‘Wokefest’ festival set to take over Swansea’s High Street

Organisers say ‘Wokefest‘ has been set up for the community of Swansea to come together to spread positivity and promote diversity in response to upcoming hate speakers visiting the city.

Wokefest is a festival of entertainment over two nights and three venues at Elysium, Hippo, and Jam Jar on Swansea High Street on the 3rd and 4th of May.

The festival says it aims to raise awareness and funds for charities that support and empower the most vulnerable members of society, including ethnic minorities and asylum seekers. Swansea is a city of sanctuary and a university town, and it is important for everyone to feel welcome and safe here.

Festival organiser Jules Woodell commented, “Wokefest is more than just an entertainment event, it is a statement of unity and a celebration of the strength of diversity. The festival will feature a range of talented performers, musicians, poets, and speakers from all walks of life, who will showcase their skills and spread their message of hope and positivity.

“We are proud that Swansea is a city of sanctuary, and as it is a university town, it is important for everyone to feel welcome and safe here. We totally support freedom of speech, but hate speech and spreading misinformation are another matter.

“We felt it was important to emphasise that racial hatred and prejudice are not an accurate reflection of our lovely City.

“We named the festival WokeFest as, in recent times, the term “woke” has been used derogatively. But we absolutely own being “woke” as it means we are conscious of systemic injustices and strive to actively address and dismantle them. The festival fully embraces and celebrates this mindset”.

Wokefest will be held across three vibrant venues, offering attendees a diverse range of entertainment, including live music, poetry, spoken word and circus performance. The event is free of charge, and everyone is welcome to attend. However, the festival organisers encourage guests to donate to the worthy causes supported by the event, EYST (Ethnic Youth Support Team) and SASS (Swansea Asylum Seekers Support).

The festival is being organised by a team of volunteers who say they are passionate about creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone in the community. They say they are calling on residents of Swansea to come out and support Wokefest and to show that love and inclusivity are stronger than hate and division.

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