“We started as a club night and became a community”
BY VEE WILSON, IMAGES PROVIDED
On Friday 27 June, the pioneering South Asian Club, Club Kali, will celebrate its 30th birthday with a party at its original home, the Dome, in Tufnell Park, London.
Founded in 1995, Club Kali made history as a space where LGBTQIA+ people with South Asian heritage could gather, dance and find community. Three decades later, Club Kali continues to host inclusive events where LGBTQIA+ people can connect and celebrate South Asian heritage.
“We started as a club night and became a community,” Rita Hirani, joint founder of Club Kali, said. “Club Kali is truly special; it’s a space where the people who come have found a home, one where everyone is accepted and celebrated and where we experience joy and love.”
“Thirty years on, it’s still a joy to create the unique music mix for Club Kali,” co-founder DJ Ritu added.
As part of its anniversary year, Club Kali is launching Where East Meets West, a major heritage project in the form of a multi-media exhibition which documents its legacy and celebrates its impact.
The project features over 30 recorded oral histories and a collection of memorabilia. It will be shown at Islington Museum, running from 29 August – 8 October 2025. A series of exciting activities will take place alongside the exhibition, including guided heritage tours, art and poetry workshops, and a podcast series.
Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project is being delivered with the support of community groups and organisations across the UK, such as Bishopsgate Institute, LGBT+ Consortium, Islington Local History Centre, and Queer Britain.
Later this year, Club Kali’s legacy will be archived at Bishopsgate Institute, preserving its story for future generations.
Tickets for Club Kali’s 30th birthday party can be bought online.
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