Editor’s Note: Oakland Voices alum Howard Dyckoff’s photo essay originally appeared in Midbrow.
The 26th Annual Malcolm X Jazz Arts Festival took over East Oakland’s San Antonio Park on May 16, drawing local residents for a day of live music, grassroots economic solidarity, and community wellness initiatives.
Organized by EastSide Arts Alliance, the annual festival celebrated both musical heritage and sonic evolution. This year’s event emphasized youth and emerging performers while continuing the festival’s long-standing focus on culture, community, and political expression. The Jazz stage featured a banner with an image of Malcolm X and the words, “Culture is our Weapon.”
The day opened with a drum call from Baba Mosheh’s Bantaba ensemble before performances shifted from African and Puerto Rican percussion to jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, and spoken word.
Performers included The Futurelics, RyanNicole & Nu Dekades, Daria Nile, and Unity Grooves YGB, a youth ensemble chanting affirmations of Black history, racial pride, and calls for justice.
With local vendors, community organizations, dance performances, and multi-generational audiences filling the park throughout the day, the festival once again underscored its role as a cornerstone of Oakland’s cultural landscape.
“This festival is by the people, for the people, with the people,” K.E.V. of NuDekades told the crowd.
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