[2][3] Afifi's early work from 2012 to 2017 included a minor role in Rent at Greenwich Theatre, ensemble and understudy roles in The 8th Fold at the Duchess Theatre[4] and on the UK tour of Wonderland,[5] and as Munkustrap in the Royal Caribbean production of Cats.
In 2021, Afifi appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre production of The Magician's Elephant[8] and the Sunset Boulevard concert at Alexandra Palace,[9] and originated the roles of Sultan Valed on the Rumi: The Musical concept album and Osman in You Bury Me at Edinburgh Fringe Festival respectively.
[10] For his performance in The Band's Visit at Donmar Warehouse in 2022,[11] Afifi was nominated for the 2023 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.
Also in 2022, he played Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the London Coliseum production of My Fair Lady[12] and starred in Omar Baroud's presentation of After Elijah at The Other Palace.
He reunited with Amara Okereke from My Fair Lady for The Light in the Piazza concert at Alexandra Palace.