Refugee Week Festival at Symphony Hall

Sunday 21st June

11.30am - 1.30pm

Symphony Hall - Jennifer Blackwell Space

Broad Street

Birmingham B1 2EA

Join us for a Brunchtime event at Symphony Hall, with live music, spoken word and information stalls.  Music from around the world in one of the City Centre's most prestigious venues!  With the support of B:Music, Celebrating Sanctuary's annual World Music and Arts Festival returns to the iconic Symphony Hall. 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.

With the support of B:Music, Celebrating Sanctuary's annual World Music and Arts Festival returns to the iconic Symphony Hall. 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.

This year's Refugee Week Festival will bring music and arts from around the world, showcasing the work of highly acclaimed, UK based refugee and migrant artists. We promise you will leave happier and more inspired than when you arrived.

Programme:
11.30 - CSB Archive Footage – Bitsize Digital
Information Stalls

12pm - Zakariye

Zakariye is a poet, playwright and filmmaker from Birmingham. His short poetry film ‘Cages’ has been broadcast on BBC 4 and BBC iPlayer in 2022. Zakariye later went on to win the audience vote at the 2023 Roundhouse Poetry Slam final, cementing his place as a voice to watch. He is now a Roundhouse Resident Artist and a member of Birmingham Hippodrome Origins working on a brand new play, also titled ‘Cages’ that dives into the complexities of friendship, youth and navigating the challenges of growing up in the ends.Zakariye’s debut poetry pamphlet, Pulling Faces, published by Bad Betty Press will be available to buy at the event. We are excited to welcome Zakariye back to our programme for Refugee Week.

12.10 – Zirak Hamad with Rawaz Faris

Zirak Hamad is a musician and singer originally from Iraqi Kurdistan, who has been living in the UK since 2002. Since then, Zirak has been performing and running traditional Middle Eastern music and dance workshops at festivals, schools and community centres across the UK. Zirak also leads Daholl Kurdish Band, a lively blend of Kurdish and Middle Eastern music which ranges from traditional to contemporary popular dance music. In 2012 Zirak also established the event called (Muzikstan) in Birmingham to provide artists with a platform to highlight their cultures and talents. Zirak plays violin, daff (kurdish drum) and sings a range of Kurdish and Middle Eastern songs and will be performing with keyboard player Rawaz Faris.

12.45 - TwoManTing

TwoManTing was formed in 2004 when Sierra Leonean drummer Jah-man Aggrey, and guitarist Jon Lewis played together as part of dance band, Le Cod Afrique, at venues such as Montreux Jazz Festival and WOMAD. The duo immediately became a hit on the UK festival circuit with their brand of bouncy “Sunshine Afro-roots”. Using guitar, live loops and percussion the duo creates a highly danceable full band sound.

Their new album “The Lightning Feather” (2026) blends West African rhythms, acoustic songwriting, reggae, and festival-oriented folk fusion. Built around the partnership of Lewis and Aggrey, the duo combines Sierra Leonean musical influences with contemporary UK acoustic and roots traditions, reflecting the cross-cultural performance style that has made them regular fixtures on the European festival circuit, including Glastonbury and Boomtown Fair.

We are delighted to welcome back TwoManTing to share their new material with us, alongside a few favourites!

Celebrating Sanctuary is a charity who support refugee and migrant artists and work with refugees and asylum seekers through community projects. We are currently unfunded and are bringing you this event due to the partnership with B:Music. If you would like to support Celebrating Sanctuary or find out more about our work please take a look at our website.
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