Nathanael Williams (GB)

Nathanael Williams is a London-based cultural entrepreneur, producer, and multi-instrumentalist working at the intersection of music, identity and community. He is the founder of Colour Factory in Hackney Wick and co-founder of Jumbi in Peckham, two pioneering venues rooted in sound system culture and diasporic expression.

Colour Factory is a large-scale nightclub and multi-use arts venue based in East London, known for its bold programming and deep commitment to LGBTQIA+ and POC communities. The space regularly hosts live music, club nights, food events and festivals, and is recognised as one of the UK’s largest Black-owned music venues. With a focus on safety, inclusion and representation, Colour Factory has become a platform for emerging talent, experimental projects and grassroots organising within the wider nightlife ecology.

Jumbi, based in South London, is a vinyl-led hi-fi music bar and restaurant shaped by African and Caribbean sounds, ingredients and design. Created in collaboration with DJ and broadcaster Bradley Zero, Jumbi features a hand-built sound system, carefully curated record collection, and a food and drinks menu inspired by heritage, migration and celebration. The venue draws on the traditions of listening bars and community hubs, creating a space where food, music and culture meet.

Williams is also a member of the music group The Colours That Rise, blending live instrumentation, electronic production and Afro-futurist influences. Alongside his musical practice, he has a background in sociolinguistics, with a particular interest in how language, space and culture inform identity construction.

His approach to building venues is driven by a belief that nightlife is political, and that sound can be a tool for connection, resistance and belonging. In 2025, he was appointed to the London Nightlife Taskforce, where he advocates for equity, access and sustainability in the UK’s night-time economy.