This new yearly festival provides a unique platform in the centre of London for emerging and established writers, performers and artists to bring together Britain’s diverse Muslim population.

The UK‘s approximately three million Muslims are rarely seen or heard discussing philosophy, science, literature and the arts on mainstream platforms and unfortunately, discussions around Muslims are dominated by debates on terrorism and security. What the mainstream media knows about Muslim’s day to day lives, especially here in the UK is down to stereotypes.

Mfest aims to redress the imbalance of the insignificant underrepresentation of diversity of Muslim communities and the richness of its artistic traditions, encourage a richer, more nuanced dialogue between Muslims in public spaces and between Muslims, Britain and the wider world.

“A festival of books and ideas that
recognises the diversity, differences and
dynamics of Muslim cultures and lives,
MFest challenges a fundamental feature
of Islamophobia, which sees Islam and
Muslims as a monolithic, static block.”
Tufyal Choudhury, Director

The programme

27-29 April 2018
at The British Library
Knowledge Centre

Friday 27th April

Opening Night Gala Reception 7pm – 10pm, Auditorium and Foyer

Award-winning novelist Elif Shafak will deliver a key note speech after music by acclaimed Palestinian musician Reem Kelani. The evening ends with poetry from Suhaiyma Manzoor-Khan, Hodan Yusuf, Momtaza Mehria and Aliya Hasinah, hosted by Zahra Dalilah.

Saturday 28^th April

The Right Kind of Muslim?  10.30am – Auditorium

Interactive Kathak Dance with Amina Khayyam at 12 pm

Forgotten Histories: The Muslim Heroes of World War One at 12 pm

Spicing up Sci-fi: The Dunes Strike Back at 2pm 

Comic Book Workshop with Zainab Akhtar at 2pm – Eliot Room

Grenfell: Social Activism and the failure of politics at 3.30pm – Auditorium

All Eyes on You: Pre-crime, Surveillance and the State at 5 pm – Auditorium

The Caribbean Ummah at 5pm – Eliot Room

MFest After Party at  7.30-10pm – P21 Gallery

Sunday 29^th April

How to Drive Change: The Future of Muslim Activism at 10.30am – Auditorium

Forgotten Histories: Representation of Non-Binary Identities in Muslim Art at 10.30am – Bronte A

Zine Making with Khidr Collective at 10.30am, Bronte B

Mostly Lit Live with Media Diversified at 12pm – Auditorium

How the Nakba Reveals Itself Today at 12pm Bronte A

Write Your Heart Out: Poetry Workshop with Momtaza Mehria at 12pm – Bronte

Mostly Lit Live at 12pm – Auditorium

Women and Power: Islam and Evolving Feminisms at 2pm- Auditorium

New Heroes of Young Adult Fiction  2pm – Bronte A

Comic Book Workshop with Zainab Akhtar 2pm – Bronte B

 Sheikh Google: How Knowledge is Shaped by Algorithms and AI,  3.30pm – Auditorium

Drumming For The Soul: Workshop with Louai El Hanawi,  3.30pm, Bronte B

Kamila Shamsie in Conversation,  5pm – Auditorium

My Side Of It: Poetry Night, 5pm, Bronte B

Closing: Akram Khan in conversation with Jordan Tannahill,  7-8.30pm – Auditorium (Jordan’s participation is still to be confirmed)

For more information, visit: mfest.org