Arts & Design

Four African-Themed Events This October 

 

If you live in Africa or you’re planning to visit Africa soon, you can be certain of some fabulous time as festivals are kicking in from different parts of the continent. This month of October is busy with activities that combine sports, fashion and arts. Here are some of the festivals that you just don’t want to miss this month.

 

Cultural Urban Festival Africa, South Africa 

In South Africa, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and its partners has announced the launch of Cultural Urban Festival Africa (CUFA) Festival 2024, an extraordinary cultural celebration set to light up Mangaung, the City of Roses, from 3rd to 13th October. The CUFA Festival is one of Africa’s premier festivals, uniting music, sport, comedy, and culture in a spectacular 10-day experience. The festival is supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture through the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) strategy which among others seeks to increase the contribution of arts and culture to sustainable economic development.

 

Ake Arts and Books Festival, Nigeria 

In Nigeria, the Aké Arts and Books Festival (AABF) is a four-day literary phenomenon packed with excitement and adventure. A place to find booksellers and pacesetters, this annual event showcases the very best in contemporary African literature with slices of music, art, film and theatre.  AABF presents a rich and varied calendar with book chats, concerts, panels and author signing sessions.

International Bagamoyo Arts Festival, Tanzania

Tanzania’s largest festival takes place just north of the capital Dar Es Salaam and the music, dance and other performances stretch out over a full week. Originally a tiny event held under a mango tree under the auspices of the Bagamoyo College of Arts in 1982, this African festival kept growing and now takes place in East Africa’s largest venue, the TaSUBa Theatre. Expect to see both traditional and contemporary artists, and take advantage of the learning platforms and mutual cultural exchanges.

Bagamoyo is a coastal city that looks towards the island of Zanzibar, and it’s close to Saadani National Park, where you can meet wild animals on gorgeous unspoiled beaches.

 

Lamu festivals, Kenya

The island of Lamu is known to host a variety of festivals, the most famous being the Lamu Cultural Festival, which is held at the end of October to celebrate the Swahili culture. It features among others dhow and donkey races, the ancient game of Bao and Henna painting

 

Lamu Yoga Festival, a critical part of the festival, offers many classes and meditations, some on the beach. For followers of Islam – or those who wish to know more about it – the Maulidi Festival is also celebrated on the island in October, held to mark the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Lamu has many historical sites and tours, but is remarkable for its less crowded beaches, snorkelling, diving with dolphins and dhow trips. It’s your favourite safari destination. 

 

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *