The South London Black Music Archive was the sixth commissioned exhibition in the Peckham Platform (then Peckham Space) venue on Peckham Square. The 2012 exhibition aimed to celebrate, preserve and investigate South Londoners’ personal relationships with moments in black music history, transforming the gallery into an ‘open archive’ and inviting contributions from the public. These contributions helped to map and explore personal stories behind the fascinating history of the influence and evolution of black music in South London.

This interview with artist Barby Asante looks at her inspiration for the project, and documents the exhibition. Film by Terry Wilson.