Annabel Joseph-Ojoboh Shines Bright At Bradford Festival 2024

By: Patrick Ezema

The Bradford African Festival of Arts (BAFA), which debuted in July 2024, is a heartwarming cultural embroidery with over 1000 attendees in a two-day celebration of African heritage, music, dance, theatre, fashion, visual arts, food, and storytelling. BAFA is a powerful celebration of culture that fosters understanding and community inclusion. Supported by the University of Bradford and local African communities, the festival began with a welcome speech from Professor Shirley Congdon, VC of the University of Bradford and keynote from Professor Charles Egbu, VC of Leeds Trinity University, on ‘My Culture, My Heritage.’ BAFA ‘24 was attended by dignitaries, including the Lord Mayors of Leeds, Kirklees, and Calderdale, as well as Professor Udy Archibong MBE, and showcased Bradford’s lively African community. More than a cultural display, BAFA is an economic engine, empowering African-led businesses and artisans by creating a vibrant hub where heritage and economic growth intertwine.

The second day of the Bradford African Festival of Arts on July 20, 2024, was a breathtaking cultural showcase. A Yoruba storyteller thrilled the audience with a folktale of the animal kingdom, followed by a South African troupe performing dynamic songs and dances. The atmosphere was lifted by Chuk’s Afro-gospel, followed by drummers blending Yoruba beats and saxophone melodies. Annabel Joseph Ojoboh performed her soulful ballad, “You’ll never walk alone,” before the Benin people presented regal, coral-beaded dances. Princess, from Cameroon won the BAFA 2024 pageant with a stirring poem, and a dazzling fashion show of bold African designs wasn’t left out.

Annabel Joseph Ojoboh sang her emotive ballad, “You’ll never walk alone,” with soul-swaying vocals, showcasing her blend of classical and contemporary styles. Framed by the city’s Victorian Gothic architecture with its arched windows and intricate stonework, she stood out in radiant African attire, a golden patterned skirt and multicolored jacket reflecting elegance and cultural pride. It’s not surprising that Annabel’s shimmering vocals earned her the Best Vocal Artist award at the 7th Cool Wealth Awards in 2024. She also performed at the Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Mental Health Poetry Fundraising Event, highlighting her as a rising star. Before the spotlights and awards, Annabel has been a soprano wiz with groups like The Harmonic Ensemble Nigeria, The Benin Chorale Society and Philharmonic Orchestra, Stars Ensemble Nigeria and the Bel Canto Chorale.

Audience’s reactions to Annabel’s performance revealed how deeply her music resonated across cultures and generations. Smiles lit up faces, from an elderly white woman whose luminous joy mirrored the rhythm of the Black woman beside her, to families laughing, and recording. Some listened in quiet reverence, others clapped with admiration, like the hijab-wearing woman who joined the swell of applause after Annabel’s bow at about the 1:56 mark. Together, their laughter, smiles, attentiveness, and ovation painted a vivid picture of unity, showing how her voice dissolved barriers and left a lasting imprint on everyone present.

The Bradford African Festival of Arts (BAFA), launched in July 2024, is an elegant celebration of African heritage, unity, and community pride. From Yoruba folktales and South African rhythms to Afro-gospel and dazzling fashion, it offered rich cultural expressions. A highlight was Annabel Joseph-Ojoboh’s soulful ballad, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” which captivated the crowd and affirmed music’s power to connect across diverse communities and cultures in 1:59 mark.