Festivals

It was thirty years ago when Dr Stefan Oschmann and Ali Schuster, two young German men, initiated the International Afro Roots Festival, popularly known as  International Africa Festival, with the aim of bringing the music and culture of Africa to Germans. The story of the event, which has meanwhile become the biggest of its kind in Europe and last year …

For the first time, a literary festival devoted to the work of African writers will hold in Germany. From 26-28 April, more than 35 African writers will gather in Berlin for the African Book Festival, featuring readings, poetry, spoken word and theatre performances, panel discussions, book signings and networking events. Among the writers expected in the German capital city are …

Within a few years, the Sahel has become a region characterized by a dangerous entanglement of fundamentalist religion, terrorism and politics. From 13 – 19 November, the tenth edition of AFRIKAMERA – Latest Cinema from Africa presents a selection of current feature and documentary films addressing the political and societal challenges of the region in West Africa against this socio-political …

The number of African governments selling land to foreign investors has increased dramatically over the past decade. As the Africa Film Festival in Cologne showed, many filmmakers are now tackling the difficult subject in their work, reports Aude Gensbittel. “How can they say the land is not ours?” asks Okello O to the camera, horrified. “Our ancestors are buried here, …

The biggest festival dedicated to African filmmaking in Germany marks an important milestone from 21 September to 1 October 2017. About 80 new feature films, documentary films and short films will be presented in the presence of 20 directors as Afrika Film Festival celebrates 25 years of its existence in Cologne. Already the prologue of the Africa Film Festival has …

Around 200 authors from over 40 countries are expected to attend the Berlin International Literature Festival on 6 – 16 September to consider the current challenges facing literature. Among leading writers expected to attend the festival are India’s Arundhati Roy, France’s Yasmina Reza and the US’s Donna Leon with authors presenting new works at about 100 events, organizers said. Now …

The annual summer season of African music and culture in Germany, which has been in full swing since April, is slowly nearing its close. However, there are still some outstanding festivals still to take place. Here are 7 Top Festivals, holding from now until the end of summer, promising an unforgettable experience: Afrika Karibik Festival Aschaffenburg  10 – 13 August …

The biggest festival dedicated to African filmmaking in Germany will mark an important milestone from 21 September to 1 October 2017. About 80 new feature films, documentary films and short films will be presented in the presence of 20 directors as Afrika Film Festival celebrates 25 years of its existence in Cologne. In June 1992, the organisation FilmInitiativ Köln e.V. …

From Friday, 4 to Sunday, 6 August, the German town of Emmendingen is once again the focus of African culture and, above all, the music of the continent. The African Music Festival kicks off on Friday with the relaxed rhythms of Salsa and Latin. Soneros de Verdad will once again be entertaining on this evening. Latin & Afro Cuban music …

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 …

All roads lead to the southern German city of Munich on Saturday, 22 July for the Yoruba Cultural Festival 2017. Guests from Nigeria and across Europe are expected at the one-day event which will feature several activities, including cultural performances, an exhibition and a discussion forum. The occasion, which will be chaired by the Acting Head of Mission of the …

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. The African Music Festival will kick off on Friday, 4 August with the …

The annual Africa Festival in Würzburg, Germany, offers many musical highlights from the African continent. This year, young artists from Senegal and Cape Verde were the main attractions. The 4-day event, the largest festival of African culture in Europe, took place on 25-28 May. Each year, the organizers of the Würzburg Africa Festival search for exciting African musicians. In almost …

Europe’s biggest event for African music and culture kicks off on Thursday, 25 May in the city of Würzburg. The 29th International Africa Festival, which parades like every year the best of African artists, features a variety of events to make it a must visit for fans of African cultural expressions. From 25-28 May, Würzburg will once again play hosts …

The Swiss town of Winterthur will once again play hosts to artists from Africa, Europe and the Caribbean and provide a unique theatre for the meeting of Africa and its Diaspora. Afro-Pfingsten World Music Festival in Winterthur is back this year! The biggest African cultural jamboree in Switzerland, which was missing on the calendar last year, is staging a come-back …

The annual summer season of African music and culture in Germany is on with various events, including live concerts and parading the crème de la crème of artistes from the continent and the Diaspora. Here are the top festivals: Black International Cinema Berlin │ 12-14 May/Berlin, Haus der Demokratie │ www.black-international-cinema.com African Food Festival Berlin │20-21 May / Alt-Stralau 1, …

When Sembene Ousmane, the late grandfather of the African moving picture, described cinema as evening classes, he couldn’t have envisaged how many schools would emerge throughout Europe. Today, several European nations host more than one African film festival or major cultural event, reflecting Europe’s growing curiosity in an alternative, authentic view of Africa, while capturing Africa’s desire for self-expression.Many of …

Félicité, a story about a nightclub singer in Kinshasa who has to desperately find funds to pay for her son’s treatment after a road accident, won the top prize at Africa’s top film festival at the weekend. The film won the Étalon de Yennenga (Golden Yennenga Stallion) award at the 25th edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of …

The city of Frankfurt will again host the Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG) and its sister event Nollywood Europe Golden Award (NEGA) this year, director Isaac Izoya has announced. The yearly event, organized by Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V., features Nollywood (Nigerian) film screenings, an award ceremony and networking opportunities for filmmakers. Nomination for Nigerian films to be screened at this …

  The 25th edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) opened on Saturday, 25 February in the capital city of Burkina Faso. The theme of this year’s festival is “Training in Cinema and Audiovisual Trades”. Fespaco is one of the biggest film events on the African continent and it brings together African and international professionals and …