THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The biggest African festival in Germany’s federal capital is 10 years old this year and its organisers have rolled out a programme to celebrate the anniversary in a big way.
In addition to the Kenako Africa Festival on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz (20 – 30 July 2023), there will also be a Kenako Kids Festival (27 June – 2 July 2023) in cooperation with the FEZ Berlin, which is aimed specifically at children, young people and school groups.
Kenako Africa Festival will feature a wide-ranging programme including live concerts, dance workshops, bazaar and workshops at the popular Alexanderplatz in the city centre. The Festival is expected to be visited by around 5,000 people daily!
Every year, the free concerts are an absolute highlight of the Kenako Festival. This year many bands and individual artists will perform throughout the eleven festival days.
The 2023 Festival parades established and up-and-coming artists from across Africa. The top international acts who will entertain this year are Batila and the dreambus (DRC), Kerozen Côte d’Ivoire), Bantu (Nigeria), Jaqee Nakiri (Uganda), Tunde Alibaba (Benin), Kareyce Fotso (Cameroon).
An Intercultural Market, which opens daily from 10 am to 10 pm, affords visitors the chance to buy artefacts, gift items, sample African food and simply enjoy the bazaar atmosphere.
Kenako Festiva also hosts other events, ranging from film shows, workshops and podium discussions on topical international issues.
Moreover, the Bridgebuilder’s Fair, which takes place every year in the course of the Kenako Festival, communicates to a big audience the valuable and diverse work of organisations and initiatives with connection to Africa. Numerous associations and initiatives will exhibit their current projects and the most sustainable project will receive the Kenako Award.
The Kenako Kids Festival will be held for the first time from 27 June to 2 July at FEZ-Berlin, the largest non-profit children’s, youth and family centre in Europe. The festival, consisting of a project week for schoolchildren, concerts, a market with African products and food, will complement the main festival this year.
Femi Awoniyi
For the complete festival programme, visit: www.kenako-festival.de
