Anna-Maria Nabirye

Anna-Maria Nabirye is a versatile artist whose creative prowess spans performance, visual arts, social practice, fashion, theatre, film, and television. Along with her sister, she co-founded Afri-Co-Lab and the AfroRetro creative brand in St Leonards-on-Sea, which serves as an imaginative hub for the community. Their collaborative efforts have led to partnerships with renowned institutions such as the Black Cultural Archives, Royal Court, V&A, Southbank Centre, Brighton Museum, Home Live Art, and De La Warr Pavilion. They were also honored with Yinka Shonibare’s Guest Projects Africa residency.

Nabirye has established ongoing collaborative projects with artists Jess Mabel Jones, and the duo Noorafshan Mirza and Brad Butler. Her performance credits feature significant engagements with esteemed organizations including The National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Almeida, Deafinitely Theatre, and BBC & Film4. Alongside her artistic endeavors, she is a dedicated educator, having directed and developed programs for numerous theatre, music, and visual arts institutions.

Her latest project, "Up In Arms," co-created with Annie Saunders, has been commissioned by The De La Warr Pavilion and is produced by Arts Admin. This ambitious work, which includes an exhibition, a performance scheduled for May 7, and a publication set for spring 2024, runs from February 2023 to May 21. Currently, Nabirye is focused on exploring the theme of joy and its connection to the cultural representation and experiences of Black women, emphasizing her belief that “without joy there can be no revolution.”