The annual summer season of African music and culture in Germany has been in full swing since April. Here are 10 Top Festivals, holding from now until the end of summer, promising an unforgettable experience:
Afrika-Orient Kulturfestival Bonn
28 – 30 July / Bonn, Bottlerplatz & Friedensplatz
In addition to live performances by high-calibre musicians, story-tellers and dancers and a cultural tent with readings, exhibitions and workshops, the visitors of the Africa-Orient Cultural Festival can expect a colourful African-oriental marketplace with varied culinary specialties and selected crafts. And in the heart of Bonn!
Afrikatage Landshut 28 –30 July / Landshut, Alte Kaserne
It will all be about African music, dance and fashion in and around the Old Barracks of Landshut for three days. The creative, colourful and varied Africa will be on display with 50 market stands, displaying musical instruments, fabrics, jewellery, shoes, masks, but also CDs, pictures and much more. Culinary specialties from West and North Africa ensure unusual culinary delights. International, antiracist and African projects are presented as well. Since 2002, the festival has contributed to putting Africa on the cultural calendar in Landshut and has gained an excellent reputation beyond the Bavarian town. The 15,000 to 30,000 festival visitors each year are a proof of its attraction.
The rhythmic pulse of Africa has been beating in the middle of a city on the edge of the Black Forest since 2001. On the first weekend of August, Emmendingen will once again be the focus of African culture and, above all, the music of the continent.
In addition to the various workshops and an extensive supporting program, the world bazaar and the street parade should not be missed this year. The African Music Festival Emmendingen, with its line-up of talented artistes and supporting activities, promises its fans an unforgettable experience.
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 22nd 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 in September. 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.
In its 15th year and the biggest of its kind in Germany, the festival will present 80 films from 25 African countries and play hosts to 30 international filmmakers this year. 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.