Oluyide Ogunlusi

This Saturday and Sunday, head to east London’s Printworks, or as it will be known for the weekend: Afrocentric heaven. Afropunk is one of the most diverse festivals on the circuit – it’s grown in leaps and bounds since its beginnings in Brooklyn 12 years ago. The Afropunk mantra is very inclusive. Based on last year’s inaugural London event, the outfits will be vibrant, the melanin will be popping and everyone will be dressed to slay. It’s a place to relax, enjoy the creative energy and patronise the stalls, where you can buy everything from jewellery to art. They’re all likely to be run by local businesses as well, so it’s great to support those when you can. It’s also worth tucking into the cuisine, as there’ll be a range of multicultural dishes available. On top of all that, the musical offerings are a dream. With so many performers packed into the two days, here’s our pick of who not to miss. Saturday Little Simz As prolific as she is talented, Little Simz has four mixtapes, five EPs and two albums under her belt. With cosigns from A-Listers like Kendrick, Stormzy and having sold out venues on this side of the Atlantic and across the Pond, she’s definitely no stranger to putting on a good show either. Jazzie B Founding member of pioneering ’80s group Soul II Soul, Jazzie B came up playing all kinds of parties around town in that era. His soundclash style is a hallmark of this, as he deftly blends all sorts of genres. From soul, reggae and R&B to hip hop, rock and danceh