As Ron Timehin wandered around Glastonbury’s West Holts stage, something caught his eye: a huge gleaming statue of an afro comb with a clenched fist shooting out of the ground. “That caught me off guard,” says the photographer from south London, who was at the festival for the first time. “I have the exact same one in my pocket.
” This year, there are signs that efforts are being made to make Glastonbury – which for years has been synonymous with almost entirely white crowds – more appealing to those who may have traditionally not felt catered for on Worthy Farm. It’s not just statues either: the line-up is packed with Black artists, right across the event . Janelle Monáe, Danny Brown, Burna Boy, Tems, Ayra Starr, Moonchild Sanelly, Femi Kuti and Jalen Ngonda all feature, while Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka and Olivia Dean have prominent Pyramid slots.
On Sunday, SZA will become the second Black woman to headline the Pyramid, following Beyoncé’s appearance in 2011. Glastonbury has always featured Black artists – from Curtis Mayfield, Aswad and Fela Kuti in the 1970s and 80s, to Stormzy and Kendrick Lamar as headliners more recently – but the depth of talent in 2024 feels significant. “Last year I saw Lizzo but I couldn’t tell you the other headliners, while this year there’s SZA, there’s Burna Boy .
The lineup excited me so much more this year,” says Dot Edgar from Manchester, who was attending for the second time. “I’m noticing the cult.
