Major Black Arts Showcase to Tour in Celebration of Black History Month

Ten artists from across the Midlands will bring powerful new stories of Black history, identity and culture to audiences in Birmingham, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham this October, as 2Funky Arts’ And Still I Rise embarks on a major four-city tour in celebration of Black History Month.

Spanning dance, spoken word, poetry, rap and song, the showcase will present newly commissioned work by artists from Black, African and Caribbean backgrounds. Each artist has created an original piece exploring Black history and culture alongside the experiences, conversations and issues shaping Black life today.

Bringing together a range of art forms, voices and perspectives, And Still I Rise will offer audiences four evenings of powerful live performance while providing an important platform for Black creative talent from across the Midlands.

The tour opens at Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham on Friday 2 October before visiting Derby Theatre on Friday 16 October and Leicester’s Y Theatre on Friday 23 October. It concludes at Nottingham Arts Theatre on Thursday 29 October. All performances begin at 7.30pm.

2Funky Arts Director Vijay Mistry commented: “This project represents a unique platform for up-and-coming artists to explore issues around Black history and culture. We are really excited to celebrate their talent in another Midlands tour, which promises to be both thought-provoking and impactful.”

Ryan Dre Sinclair (Birmingham) is a spoken word poet, theatre-maker and founder of Empower Poetry, with over a decade’s experience across schools, theatres and cultural institutions. Ryan creates work that explores masculinity, identity, vulnerability and reflection, often blending humour with depth. Credits include the Southbank Centre, the National Literacy Trust, BBC Words First and Heart of England Community Foundation.

Born and raised in Bermuda, Rikkai Scott (Coventry) is a performer, choreographer and Artistic Director of Rhythmflow Dance. Blending hip hop, contemporary and tap, Rikkai creates rhythm-driven work exploring identity, human connection and everyday experiences.

NEONE (Wolverhampton) is a musical alchemist whose eclectic jazz-grime fusion takes inspiration from neo-soul. Through metaphor, he shares his vulnerability, giving listeners an artistic, uplifting approach to confronting their inner demons and developing strength and self-love.

Maia Sudha (Nottingham) is a pop and soul vocalist whose music blends powerful vocal performance with deeply personal storytelling. Drawing inspiration from soul, pop and R&B, she is preparing to release her debut single.

Jonathan Akinsete (Leicester) is an independent artist passionate about rap, spoken word and singing. He aims to connect, inspire and move people through music that reflects his faith, values, experiences and journey.

Tamika Steadman (Birmingham), known artistically as I Put the T in Poetry, is a poet, actress, mentor and host. Through powerful spoken-word poetry, she transforms lived experience into performances that invite healing, connection and social change.

Holly Francis (Birmingham) is a choreographer, De Montfort University alumna, dance artist and multidisciplinary visual artist. Her practice explores identity and cultural heritage through contemporary dance, Caribbean folk, West African dance, hip hop and Bollywood dance.

Drippo Joel (Leicester) brings the warmth and swagger of noughties R&B into the present, channelling the golden era of pop and soul through a modern lens.

Originally from Florida, Alexis Florentina (Nottingham) is a Black and Filipino poet, playwright and fiction writer, as well as a member of GOBS and the Nottingham Black Creatives Network.

Anthony Sempebwa (Derby) is a dance artist with over 10 years of performance experience, specialising in hip hop while drawing from house, krump and Afro dance styles. His work uses movement to tell stories of identity and culture.

And Still I Rise visits Birmingham MAC on Friday 2 October, Derby Theatre on Friday 16 October, The Y Theatre in Leicester on Friday 23 October and Nottingham Arts Theatre on Thursday 29 October. The project is supported using public funding by Arts Council England, with partners Punch, Baby People and Radio2Funky.