Join us for a summer afternoon of live music, hands-on workshops, and family-friendly celebration of Southwest Asian and North African cultures. Expect vibrant sounds, delicious foods, creative making, storytelling, and plenty of activities at the Horniman’s beautiful Gardens.

‘Haflah’, حفلة, means celebration or a party in Arabic, and this is exactly that.
Hekayyatna is taking over the Horniman Museum Gardens this July for an afternoon of live music, souq of handmade crafts, delicious food, storytelling, and kids’ activities from across the South-West Asian and North African (SWANA) region, including Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Syria…

Whether you’re coming for the music, the makers, or just the good vibes in a beautiful South London garden, there’s something here for everyone.

For the adults: live music at the Bandstand from four brilliant SWANA artists and DJs, a market of handmade goods, olive oil, ceramics and zines — including zines from Gaza — and food trucks serving wraps, mezze and sweet things worth queuing for.

For the little ones: a storytelling session bringing the ancient epic of Gilgamesh to life, a treasure hunt through the gardens.