Sickle Cell Advocacy Fest London | Akanji Studio Wellness
A free community day for people living with sickle cell
The Sickle Cell Advocacy Fest was a free community event in London that brought creativity, conversation and local sickle cell services into one room.
Held on Saturday 17 October 2026 at The Hub in Elephant and Castle, the day was led by Akanji Studio Wellness. It ran in partnership with The South East London Sickle Cell Community Service, NHS South East London ICS and the South London Office of Specialised Services, during Black History Month.
The programme included visual collage and art workshops, poetry and writing, affirmative vision boards, a health panel and Q&A, and a hair braiding workshop. Attendees could also learn about their local sickle cell service. Cultural healthy lunch was provided.
Creative workshops: expressing what is hard to say
Our creative workshops gave people a way to show what they are experiencing without having to find the words first.
In the arts and crafts workshop, attendees cut out images from artworks by Rizzy Akanji and arranged them to express how they feel. There was no brief and no right answer. Each person chose the pieces that spoke for them.
Hair braiding ran alongside it as another form of expression, rooted in care, culture and community. The wider programme also offered poetry and writing and affirmative vision boards.
Creative activity is increasingly recognised as part of how people look after their health. A World Health Organisation review of more than 3,000 studies found that the arts have a role in preventing ill health, promoting health and managing illness across the lifespan.
Health panel and Q&A: hearing from people who understand
The health panel and Q&A gave people a space to ask questions and hear from others living with sickle cell.
One panellist spoke about how movement supports her psychologically, alongside her faith. The experience resonated across the panel and the audience, and the questions that followed showed how many people share it. Panellists also described a common mindset: they do not let sickle cell stop them from doing what they set out to do.
Everyone's experience is different, and these were personal stories rather than medical advice. Hearing them said out loud helped the room feel less alone.
Why events like this are so important
Many people living with sickle cell have spent years feeling unheard, and community spaces help close that gap.
NHS England London reports that around 10,000 sickle cell patients are based in London. Parliament's 2021 inquiry, No One's Listening, found low awareness of sickle cell among healthcare professionals, inadequate training and insufficient investment in care.
When people can ask questions, meet local services and share their experiences, they are better placed to speak up for the care they need. That is what the Sickle Cell Advocacy Fest set out to offer.
About Akanji Studio Wellness
Akanji Studio Wellness C.I.C. is a London-based community interest company that combines creativity, wellbeing and advocacy.
We create exhibitions, workshops and community programmes that give people space to express themselves, connect with others and be heard. Our founder, artivist Rizzy Akanji, brings together futurism, surrealism and advocacy through visual art, poetry and public installation, including a permanent public art commission at the NHS Blood Donor Centre in Brixton.
Work with us
We partner with NHS teams, charities, health services and community organisations on creative health events, workshops and exhibitions. If you are looking for a partner for something similar, contact us at team@akanji.studio