The annual summer season of African music and culture in Germany has been in full swing since April. Here are 9 Top Festivals, holding from now until the end of summer, promising an unforgettable experience:
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1st Gnaoua Festival Berlin
16 – 18 August / Berlin, Werkstatt der Kulturen Concerts | Exhibitions | Talk | Workshop | Master Class | Parade |
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The 1st Gnaoua Festival Berlin celebrates the legendary trance-like music of the Gnaoua, the descendants of West Africans who were abducted from the region around the present-day states of Mauritania, Senegal, Niger and Mali from the 11th century onwards and enslaved in the Maghreb. In the North African Diaspora, they used various sacral music of West Africa as a practice of resistance and creolated it with Sufi traditions and musical styles of the Arabs, Jews and Berbers.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the cultural institution Werkstatt der Kulturen brings the music of the Gnaoua to life in Berlin. On the festival program: Great Masters of Morocco, new diasporic voices of the Gnaoua and collaborations with the World Jazz scene of the capital.
About 60,000 fans are expected at the hip-hop and R & B festival. Top acts include Gentleman, Ky-Mani Marley and Rea Garvey. In addition Miwata, Georg On Songs, Bonez MC & RAF Camora, Samy Deluxe, Ohrbooten, Nosliw and many more
Expected bright sunshine will attract many visitors to the “MitAfrika” festival at the Chocolate Museum. Culinary and arts and crafts as well as many colourful colours and children’s attractions. Many participants may also take the opportunity to participate in the drum and dance workshops of Mama Afrika.
BIBIBA Band Live at Düsseldorf Afrika Tage Festival 2016
In the past the festival was able to deepen the impressions of the visitors about Africa through a wide range of programs. In addition to the music and cultural performances on the stage, the audience is also offered the opportunity to learn about political, social and environmental issues as they affect the continent, through stands, workshops, lectures and discussion forums.
Under Bob Marley’s motto of “Let’s get together and feel alright!” the oldest African-Caribbean Festival in Hesse is taking place this year for the 2drd time at the Rebstockpark in Frankfurt. Live music, a bazaar, lively kid’s program and disco sessions with Super DJs are some of the offerings of the festival.
Alafia stands for peace, tolerance and openness. With rhythmic music, individual craftsmanship and delicacies from different countries, the festival brings together the cultures of the Black continent in Hamburg.
The Nigerian home-grown film industry, known globally as Nollywood, has a date with its fans in Germany. The festival will be crowned with the Nollywood E-Golden Awards at which selected industry practitioners who “have played important roles in making Nollywood what it has become today” will be honoured. A-list stand-up comedians, cultural dancers and Nigerian hip-hop performances will also feature at the awards event.
“Sustainability for Cologne is our topic. Do it yourself under fair conditions, natural living, recycling, healthy eating, urban gardening… and many more. Great mind changing experience.. see you there.”
In its 16th year and the biggest of its kind in Germany, the festival will present 80 films (All genres: Feature / Documentary / Short / Animation / Visual Art) from 25 African countries and play hosts to 30 international filmmakers this year. This year’s focus is on intra-African migration and the festival presents 25 films which address the subject, chosen by FilmInitiativ, organizers of the festival, for good reasons.
In addition to the screenings, podium discussions, featuring directors, will debate the current standing of the African filmmaking world.
FilmInitiativ Köln e.V. has organised the festival themed Jenseits von Europa – Filme aus Afrika (Out of Europe – Films from Africa) since 1992. More than 500 films from 40 African countries have been shown in Cologne at the biennial festival and the film specials held during the years in between.