African dancers at the Berlin Carnival of Cultures, 9 June 2019, Berlin / Photo: Femi Awoniyi

Leading African Festivals in Germany


The annual summer season of African music and culture in Germany has gone into full swing. Here are the Top Festivals promising an unforgettable experience:

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Afrika Karibik Kultur Festival Starnberg

6 – 10 June / Starnberg, Seepromenade

Festival features various international musicians, dancers and groups of African and Caribbean origin.  Plus exotic drinks and wonderfully fresh Caribbean summer cocktails and special African-Caribbean delicious specialties…

www.afrika-und-karibik-festival.webnode.com

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Challenge Camerounais Münster

7 – 9 June/ Münster

© Challenge Camerounais e.V.

A festival for Cameroonians from all over the world, who gather for a weekend exchange and spend good times together.

Sports – Culture – Entertainment – Business

www.challenge-camerounais.com/en/

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africologneFESTIVAL

17 – 30 June/Cologne, Alte Feuerwache

Parole Due Photo: © Géry Barbot

 

Around 50 artists and others from Burkina Faso, Belgium, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria, Austria, South Africa and Germany present theatre, dance, performances, music and literature. After each event, an exchange with the artists will take place in the festival centre in the Alte Feuerwache, in the Orangerie Theater, in the Theater im Bauturm and in the Schauspiel Köln.

www.africologne-festival.de

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 Afrikanisches Kulturfest Frankfurt

21 – 23 June / Frankfurt, im Rebstockpark

Live music, discussions in the forum tent, children’s program, performances by numerous artists, as well as the popular bazaar with African food and handicrafts

www.afrikanisches-kulturfest.de

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International KENTE Festival 2019

21 – 23 June/Hamburg, MARKK & Kulturhof Dulsberg


Experience the Beautiful Colours of Kente – its origin, its purpose and meanings behind the colours

More Information
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Kenako-Festival Berlin

3 – 14 July / Berlin, Alexanderplatz

The flair of the African cultures comes to Berlin! Visitors can buy handmade art, clothing, cosmetics and food at the bazaar. The stage offers a cultural program of music, dance and theatre. In addition, What does Africa engagement look like in Germany? On the weekend of July 5th to 7th you will find answers to these and many more questions at the KENAKO Festival. Because on these days numerous organizations, associations and initiatives from all over Germany present their projects around Africa and the African Diaspora.

www.kenako-festival.de

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Afrikatage Heidelberg/Mannheim

9 June – 8 July / Heidelberg & Mannheim

Month-long varied programme featuring lectures, concerts, workshops, etc.

www.afrikatage.de

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Afrika-Fest Freudenstadt

29 – 30 June / Freudenstadt

With live music, African food and drink, and many stalls selling goods from the sunny continent, Freudenstadt changes for a weekend. Cosmopolitan and international, the city presents itself and shows that “fair trade city” is not just a title.

www.afrika-fest.info

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Afrika-Karibik-Festival Bayreuth 

20 – 22 July / Bayreuth, Maximilianstraße


The colourful festival offers a varied program of Africa and the Caribbean every year with concerts, films, workshops and an interesting program especially for the little ones. In addition to a rich concert program on two musical stages, there is a colourful bazaar with culinary specialties from various African and Caribbean regions, as well as sales stands that offer clothing, jewellery and pottery.

www.afro-karibik-festival.de

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Afrikatage Landshut

12 –14 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.

https://afrikatage-landshut.de

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International African Festival Tubingen

29 July – 4 August / Tubingen

The popular Ngoma Africa band will be among many acts expected to thrill fans at the 9th International African Festival in Tübingen. The band, followed by millions worldwide, is famous for driving audience crazy with “Extraordinary Rhythm” Bongo dance from East Africa / Photo: International African Festival Tubingen

 

Together we want to celebrate the African continent again with all its variety of culture, music, culinary specialties, fashion but also with its high potential for education, business, research and forward-looking partnerships.

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African Music Festival Emmendingen 

2 – 4 August / Emmendingen, Schlossplatz

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.

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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.

www.afrikaba.com

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Afrika Karibik Festival Aschaffenburg 

16 – 18 August / Aschaffenburg, Festplatz

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

www.karibik-festival.de

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Afrikatage Duesseldorf 

2 – 4 August/ Duesseldorf, Freizeitpark 

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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.

www.enije.com

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Afro Karibik Festival Frankfurt 

10 – 11 August/ Frankfurt/Main, Rebstockpark 

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.

www.afro-karibik.de

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Alafia – Afrika Festival Hamburg 

23 – 25 August / Hamburg, Große Bergstrasse

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.

www.alafia.de

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Nollywood Film Festival

30 August - 1 September /Frankfurt 

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. 

http://www.nollywoodawards.com/

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MitAfrika Festival

16 – 18 September / Cologne, Schockoladenmuseum

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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.

www.festival-mitafrika.com

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Afrika Film Festival Köln

19 – 29 September /Cologne 

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.

www.filme-aus-afrika.de

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