Africa Fest

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Celebrating two decades since its inception, Africa Fest returns with all the fixings. This year’s iteration features artists, musicians, craft vendors, cooks, storytellers and scholars, all united under the theme “Celebrating Africa’s Great Civilizations In The Diaspora.” With music from Tani Diakite & the Afrofunkstars, Atimevu and Jam Ak Jam, Africa Fest is a celebration of Madison’s African immigrant communities.

Saturday Fest Schedule:

Strides for Africa 10 am

Noon Drum Call: 12:00pm

Goongoo Peas (Carribean): 12:10pm

Sista Sensi & The Buds Raggae Band (Jamaica): 1:00pm

Opening Ceremony (Drum Call, Adornment, and Parade of Nations): 2:00pm

Afro Boricua Ensemble (Puerto Rico): 4:30pm

The Masquerade (Nigeria): 5:30pm

Mid-East by Mid-West (Morocco): 6:30pm

Atimevu (Ghana): 7:45pm

Tani Diakite & The Afrofunkstars(Mali): 9:00 pm

press release: Africa Fest’s 20th Anniversary! 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday, August 18, 2018, McPike Park (formerly Central Park), 202 S. Ingersoll Street

The African Association of Madison, Inc (AAM) in collaboration with UW Madison African Studies Program will produce AFRICA FEST 2018, a family event on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at Central Park in Madison. Central Park is located in a very supportive residential area of central Madison where one can walk, bike or bus to the event wherever possible.

This year is AFRICA FEST’s 20th Anniversary! Under the theme: “Celebrating Africa’s Great Civilizations In The Diaspora”. This year’s festival will feature traditional adornments that will be reflective of the great kingdoms of Africa.  The festival is a community-based cultural and educational event devoted to grassroots cultural heritage to feature musicians, artists, performers, cooks, craftspeople, and scholars who will demonstrate, present, and discuss the cultural traditions of African immigrants. The diverse audience expected from in and around Dane County will consist of children, students, and members of academia, news media, arts enthusiasts and other members of the Madison community and its environs who are interested in learning about the rich cultures of Africa from Africans.

Admission is free to the general public; donations are welcome.

“Strides For Africa” - a 5k run/walk for all ages kicks off the festival at 10:00 am.  Registration fees for this event provide funds for the construction of potable water wells in rural Africa.  These water projects have changed the lives of many people for the better in rural Ethiopia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda. We are counting on endearing public support and participation to continue to provide this invaluable supplement to these masses. Our major thanks go to MG&E -our Presenting Sponsor.

Next, African immigrants in the Madison area will sing songs, demonstrate crafts, tell stories, cook everyday and celebratory dishes, illustrate various occupational skills, discuss how they live their daily lives, and address issues of cultural identity, history, and heritage.

Food vendors, craft vendors of authentic African wares will be at the perimeter of the park to pamper your taste.  

Our sensational local groups and bands is led by Tani Diakite and the Afrofunk-Stars, Atimevu, Jam Ak Jam, Limanya, The Nigerian Masquerade, and other local cultural dance groups.

The “African Tent” - the new segment introduced four years ago is perfect in the park. As always, it is augmented with a physical representation of real Africa, portraying the Africa Fest theme.

A Pre-Fest Night is also scheduled for 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm Friday, August 17 at the same venue (McPike Park) this year, for sneak peaks of the Saturday event. Featured are Tani Diakite, Sista Sensi Reggae, Atimevu and All Africa Music Jamboree.

People come to AFRICA FEST for a variety of reasons. Some come to align with the rich African rhythms; others come to spiritually connect with their ancestry, or to study African culture as expressed in their everyday lives, or just to have fun. Whatever the motivation, one thing guaranteed is the experience for a deeper appreciation of Africa and Africans.

Visitors will join in and learn songs and dances at our performances; will be educated with the arts and crafts; and learn about grassroots African culture and traditions directly from Africans living in the Madison community. Presenters will share their skills and discuss their perspectives on the role of culture and family traditions in community building, and the potential for culture in bridging racial divides in the community.  

The African Association of Madison, Inc., founded in 1991 is a federally recognized non-profit organization. The association serves as a forum to unite in purpose and bring together people of African descent and friends of Africa in Madison and its vicinities. The Association seeks to safeguard and share the diverse heritage and traditions inherent in the rich cultures of Africa with the Wisconsin community. To achieve these goals, the Association is organizes AFRICA FEST annually as an opportunity for the community to learn about African culture and traditions directly from Africans.