Five Questions With... Elizabeth 'Zeddie' Lawal, Birmingham Festival 23

Summer 2022 saw Birmingham draw global attention as it hosted the Commonwealth Games – a powerful moment for the midlands to celebrate culture, creativity, and diversity, alongside the incredible sporting achievements of the participating athletes. The Games brought with it a wave of community involvement in arts and culture, which has maintained its momentum thanks to the Birmingham 2022 Festival. We caught up with Zeddie Lawal, Artistic Associate, to find out more 

Hi Zeddie! Can you tell us what Birmingham Festival 23 was all about? 

Birmingham Festival 23 marked the one-year anniversary of the Commonwealth Games coming to the West Midlands. We used it as a moment to celebrate culture, creativity, and diverse communities. 

Last year, communities from all corners of Birmingham came out and engaged with one another through culture and sport; and this year we got to re-live that moment and celebrate our city. 

From my perspective, this festival is all about Birmingham. The Games gave us an opportunity to look inwards explore who we are as a city and what great culture and sport means to us. We are a global city, and we got to explore and platform that duality of being local and global over the 10 days of the event. 

What made you want to get involved with Birmingham Festival 23? 

I decided to join Birmingham Festival 23 for several reasons, I wanted to explore how we could transition from the Festival having an identity solely attached to the Commonwealth Games, to a festival that is about Birmingham and to plant the seeds of what a new international festival could look like in our city.  I wanted to re-imagine how our diverse stories are platformed, and I believe we can platform Birmingham on the international stage by creatively and authentically showcasing these narratives.

On a personal level, I had deep inner conflicts about my connection to the Commonwealth and its legacy of empire. I struggled with the question of how to reconcile being a product of the Commonwealth while feeling proud of my identity as a black British individual. Many people of my generation face similar challenges, and I wanted to address these feelings and find a way to create a more equitable and beautiful future based on what we’ve learned from the past. This thinking shaped my two projects: ‘The Commons’ and ‘Empires, Pioneers and the New Radicals’. 

We made celebrating diversity in all its forms a top priority at the festival and wanted to take the opportunity to showcase the immense talent in Birmingham. It was a transformative experience, as we were not only celebrating artists but also empowering communities to be creative. 

Why was it so important to engage with the local communities, organisations and artists? 

Birmingham is a young and diverse city, and we wanted the festival to reflect that spirit. It was really important for us to make sure that we celebrated Birmingham’s culture, and the creatives and communities that shape it.   

It was crucial that we gave all creatives in Birmingham the opportunity to participate, rather than going to only the largest organisations, and it’s been brilliant to see how the audiences have really come to the city and showed up to support their local community’s creativity. 

What have been your personal highlights of the festival? 

One of my personal highlights is the emphasis we placed on giving the next generation of companies, collectives, and communities a central stage at the festival, and that’s something that I am really proud of.  

It’s been brilliant to see Brum’s talent really celebrated by the city. In terms of performances, I enjoyed seeing Birmingham Irish Association and Ceol Agency celebrate our city’s Irish heritage through music, and I also was pleased to see Birmingham Poet Laureate Jasmine Gardosi’s ‘Dancing to Music You Hate’ return to the city from a national tour. 

What is next for you after the festival? 

I am in a really curious space - and I am open. I really want to explore more international opportunities.  

I am going to spend some time to practically answer the question – “Based on what we know of connected past, how do we build a more beautiful, just and equitable future?” This may take various forms using creativity, technology and innovation and may evolve into placemaking, expanding The Commons, More Than a Moment. 

Birmingham Festival 23 took place from the 28 July to the 6 August 2023. A legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, it showcased art and culture from Birmingham and beyond. Many National Portfolio Organisations were involved in the event, including Sampad, FABRIC, Sonia Sabri Co, Deaf Explorer, ACE Dance and Music, B:Music, Fierce Festival and ZoieLogic Dance.