AfroFest: Theatre's New Safe Space for African Heritage

A new festival, AfroFest, has been launched with the specific goal of establishing a "safe space" to encourage greater participation of people with African or Caribbean heritage in theatre. The initiative was founded by singer Banke Naya, also known as Banke Adetumbi, who envisioned AfroFest as a vibrant celebration of the rich food, music, art, and fashion intrinsic to these communities.

Naya emphasized the festival's importance in building connections, stating it provides an essential opportunity for African, Caribbean, and Black communities to see their experiences and identities reflected on stage. This free event is scheduled to take place at the Royal & Derngate theatre in Northampton on September 11, aiming to be an inclusive gathering. The Nigerian performer expressed a desire to fill a perceived gap, creating a unified space for everyone to come together and celebrate.