Refugee Week 2025
EventAbout Refugee Week 2025
Save the date for Celebrating Sanctuary's annual World Music and Arts Festival.
Bringing people together to celebrate and experience the culture, arts and stories of refugees and migrant communities through a universal appreciation of music, joy and life. As always, we promise you will leave happier and more inspired than when you arrived.
This year's event will bring music and arts from around the world, showcasing the work of highly acclaimed, UK based refugee and migrant artists, from: Guinea Bissau, Kurdistan, Sudan and more to be announced!
This year's programme:
12-1pm | Hexagon Theatre | Refugee Week Weekender Launch
- Welcome to this years festival
- Presentations and spoken word
1-2pm | Garden Studio | Family Storytelling Workshop
2 – 6pm | Outdoor Terrace | Music
Live music and presentations from artists and communities, including:
- Zawedde
- Mohamed Osman
- Zirak & Traditionals
- Nifeco Costa & Babock Djazz
More to be announced!
About The Artists
Mohamed Osman (Sudan)
Mohamed Osman is a multi-talented Sudanese artist who sings in the Arabic language as well as Tigre. Mohamed never fails to get everyone up and dancing.
Zirak & Traditionals (Kurdistan)
A captivating musical ensemble from the heart of the Middle East. Their unique sound blends the enchanting tones of the violin with the rich 72-string Santur. Each performance weaves together melodies and stories, offering a deep dive into the history and geography of Kurdish culture.
Zirak Hamad is a violinist, drummer and singer from Iraqi Kurdistan. A graduate of the Institute of Fine Arts in Iraq, he has a wide range of experience in his home country. Since coming to the UK in 2002 he has delivered Middle Eastern dance and music workshops, performed solo and with many different artists, also forming Daholl Kurdish Band.
Nifeco Costa (Guinea Bissau)
Nifeco Costa is a singer and guitarist from Guinea Bissau, West Africa, who came to the UK via Portugal, where he spent several years performing many events, festivals and making television appearances.
Now based in the UK Nifeco has formed the band "Babock Djazz", bringing together local musicians with origins from around the globe. Nifeco brings beautiful melodies, a sweet voice and an infectious Latin groove, guaranteed to get people dancing!
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Booking info
To book Accessible tickets and free Companion tickets, please visit our Accessible Bookings page. Companion tickets will initially show a standard ticket price, but once your account is set-up and you are logged in, this will be reduced to £0 at checkout.
