Rama and Sarah Bergh // © Günther Klebinger This year the Afro Project team from Würzburg is once again looking forward to present a programme full of small and big highlights at the festival. Last year the focus was on Cuba, this year the Africa Festival thematically returns to the African continent; via the Cape Verde Islands and Senegal. At the time of the slave trade with America and the Caribbeans, the Cape Verde Islands served as an intermediate stop for the slaves from West Africa. While the Islands were under Portuguese administration, some of them stayed there forever. Thus today, the ancestors of the slaves have influenced the music and culture of the Islands. Sara Tavares, Tibau Tavares and Elida Almeida will give you the opportunity to discover the music of the Cape Verde Islands. Offshore of Senegal is the island Gor’ee with its slave fort. Here, the West African slaves had the last chance to take a look at their home continent. Senegal features a long history of music, which has grown steadily. Youssou N’Dour is the worldwide known embassador whose tama player Assana Thiam and ensemble will open the festival. Rising star Wally Seck, as well as Faada Freddy, Marema, Awa Ly, Moussa, Takeifa and other high-quality musicians will show their talent and reflect the variety of their country. We stay in West Africa and travel with Eneida Marta to Guinea-Bissau and Fafa Ruffino to Benin. Afterwards, in Mali, we can look forward to see the Festival award winners Salif Keita and Fatoumata Diawara again and meet spectacular newcomer Inna Modja. The young festival veterans Mellow Mark, Dellé and Jahcoustix will prove that even in Germany Africa can be very close. A visit to the photo exhibition of Youri Lenquette could be a great way to start the festival. He has visited Senegal multiple times and captured the zest for life there. At the festival ground, the big bazaar with African art treasures and culinary delicacies, as well as info booths in the bamboo hall, the Havana Club and the inviting relaxation area where you can enjoy Moroccan teas awaits the visitors. TV channel ARTE is again the media partner of the Africa Festival. The ARTE movie tent gives the viewers insights into the life in Senegal. In two special movies (“Mali Blues”, “Sarabah”) you can see musicians who will also perform on our concert stages this year. In the daytime, you can laugh with storyteller Ibu or marvel at the artististry of Adesa, in the evening you can dance to reggae music in the new multitent. You mustn’t miss the fashion shows of designer Rama Diaw with her charming models, which takes place daily starting Friday. Have fun experiencing the rich culture of West Africa! Your Afro Project Team THURSDAY ◊ FRIDAY ◊ SATURDAY ◊ SUNDAY ◊ THURSDAY, MAY 25TH, 2017 ◊
Der Beitrag 29. AFRICA FESTIVAL (2017) erschien zuerst auf Africa Festival.