Norwich Afri-Fest to share drumming and storytelling in schools

Organisers of a newly-established African festival have said they are hoping to work with local schools after a successful event.

More than 2,500 people attended Afri-Fest East in Norwich earlier this month to celebrate African culture, music, and food.

The not-for-profit festival launched in 2024, organised by three friends who set up a community company called Few Good Men.

“The festival is to get people talking and [for young people] to feel proud of their heritage,” said creative director Dr Sopuru Mokwe.

“One of the goals of the festival was to instil confidence in young people, to explore… whether that’s through music or the arts.

“They have an opportunity to experience their culture, a snippet of it, we know that’s not enough but hopefully it strikes a conversation, a spark to begin to explore their heritage.”

Headline acts this year included Grammy award-winning Kenyan artist Bien and British afro/fusion group NSG.

Other performers included storyteller Usifu Jalloh, known as the Cowfoot Prince, local music teacher Obase Aboli and there were also drumming showcases.

Few Good Men met through their work in the NHS and wanted to provide events for the local community and a space for African talent.

They started off by organising night-time events but soon found that there was an appetite for a summer event open to families and young people.

Working with young people and supporting pupils is one of the things the organisers intend to do more of over the next year.

“We did drumming sessions in schools, Djembe drumming… we’ll do a lot more with high schools in 2026,” said Dr Mokwe.

“We could do storytelling too… I think that would be a really powerful tool to get kids and teenagers to think ‘my culture is cool’.”

The festival has been funded by Arts Council England.

It also formed part of the 2025 UK/Kenya season of culture in collaboration with the British Council and Africa Centre London.