innate creates

Black Futures

7pm – 9pm Tuesday 24th February || Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum

Black Futures is the celebration of voices and stories rooted in African & Caribbean culture… an evening of community building with food, music and ideas.

Special guest for the evening is Ellisha Soanes, a multi award-winning Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Specialist. As an advocate for change on social mobility, Ellisha was one of the first Further Education lecturers to facilitate Black History across the year, in the UK. She is the co-founder of Aspire Black Suffolk, Director of Shine and has worked closely with the Department of Education, continuing to do so by sitting at parliamentary boards. Ellisha is currently based in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Food by The Zainab Project. Steered by co-founder Rasha Ibrahim, The Zainab Project uses cooking to bring people together and give refugees and asylum seekers in Norwich transferable skills needed to find future employment.

The evening will be hosted by Tonia Mihill and Amy Nomvula and supported by Norfolk Library and Information Service.

Black Futures is a not-for-profit event. Lots of work has gone on behind the scenes to curate and deliver an evening of food, music and artistry. So that we can continue to share ideas, eats, music and culture we ask that if you can afford to, you pay the suggested amount of £15. We understand that everybody may not be in a position to do this – if this is you, don’t worry, please pay what you can.

We’d like to thank Norfolk Library & Information Service | Healthy Libraries for subsidising a small number of free tickets for those unable to contribute financially, helping to make this event as inclusive as possible. We ask that you do not book these if you do not need to, so that they are there for those that do. Thank you.

Tropical Shakedown

8pm – 1am, Saturday 13th December || Norwich Arts Centre

Time for our annual FUNdraiser… this time we bring you Boiling Point. DJs Keith Slater, Ronnie Orbit and Amy Nomvula are joined by special guests Mondo, Alex Black and The Anthropologist.

2025’s fundraiser profits were split between two charities…

The Zainab Project – a Norwich-based charity that uses cooking to bring people together and give refugees and asylum seekers in Norwich transferable skills needed to find future employment.

Médecins Sans Frontières – a charity working worldwide to support those delivering emergency medical aid and care.

Black Futures

7pm – 9pm Wednesday 19th November || Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum

Black Futures is the celebration of voices and stories rooted in African & Caribbean culture… an evening of community building with food, music and ideas.

Special guest for the evening was incredible writer & poet, Gia Mawusi. Born in Mozambique and raised in Portugal, Gia now lives in Great Yarmouth. Gia’s poetry is an exploration of home, heritage and belonging.

Food by The Zainab Project. Steered by co-founder Rasha Ibrahim, The Zainab Project uses cooking to bring people together and give refugees and asylum seekers in Norwich transferable skills needed to find future employment.

The evening was hosted by Tonia Mihill and Amy Nomvula and supported by Norfolk Library and Information Service.

Zwa: three days, two venues, LOTS of music & poetry

Friday 3rd October – Sunday 5th October

innate creates presents Zwa… music, words, feels, culture

Norfolk’s first ever Zwa is landing Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th October. A celebration of music and spoken word mixing artists from London and Manchester with some of Norfolk’s incredible musicians, producers, DJ’s & poets.

If you’re into jazz or drum ‘n’ bass or poetry or community vibes or stunning vocals or Quiet books or positive learnings & actions or hip hop or dancing… we got you.

The word Zwa is from the Ndebele language spoken by the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe – it means to hear, to understand, to feel, to taste.

See here for details on vibes and artists.

Tickets…

music | Friday 3rd October head here

music | Saturday 4th October head here

poetry | Sunday 5th October head here

Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

8pm Saturday 16th August || Norwich Arts Centre

Kahil El’Zabar has been one of the deepest and most forward-thinking artists from Chicago’s renowned improvised music scene for many years. Working in many creative contexts as a member of the boundlessly innovative AACM, El’Zabar founded the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in 1974, as a way to further explore the connections between African-American music, like jazz, with more traditional African instrumentation and rhythms. Touring frequently in Europe and the United States, they established a global reputation.

The Ensemble celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a much acclaimed Album ‘Open Me’ (SpiritMuse Records) and world tour.

innate creates founder Amy Nomvula DJ’d in support at this event.

Gonzo’s Summer Saturdays

5pm – 9pm Saturday 19th July || rooftop terrace, Gonzo’s

Amy Nomvula was set to dj alongside The Lick, shifting the dj vibes to Gonzo’s rooftop terrace for a series of FREE summer saturday sessions.

This event was cancelled due to bad weather.

Black Futures

7pm – 9pm Wednesday 16th July || Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum

Black Futures is the celebration of voices and stories rooted in African & Caribbean culture… an evening of community building with food, music and ideas.

Special guest for the evening was artist Eden Mullane. Primarily inspired by the natural world, Eden often explores her Jamaican cultural roots through bold colour and lush landscapes. As well as hearing some of Eden Mullane’s life journey and artistic insights there was the opportunity to see some of her work up close.

Food by The Zainab Project. Steered by co-founder Rasha Ibrahim, The Zainab Project uses cooking to bring people together and give refugees and asylum seekers in Norwich transferable skills needed to find future employment.

