Creative, SEND Advocate and Empowerment Coach Oneness Sankara talks about work in progress ‘T21 Alchemy’ to play as part of Certain Blacks’ ‘Afro Futures Festival’

Courtesy of Irven Lewis.

An SEND Advocate and Empowerment Coach – creative Oneness Sankara brings her years of knowledge supporting SEND families, as well as her own personal journey to highlight the story of a British African Caribbean mother supporting a child with Down Syndrome with work-in-progress T21 Alchemy. Playing as part of Certain Blacks’ Afro Futures Festival which takes places from 6th to 9th March, Oneness Sankara tells us more about exploring the show’s topic further, her roles as a creative/SEND Advocate/Empowerment Coach and what’s been learned from creating the work in progress.

Hi Oneness Sankara, you’ll be presenting work in progress T21 Alchemy as part of Certain Blacks’ ‘Afro Futures Festival’ taking place from 6th to 9th Mar. How are you feeling ahead of the festival?

I’m feeling super excited (and a weeny bit nervous)  as this marks my return to the stage in a way. Over the past few years, I’ve been writing for performance but haven’t actually performed myself, so it’s beautiful to be presenting as part of the Afro Futures Festival. Certain Blacks feels like a safe and fitting space for this work. From an inspiration standpoint, I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the other performances.

T21 Alchemy fuses poetry and prose to tell a story of a British woman of African Caribbean heritage who becomes a mother in later life to a child with Down Syndrome. How have you found exploring this important topic further?

This topic is close to my heart because it speaks to my own story, though the piece itself will not be just about me. It has been a positive, and profound opportunity to step outside of my own lived experience—to understand and reflect on the complexities of the intersection of race, gender, and disability, and how these factors shape our daily lives.

How have you approached creating the work in progress?

Ever since becoming a mum to a child with T21, also known as Down syndrome, I’ve been making notes about my experiences, knowing that one day I would have the chance to write about them. With this work in progress, I’ve been transforming some of those notes into spoken word and prose.

You’re a creative, SEND Advocate and Empowerment Coach supporting SEND families. What inspired you towards these career paths?

Creativity has always been a part of me—I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t creating. From acting to music, spoken word to DJing, it’s in my blood. But alongside creativity, I think caring is also in my blood—caring about the right of every person to live life to the fullest.

My personal journey, especially witnessing how systems and institutions often fail to empower everyone, particularly those with disabilities and neurodiversity, made me want to create change. I’ve come to understand that much of my own transformation has come from what I believe about myself, and that realisation has been a powerful source of strength. I want to support others in finding their own strength and power too, and that passion has been shaping my career path.

What have you learned/taken away from developing the show?

A part I have touched upon in the writing but would love to explore further in the future is the history of ableism. I truly believe that by understanding why we hold certain prejudices, we have a much better chance of evolving and creating meaningful change.

What does it mean to you to form part of this year’s Afro Futures Festival?

It means so much to have Certain Blacks supporting this work—not just from the perspective of me as an artist, but also in recognising the importance of the story I want to tell.

What can audiences expect from the show?

Raw and unfiltered storytelling, interaction, insight, fun, and unapologetic creativity.

Interview by Lucy Basaba.

Certain Blacks Afro Futures Festival takes place from Thursday 6th until Sunday 9th March 2025. T21 Alchemy plays on Saturday 8th March, to find out more about the production, visit here…