The Afrofuturism Festival 2025 takes over Salvador with a program dedicated to innovation, culture, and ancestry.

The capital of Bahia will host the 7th edition of the Afrofuturism Festival on December 5th and 6th, 2025 , this weekend. This event has established itself as one of the largest Latin American platforms dedicated to innovation, diversity, and the construction of possible futures based on Black epistemologies. Organized by Vale do Dendê , with support from the Salvador City Hall , SEBRAE , Albert Einstein Hospital , and various partners, the festival will take place in the Historic Center , occupying spaces such as Largo Tereza Batista, Largo Quincas Berro D'Água, Largo Pedro Arcanjo, and Casa Vale do Dendê.

With the theme "Ancestors of the Future," inspired by the work of futurist and researcher Grazi Mendes , the 2025 edition proposes reflections on legacy, imagination, and social transformation from the perspective of the African diaspora.

Official Program

Friday — December 5th

Starting at 10:30 AM , the public has access to the official opening, which includes an entrepreneurs' fair, an art exhibition, and a cultural reception. The morning continues with a lecture by stylist Cleidson Marques , who will discuss Afrocentric fashion in the 21st century, and a panel discussion led by Grazi Mendes , addressing innovation and the future from Black perspectives.

During the afternoon, the panel “Black Future: Investment, Technology and New Narratives” will take place, with the participation of Cinara Santos , Nina Silva , Fau Ferreira and other prominent names in the technology and business ecosystem focused on the Black community.

Saturday — December 6th

The second day is dedicated to discussions on sustainability, the creative economy, health, artificial intelligence, games, and social innovation . The program brings together national and international experts, addressing topics such as well-being in the workplace, new economies, and technological trends.

The festival concludes with the International Panel , which welcomes representatives from African countries, such as Saulo Montrond (Cape Verde) and Marcos Jamir , founder of the AfricanDev platform. The debate highlights the connection between Brazil and Africa around media, business, and contemporary Black identities.

Cultural and Technological Impact

Recognized as the largest Afrocentric futurism conference in Latin America, the Afrofuturism Festival promotes fundamental dialogues on representation, belonging, innovation, art, and technology . The proposal to make the 2025 edition free reinforces the event's commitment to democratizing knowledge and expanding access for young people, entrepreneurs, and artists.

The event also strengthens Salvador's position as one of the world's leading centers of Black creativity, connecting the city to international technology and cultural networks.

A Future Imagined by Many Hands

More than a celebration, the festival establishes itself as a space for reflection and collective construction — uniting past, present and future through art, education, entrepreneurship and ancestry.