Back for another year of artistic excellence, presented by Certain Blacks.
East London’s Rich Mix will host Afro Futures, the latest edition of Certain Blacks’ annual indoor festival from March 6 to March 9 2025. Featuring dance, theatre, cabaret, music and spoken word, Afro Futures presents work developed within a changing cultural climate and gathers an artist line-up highlighting different backgrounds and disciplines.
Afro Futures marks a milestone for Certain Blacks, aligning with the company’s 10th anniversary. Music comes courtesy of Sean Khan & The Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble, with special guests, exploring the traditional alongside the new in a cross-cultural retake of modern folk music. Taking place on Thursday 6 March and launching the festival, The Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble pay tribute to the 1970s folk revival through a vibrant jazz lens. Sean Khan, who founded and developed this ongoing project delivers dynamic saxophone accompanied by Pentangle’s legendary lead singer Jacqui McShee and renowned singer/guitarist Rosie Frater-Taylor, Sean Khan & The Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble offer a blend of tradition and innovation. Their eponymous album on Acid Jazz Records has been critically acclaimed and their show at Ronnie Scott’s was a sell-out.
On Friday 7 March, cabaret is served when The Brownie Club meet The Cocoa Butter Club, shining a spotlight on Black and Brown talent as they join forces to entertain, inform and showcase their impressive rosters of artists. With a soundtrack including DJ sets, drag artist, Bollywood dancer and award-winning performer Bolly-Illusion represents The Brownie Club as host while Sadie Sinner the Songbird does the honours for the Cocoa Butter Club. Full line-up to be announced.
Saturday March 8 at 7.30pm, Best Friends by Crying in the Wilderness Productions balances humour and sensitivity in poignant new theatre delving into the subject of friendship and assisted death, a highly relevant topic in this timely new work.
On Saturday 8 March at 4pm, award-winning spoken word artist and performer Oneness Sankara presents the work-in-progress of T21 ALCHEMY, a semi-autobiographical piece that combines poetry, prose and music
The festival ends on Sunday March 9 with Sonia Sabri Company’s Roshni, a feast of dance accompanied by live music as interplaying rhythms celebrate daily life.
Listings
Afro Futures Festival: 6-9 March 2025
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6LA
Tickets; Afro Futures Festival - Rich Mix