The evening was be hosted by Tonia Mihill and Amy Nomvula and supported by Norfolk Library and Information Service.

Black Futures is a not-for-profit event. Lots of work has gone on behind the scenes to curate and deliver an evening of food, music and artistry. So that we can continue to share ideas, eats, music and culture we ask that if you can afford to, you pay the suggested amount of £15. We understand that everybody may not be in a position to do this – if this is you, don’t worry, please pay what you can.

We’d like to thank Norfolk Library & Information Service | Healthy Libraries for subsidising a small number of free tickets for those unable to contribute financially, helping to make this event as inclusive as possible. We ask that you do not book these if you do not need to, so that they are there for those that do. Thank you.

Norwich Lanes Summer Fayre

12pm – 5pm Sunday 13th July || Norwich Arts Centre

innate creates curated a line-up of stellar dj’s in celebration of Norwich Lanes Summer Fayre 2025.

DJs on the day were Coz, Tegan, TADI THE GREAT and Amy Nomvula.

This event took place in the gardens at Norwich Arts Centre.

First Light Festival

12pm Saturday 21st June – Sunday 22nd June || Lowestoft Beach, Suffolk

innate creates founder Amy Nomvula compèred the main stage at First Light Festival 2025.

First Light Festival is a mix of music, spoken word, theatre, dance, panel chats, art and more… all for FREE.

First Light Festival: Dean Atta

11am – 12pm Sunday 22nd June || First Word Tent, First Light Festival, Lowestoft

innate creates collaborated with First Light Festival to bring you the thoughts and words of poet & writer, Dean Atta.

Dean Atta is an award winning writer known for his storytelling rooted in his mixed Greek Cypriot & Jamaican heritage. He writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction for all ages.

For adult readers, his poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize, and his memoir, Person Unlimited: An Ode to My Black Queer Body, received praise from Michael Rosen as ‘wonderfully original’.

His young adult verse novels are The Black Flamingo, Only on the Weekends, and I Can’t Even Think Straight. The Black Flamingo won the Stonewall Book Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and Jhalak Prize. Malorie Blackman praised the book, saying, ‘I loved every word.’

Dean has also contributed to middle-grade anthologies like Happy Here: 10 stories from Black British Authors & Illustrators and the Instant No. 1 New York Times Bestseller Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood.

His picture book, Confetti, illustrated by Alea Marley, is a colourful celebration of love and life.

Additionally, Dean is a screenwriter and executive producer of the animated short film ‘Two Black Boys in Paradise,’ which was selected for the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival and numerous others worldwide.

Dean Atta featured as part of First Light Festival’s First Word tent.

Brighten The Corners Festival 2025

6pm Friday 13th June – Saturday 14th June || multi-venue, Ipswich, Suffolk

Brighten The Corners Festival: OneDa

2pm Saturday 14th June || King Street Cinema, Brighten The Corners Festival, Ipswich

Manchester rapper, producer, poet OneDa was in conversation with innate creates founder Amy Nomvula as part of Suffolk’s Brighten The Corners Festival 2025.

Last year saw the release of OneDa‘s debut album Formula OneDa… cementing OneDa as an artist that refuses to be confined by lyrical, genre, artistic definition.

Chat between the two spanned celebrating achievments, culture building, community empowerment and much more.

Jazz & Soul Showcase

Thursday 8th May || Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom, Norwich

innate creates collaborated with Pizza Club on a music night of r&b and neo-soul.

Headliner of Jazz & Soul Showcase was south London r&b singer, songwriter, producer, Josh Kye. Growing up singing in church and inspired by artists such as Bilal, Lauryn Hill and Frank Ocean, Josh Kye has emerged as a firm fixture in the UK r&b scene.

Supporting Josh Kye on the night was local neo-soul vocalist and songwriter, Maya Law, much loved for her witty life observations. Also supporting, local r&b singer, Isamya, brought her elite vocals to the party.

innate creates‘ Amy Nomvula hosted the evening.

Black Futures

7pm – 9pm, Wednesday 26th March || Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum

Spoken word artist, Piers Harrison-Reid

Black Futures is the celebration of voices and stories rooted in African & Caribbean culture… an evening of community building with food, music and ideas.

Spoken word artist Piers Harrison-Reid joined to share a little of his creative journey plus some of his poetry.

Food on the evening was thanks to Norwich Soul Kitchen with DJ, Amy Nomvula, playing records.

The event was hosted by Tonia Mihill and Amy Nomvula and supported by Norfolk Library and Information Service.

Black Futures is an innate creates production.

Image of Piers Harrison-Reid taken by Simon Finlay

Dele Sosimi

27th February 2025 || Norwich Arts Centre

Dele Sosimi is one of the most respected Afrobeat authorities of his era. Having started his musical career with Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 band in his teens he then teamed up with childhood friend, Fela’s son, Femi Kuti to kick start Positive Force – touring, recording and perfoming worldwide.

innate creates‘ Amy Nomvula DJ’ed in support of this event.

Tropical Shakedown

8pm – 1am, Saturday 7th December || Norwich Arts Centre