FutureTense Dinner: Kōrero and Kai w/ Sonya Renee Taylor and Junauda Petrus

Community Dinner: Kōrero and Kai with Sonya Renee Taylor and Junauda Petrus

Voices of tomorrow, stories that shape today

Enjoy an evening of nourishment for body and spirit — experience the wisdom & creativity of internationally acclaimed thinkers, artists, and visionaries Sonya Renee Taylor and Junauda Petrus.

A powerful evening of storytelling, connection, and imagination through an Afrofuturist lens as Sonya and Junauda share kōrero, kai, and community. Join us at the Ellen Melville Centre for a shared meal celebrating voice, identity, radical self-love, and collective visions of more just and joyful futures.

This event will include a short panel discussion with Sonya and Junauda, chaired by Dione Joseph, founder of Black Creatives Aotearoa, followed by dinner and mingling.

This event sits within FutureTense, a bold new platform for visionary storytelling that brings together Black and BIPOC artists in Aotearoa to dream futures rooted in creativity, justice, and joy. Featuring design talks, writing workshops, and community gatherings, FutureTense is umbrellaed by the inaugural Aotearoa Festival of Black Arts 2025 - a curated program of events featuring theatre music, family, friendly event, workshops, visual, art, talks, and film, celebrating African and Caribbean creativity in Aotearoa. Learn more at www.afoba.nz.

Come hungry for good kai, brave kōrero, and the company of those imagining a more loving and liberated world.

Programme :
6 - 6:30pm: Doors open, guests welcomed.
(Please text if arriving after 6:30pm for entry)

6:30pm: Formal proceedings begin with a short kōrero from the Black Creatives Aotearoa team + introduction of our visiting artists.

6:40pm: A 20-minute panel discussion moderated by Dione Joseph will explore themes of Afrofuturism, identity, healing + the future of storytelling through a BIPOC lens.

7:00pm: Audience Q&A (approx. 10 minutes), followed by the opening of dinner service. Guests will be encouraged to continue informal conversations with our artists throughout the evening.

This is a free event but spaces are limited - register and reserve your spot now!

This event was made possible by support from Auckland Council & Ellen Melville Centre.

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