Kai-Isaiah Jamal is a spoken word poet/performer and writer who builds dialogue on often the 'unspoken'. As a TPOC Kai-Isaiah focuses on creating work that predominately explores the matters of gender, masculinity and race. His work is centred on understanding, responding and defying social norms and creating articulate, thought-provoking and most importantly authentic responses to issues that he and his community face.
Kai-Isaiah also runs workshops, talks and open conversation in institutions, independent organisations and Queer and/or POC safe spaces. With the aim to bring this awareness and conversation to the broader audience and bring this education to the schooling system.
Working alongside various institutes and organisations including; Tate x Exchange, BBZ, Consented, Barbican, Cause & Effect, NTS Radio and The Batty Mama.
Projects
- Dear Kai - Open LetterOriginally published here. Dear Kai, I’m speaking to you from a place that I know you wouldn’t expect. A year on from where you are now but still struggling. Its okay, this letter isn’t meant to save you (really it couldn’t because thats not how life works but hey). But some letters, are not easy to swallow but I know, you have held the biggest secret under your tongue for such a long time, that you will be able to digest this. I know that coming out was probably the hardest thing you’ve done.
- i-D Magazine - what does beauty mean for someone who identifies as trans masculine?Article originally published by i-D Magazine, written by Amelia Abraham Kai and Casil and Elie, three trans people, talk about the limitations of gender and what beauty means to them. “Getting ready can take me anything from a few minutes to a few hours,” says Kai Isaiah Jamal, of his morning routine. “Yesterday my moustache wasn’t going on properly, and I had a two-hour meltdown.” Kai is a trans visibility activist and poet-performer living in Leeds. When he gets up in the morning, his beauty
Projects credited in
- Culture Trip - London City of Love“Fifty years on from the Stonewall Riots – the dramatic event which kickstarted the #Pride movement – we celebrate #love, #gender and #identity in this issue of Culture Trip magazine. In this article we meet the new generation of queer voices who share their experiences of gender and identity, and tell us why London really is the city of love." -Kris Naudts Photography by Heather Glazzard Words by Ryan Butcher Produced by Sarah Donley
- BLANK CANVASES + FINAL FORM‘BLANK CANVASES + FINAL FORM’ is a project that was created through an open brief given to me and Ellen Mercer by adidas london as a part of their of Home Of Classics campaign. A poem by Kai-Isaiah Jamal Film by Ellen Mercer + Stella Malfilatre Director of Photography - Ollie Craig Colorist - Vlad Barin Sound Recordist - Adina Istrate Music - Masukun
- Meet 100 LGBT+ Trailblazers Redefining the Creative IndustryWe asked influential LGBT+ icons to nominate trailblazers who they believe are redefining the creator landscape. The result? A unique and incredible list of 100 trailblazing LGBT+ folk breaking barriers and inspiring change! We’re on a mission to explore and tackle inequalities in the creative industry - this is why we run diversity initiatives, dedicating our curated projects and people sections on The Dots to undersung groups. This brings together an abundance of dazzling work from diverse cr103
Skills
- Writing
- Poetry
- Performance Poetry
- Spoken Word