LEEDS 2023: Leeds International African Arts Festival

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Leeds International African Arts Festival - Leeds 2023

8 — 15 July 2023 Entrance is free — Visit now

Leeds is blessed by the diversity of its residents and the cultural melting pot created by the city’s cross over in heritages and communities. This year, as part of the LEEDS 2023 celebrations, the first Leeds International African Arts Festival will be making its debut. Led by Creative Producer Ndidi Nkwopara, there will be a series of events featuring dance, music, visual arts, poetry, cinema and most importantly, a Jollof Cook Off.

African communities from within Leeds and beyond will come together to celebrate their rich and diverse heritages. With common threads running through several communities’ cultures and a wealth of highly skilled and talented creatives, the festival looks set to establish a precedent for future years.

Over the duration of a week, the events range from family-friendly storytelling to a showcase of enterprise at Leeds Beckett Business School. In partnership with Hyde Park Picture House you can see a programme of African cinema or attend the launch of the oral history focused anthology Our City, Our Lives.

Towards the end of the week you can taste the competition with a multinational Jollof Cookoff. Watch aspiring chefs battle it out to create that perfect combination of smoke, spice and tomato infused rice that makes Jollof such a magical dish. The winners will be decided by head judge acclaimed chef, and expert when it comes to anything Jollof, William Chilala.

The festival has culture and creativity running through every event, but it is also finding ways to support new talent with work from early career artists and innovators carefully curated across the festival. It’s giving a platform to those who could go far, given the right tools and support to do so.

The Leeds International African Arts Festival is just one of hundreds of events taking place in the city over the course of 2023. Check out the full programme of cultural happenings at the LEEDS 2023 website.

Performances

Date
Time
Session Features
8 July 2023
10:00am — 10:00pm
9 July 2023
10:00am — 10:00pm
10 July 2023
10:00am — 10:00pm
11 July 2023
10:00am — 10:00pm
12 July 2023
10:00am — 10:00pm
13 July 2023
10:00am — 10:00pm
14 July 2023
10:00am — 10:00pm
15 July 2023
10:00am — 10:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Where to go near LEEDS 2023: Leeds International African Arts Festival

Manchester
Restaurant
House of Fu Manchester

First Leeds, now Manchester. Expect picture perfect ramen, gyoza and cocktails at the upcoming restaurant and cocktail bar.

City Centre
Restaurant
Allpress
at NOMA

Allpress at NOMA is a home to all things coffee, with a café and seasonal menu incorporating locally sourced ingredients.

Manchester
Hotel
Forty-Seven

Forty-Seven is a luxury boutique hotel on Peter Street in Manchester city centre, above the high-end Indian restaurant Asha’s.

Leeds
Event venue
The Bookish Type

An independent bookshop specialising in literature across the LGBTIQA+ spectrum
From novels to children’s books, YA to memoirs, non-fiction to graphic novels… there’s a whole range of specialist queer literature to be found at The Bookish Type.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Henry C

Henry C is an intimate neighbourhood bar in Chorlton, serving up superb quality drinks.

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