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.

8 — 15 July 2023 Entrance is free Visit now

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

Gallery
Leeds
Gallery
BLANK_

BLANK_is a Leeds-based gallery, run by the School of Creative Arts at University Centre Leeds. It encompasses a physical exhibition space and a publication that showcases new contemporary visual art…

Chancellors Hotel is a Grade II listed Victorian mansion located in South Manchester surrounded by five acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, in a relaxed, scenic and picturesque setting.
Manchester
Hotel
Chancellors Hotel

Chancellors Hotel is a Grade II listed Victorian mansion located in South Manchester surrounded by five acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, in a relaxed, scenic and picturesque setting.

Kōdo Entrance
City Centre
Restaurant
Kōdo

Kōdo, a secret bar like no other. It is all about discovery. The only way to enter is with a special code, which changes weekly.

MediaCityUK
Café or Coffee Shop
Blanconero

High-level Italian food in Salford Quays, with no less than seven different lasagnas to choose from.

Yoga classes for all levels and aims.
Leeds
Yoga Hero

Yoga Hero offers various classes, including within their studio and online for all levels and all aims.

What's on: Festivals

Visit Blackpool.
FestivalsBlackpool
Showzam!

A festival of Circus, Magic and Variety, set to take place during the February half-term holidays. There will be a blend of live performances, illusions, street acts and more.

from £14.00
Keswick Town
CinemaCumbria
Keswick Film Festival

Keswick Film Festival marks 25 years with a programme featuring some of the best of contemporary independent cinema, alongside select classics, and work from some choice Cumbrian talent.

from £5.00

Culture Guides

NEXT: A Primer on Urban Painting production still
Cinema in the North

Street art, LGBTQ+ History Month, and the first film festivals of the year are amongst our cinema highlights this month.

Good Fridaze Family Social at Freight Island
Family things to do in the North

As we edge towards spring we take a look at the best events and activities for families, from theatre to festivals, dinosaur adventures to family raves.

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of  washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.

Poet Evan Jones
Literature Events in the North

Some of our favourite leftfield live literature regulars are back with their first events of the year – we’ve picked a weird and wonderful heap we think you’ll love.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Feminist farce, a magical circus show and Oldham Coliseum return with a brand-new off-site show. All in our latest theatre guide.

FKA TWIGS
Music in the North

Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in our latest live music round up.