture Market. A celebration of Black entrepreneurs and their businesses, this two-day event sees 40 vendors offering a wealth of products from unique jewellery to natural skincare.
Inside, you might meet vendors such as Cashain David, co-founder of tamarind-spiced Kromanti Rum, which honours the spirit of Caribbean Island life; Paige from Tongue’n’Cheeky prints, which captures the heart of British Jamaican millennial culture; or Suzy Williams of Melanin Child Stories, an independent online retailer specialising in inclusive and diverse books for children. There’s a live DJ throughout the weekend, as well as delicious food and drink to try.
The energy at the event is “infectious”, according to Black Culture Market’s founder Jen Baptiste. “It’s a lively and vibrant celebration of culture,” she says. “It’s a haven of inclusivity where diverse backgrounds are not just welcomed, but celebrated.”
Black Culture Market started as a one-off event for Black History Month in 2018. “Lots of gentrification was happening [in Brixton],” she says. “So I thought ‘what can I do about it?'” Jen, who was running a community space at the time, saw an opportunity to amplify and support Black-owned businesses. The event was a huge success, with 750 attendees in total, and Jen knew she had to make Black Culture Market a regular event.
Fast-forward to today and Black Culture Market has grown to a quarterly unmissable event welcoming 5,000 people over the course of each weekend. “I didn’t think it would be turned into what it is today,” she says, “I just thought it’d be a small thing.”
“It just goes to show you that just a small intention can go a big way.”
Jen Baptiste, Black Culture Market
Its expansion was made possible with Eventbrite, which Jen has used since the beginning. Tickets to the event are free to ensure it remains accessible for anyone who wishes to attend, and she credits ease-of-use and discoverability on the platform in helping the events reach new audiences: “I put my first ever event on Eventbrite and it allows for a smooth ticketing process. It’s really helpful because the event then reaches new audiences too.”
The platform’s reach also helped her start a list of potential vendors for future events: “Soon I was getting messages via the platform of people that sold things inquiring about the market.”
The event’s home of Brixton holds huge historical and cultural significance for the Black community, as a centre for Caribbean and African culture. “Its renowned cultural diversity and inclusivity make it an ideal place to celebrate and showcase various cultures and backgrounds, fostering a sense of unity and cultural exchange within a strong community spirit,” Jen says.
“Brixton’s history of resistance and creativity can inspire people globally to embrace similar initiatives and celebrate their local cultures and communities,” she adds.
Spurred by damning reports that reveal Black entrepreneurs receive just 0.24% of venture capital funding in the UK (a number that drops to 0.02% for Black female entrepreneurs), Jen is committed to raising awareness and helping make her vendors’ products available in the mainstream.
“Supporting black-owned businesses is crucial due to their role in economic empowerment, including addressing systemic barriers and disparities, promoting financial stability, and creating wealth within the black community,” she says.
“It’s a lively and vibrant celebration of culture.”
Jen Baptiste, Black Culture Market
The Black Culture Market is more than credit card transactions though, it’s a networking and community-building opportunity for all involved. “The best memory I have of doing this truly is hearing from traders and how it’s really changing their lives,” Jen says.
She has invited buyers from large retailers to the event to help get her vendors’ wares on their radar. “I don’t want someone to be solely behind a market stall for the rest of their life. It has to progress,” she says. As a result, some businesses have been stocked at big department stores such as Selfridges and Tesco, while some attendees return years on as first-time traders.
It’s no wonder that she receives more than 600 applications from hopeful vendors wishing to be part of each iconic event. Although she’s unable to give them all a physical space in the market, she hopes to expand to provide one-to-one business coaching and mentorship. Vendors are celebrated on the Black Culture Market Instagram page to build their profiles and momentum around each event.
Testament to its impact, Black Culture Market has been recognised by the Small Biz 100 and secured a paid-for billboard which debuted on Brixton Road in February 2023.
And aside from event days, where she employs a team of staff to help manage crowds and logistics, Jen runs Black Culture Market independently: “I have a little running joke that my left hand and my right hand are my two assistants.” Although that might not always be the case, by the end of the year she hopes to run a six-month programme to employ young people and give them pivotal experience in the events industry.
From changing vendors’ lives to introducing the public to Black-owned businesses, it’s inspiring to see what the Black Culture Market has done for the community of Brixton. “It just goes to show you that just a small intention can go a big way,” Jen says.
The next Black Culture Market event takes place on Saturday 2nd December and Sunday 3rd December 2023. Get your tickets on Eventbrite.
