For those travelling
to Africa, the sheer
scale and rich cultural diversity of the continent can be daunting. To that
end, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 cultural events to experience.
- Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougu
The Panafrican Film
and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso is the
festival that paved the way for the further development and international
recognition of African filmmakers. Introduced in 1969, it has become the
largest and most prestigious event of its kind on the continent, each year
drawing thousands of visitors and industry professionals from Africa and
abroad. The festival’s competition remains, however, exclusive to African
filmmakers, which fosters the growth of the film industry across African
countries, and encourages political and social dialogue across borders.
Accordingly, FESPACO organizes non-profit screenings in rural areas, enhancing
its instrumental role in Africa’s aspiring cinematic vision.
- Gnaoua World Music Festival
For four days, the
streets, beaches and historic sites of Essaouira, Morocco, echo the ancient
Gnaoua rhythms and traditions. The Gnaoua World Music Festival not
only assures that this rich African Islamic heritage reasserts its former
glory, but also injects traditional Gnaoua with a breath of new life through
Latin, jazz, Sufi and pop fusions, courtesy of the international artists that
come to exchange ideas and sounds with the Gnaoua maalems. Already in its
16th year, the festival is a true celebration of music and spirituality.
- National Arts Festival
For 11 days, the
small university city of Grahamstown, South Africa, comes
to life with the most ambitious art gathering in the African calendar. Both the
main and the fringe festivals offer a rich selection of drama, dance, film,
visual art and music from South African and international guests, as well as
workshops that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. The National Arts Festival also
shows great support to budding talent with its Young Artist Awards, while the
vibrant Village Green Fair complements the event with a showcase of
well-crafted local goods.
- Festival in the Desert
An annual platform
for the music of the Sahara’s nomadic Tuareg people, the Festival in the Desert has
seen some exceptional musicians visit its territory; Robert Plant, Ali Farka
Touré and Tinariwen have all made appearances. In defiance of the unrest in
Mali, the festival was awarded the 2013 Freemuse Award for championing free
musical expression.
- Lake of Stars Music Festival
Lake Malawi’s
nickname of the Lake of Stars lends its title to this international three-day
festival that each year takes over a new idyllic spot around its shores. A few
thousand festival-goers gather annually to listen to an exotic cocktail of
sounds, from Afropop to folk to beat-boxing, while simultaneously supporting
local charities, tourism and economic growth – the main goal for the Lake of Stars Music Festival.
- Cairo International Book Fair
The oldest and
biggest book fair of the Arab world, the Cairo International Book Fair is also
one of the most ambitious, reaching up to two million visitors a year. For
nearly three weeks, hundreds of booksellers from 35 countries gather to offer a
wide selection of material in Arabic, English and other languages, while
parallel events like lectures, poetry evenings and art performances spice up
the fair’s calendar. One can assume that it is not by chance that Egyptian
people are, according to the Head of the General Egyptian Book Organization,
among the biggest per capita book buyers in the world.
- Cairo International Film Festival
Cairo’s other
mega-scale event is also the Arab world’s oldest for international film,
already in its 36th year and counting. Inaugurated during Egypt’s golden age of
cinema, it has continued to support and promote Arab and international
film-making, with a Human Rights Competition, African Cinema, Tolerance &
Intolerance films, tributes and more. The Cairo
International Film Festival brings to its audience a wide spectrum of
cinematic choice that offers a break from the general regime of local and
Hollywood films. Though the festival was cancelled during 2011’s Egyptian
Revolution, it is now back.
- Harare International Festival of the Arts
The Zimbabwean
capital hosts one of the continent’s biggest art events, a week-long platform
of multi-disciplinary art and performance. Bringing together theater, dance,
music, circus, street performance, spoken word, visual arts, as well as an
audience with diverse cultural backgrounds and ideas, the Harare International Festival of the Arts is
a celebration of creativity and imagination which has managed to survive the
difficult socio-political and economic conditions that have plagued Zimbabwe over the
years.
- Zanzibar International Film Festival
The Zanzibar International Film Festival, or
Festival of the Dhow Countries is hailed as East Africa’s largest film, music
and arts festival. Each year, the festival takes over the island to screen film
submissions that reflect its theme, which changes annually.
From world
premieres to local shorts, the festival focuses on radical creation and
quality, rewarding excellence in a final night of awards. Artists from around
the continent and international guests draw the creative crowd with a series of
music events, performances, discussion panels, exhibitions, cultural tours and
workshops, turning this into a top attraction for Tanzania.
10. Dakar Biennial
Senegal’s Dak’Art – Biennale de l’Art Africain
Contemporain focuses on contemporary art from the African continent and the
African Diaspora. Celebrating its 10th edition in 20 years, over the years, the
event has showcased an intriguing palette of everything ranging from new media
to figurative art. Meanwhile, the Dak’Art OFF ensures “the freedom of artistic
expression and the democracy of visibility for all” with a series of
spontaneous, independent happenings around the main event.