State of the Nation: An Evening with Akala
Step into an unflinching night of truth, history and hope with one of the country’s most formidable voices.
A BAFTA and MOBO Award-winning hip-hop artist, bestselling author, historian and social entrepreneur, Akala has garnered a reputation for deftly unpacking the forces that shape modern British culture and politics.
Bringing together razor-sharp intellect, street-hardened honesty and lyrical prowess, he discusses the landscape at this critical inflection point. Britain is still haunted by its colonial legacy, structural inequality and class divisions – but is it also a Britain capable of awakening, reimagining and real social change?
Drawing from his Sunday Times number two bestseller Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire, and his wide-ranging cultural exchanges, Akala promises an evening of hard-hitting insights, deeply felt stories, sharp analysis and an urgent call for solidarity.
Akala is in conversation with Misan Harriman – all curious, sceptical or determined minds are invited to join them on this energising exploration of the current state of the nation.
Need to know
Box package
You can buy an exclusive box package for this event. More details of our Royal Festival Hall exclusive box package.
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.