Afrolution is a pan-African gathering in Berlin. The 2024 edition took place from June 27 to 30 on Togo Street in Berlin’s Wedding neighborhood and brought together black artists, academics, and activists from Ghana, Martinique, London, New York City, and many other places around the world.

Since 2018, the event has been organized by Each One Teach One, an advocacy organization that serves Black communities in Berlin. It was four days of joyful explorations of Black history, politics, art, spirituality, and performance. The theme this year was “African/-Diasporic Pluriverses I: Revis[it]ing the UN Decade for People of African Descent” and focused on the UN resolution recognizing the distinct rights of people of African descent.

The festival started with reflections from Zimbabwean novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga, Afro-German translator Marion Kraft, and Ghanaian filmmaker Nii Kwate Owoo. Dangarembga spoke about the importance of naming the indignities and discrimination that black people face, as well as the joys and wins. Keynote speakers included American journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, Kenyan novelist Yvonne Owuor, and American academic Justin Hunsford. They discussed the liberatory power of centering Black experiences in the fight for justice.

One of the highlights of Friday’s events was the celebration of FESTAC, the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, which took place in Lagos, Nigerian in 1977. FESTAC was a global event that drew 16,000 black artists and intellectuals from across the world. At Afrolution, a panel featuring Cameroonian editor Ntone Ejagbe, American trombonist Craig Harris, and Ghanaian filmmaker Nii Kwate Owoo revisited the 1970s as a pivotal decade for African art and culture. The night ended with music and dancing as Harris performed “Festac ’77,” a piece he composed in 1981 following his time in Lagos. He was accompanied by musicians from New York City and Berlin. In a conversation led by Dr. Ainehi Edoro, Owoo, Harris, and Ejagbe emphasized the importance of archiving the 70s, noting its impact on global Black history.

Zimbabwean microbiologist Tapiwa Guzha, known for his ice cream shop in Cape Town, curated the food during the festival. He made dishes with African ingredients integrated into recipes from diverse parts of the world. Guzha’s philosophy of moving beyond proprietary ideas of food inspired complex and delicious meals.

There were readings and discussions featuring Afro-German novelists Olumide Popoola and Sharon Dodua Otoo, British Sierra Leonean actor and novelist Anni Domingo, Cameroonian novelist Max Lobe, Nigerian poet Logan February, Namibian novelist Remy Ngamije and many others. They shared insights on the role of storytelling in building culture and speaking truth to power.

The festival also celebrated the contributions of Africans in Berlin, including Awet Tesfaiesus, the first Black woman elected to the German Bundestag, and curators Dzekashu McViban and Bonaventure Ndikung from the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Berlin-based Nigerian photographer Akinbode Akinbiyi also participated, highlighting his work in the city’s Black community.

London-based musicians Bek wa Goro and Kyazi Lugangira, Berlin-based Ghanaian DJ Prince Ofori, and local DJ sets curated by Edna Martinez placed music at heart of the festivities. Dance sessions led by Martiniquan artist Marcel Jean-Baptiste and Hamburg-based dancer Angela Guerreiro focused on the healing power of movement.

A standout event was the fashion show by Accra-based designer David Boydoe, whose work emphasizes sustainability and African thought.

Afrolution 2024 opened up spaces for deep inquiry into Black thought. From food to fashion, everything was a site of reflection and joy.

Enjoy the photos from the event.

All photos by Yero Adugna Eticha