On 21 November, Manchester's Contact theatre hosts See My World, a day of film, poetry and dance by independent African diaspora creators.
Pan-African philosophy is taking over a Manchester stage. See My World, a one-day festival celebrating independent creators from across the African diaspora in the north of England, lands at the Contact theatre on 21 November, with ideas rooted in African thought shaping how the whole event is built.
At the heart of the programme is a simple but powerful principle: the lessons of the past can guide the present and help shape what comes next. That outlook influences how organisers have approached the festival, treating it as more than a film screening and building a space where history, memory and future vision talk to each other.
Expect a mix of art forms. Film sits alongside poetry and dance, giving diaspora storytellers room to show their work in different ways and reach audiences who rarely see their perspectives front and centre. The focus on independent makers also means fresh voices, not just familiar names.
See My World grows out of momentum already built by local activists and creatives who have been carving out space for African and diaspora culture in the region. For Manchester, it is another sign that community-led, pan-African creativity is moving from the margins to the main stage.
