Linett Kamala

Linett Kamala is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and carnivalist born in Harlesden, London, U.K. to Jamaican parents. 

Her passion for enriching the lives of others through art, well-being and education is demonstrated by partnerships with numerous organisations spanning over 30 years. 

Linett works across various disciplines including mixed media paintings, murals and DJ soundscapes. Her works are recognised by her signature style – an expressive hand script, which she refers to as ‘freestyle calligraffiti’. 

She is credited with being one of the first girl DJs to perform at the Notting Hill Carnival in the early 1980s at a static sound system and she now develops the next generation through the Lin Kam Art Sound System Futures Programme. 

Deeply rooted in community empowerment, her socially engaged creative practice ranges from mentoring emerging creatives to taking up space through festival culture.

She draws inspiration from oral histories, carnival culture, academic papers and Jamaican culture.  Her current ongoing projects are ‘Recipe for a Happy Mind’ which includes raising awareness of how festival culture contributes to our wellness and ‘Disya Dancehall’ which celebrates the vibrancy of the 90s era of dancehall culture.

Linett is Founding Director of Lin Kam Art which enriches lives through festival culture via residencies, workshops, events and programmes.  Linett is also Board Director for the Notting Hill Carnival, and an Associate Lecturer in MA Performance: Design and Practice at the University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martins and serves as an editorial Board Member on the Festival Culture Research Education Network.