Reclaiming Narratives

A weekend celebrating Croydon’s vibrant creative community and spotlighting Black voices past and present.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday 25 October, there will be an evening dedicated to the ska and rocksteady legend, Desmond Dekker! You Can Get It If You Really Want will feature a tribute in music and words from original band members of The Aces, plus his daughter Desrene. Book your tickets here.

See the mesmerising dance performance Black Victorians, fusing African dance and hip-hop styles to bring to life nineteenth century portraits. 

Visit the Ubuntu Creatives Fair showcasing Black-owned businesses. Enjoy live music from calypso band Tobago and D’Lime, as featured in the Paddington Movies 1 & 2. Hear enchanting African stories, get your face-painted, and come along to inspirational talks.

On Sunday 27 October, Finesse Foreva present Your Fortune, an evening of discussions and performances celebrating Black creativity in fashion, tech, business, finance and music.

Explore the programme…

You Can Get It If You Really Want

An evening celebrating ska legend, Desmond Dekker.

Music & Dance

Enjoy live music and dance performances, from gospel to steel pans and Calypso to hip hop.

Family Activities

Facepainting, storytelling and crafts.

Black Victorians

An incredible dance performance inspired by 19th Century portraits of Black men, women and children.

Workshops

Workshops in creative writing, African drumming and celebrating positivity!

Talks

Join Black business leaders for a series of talks exploring the theme of Reclaiming Narratives.

Exhibitions

Discover fascinating exhibitions, exploring Croydon’s Archives and musical history.

The Ubuntu Creatives Fair

Curated by Fashion Meets Music. Sat & Sun, 11am – 4pm, on Katharine Street