Tropical African temperatures and a spell of winter weather with cool showers - the 19 th International Africa Festival in Würzburg on Whitsun had to offer a wide range of adverse weather conditions! However, nearly 80,000 visitors braved the elements. The music programme of the biggest European Festival for African culture and music was just as multifaceted as the weather.

The seven young musicians of the group Freshlyground provided the musical highlight on Whitsunday. Playing a mixture of driving rhythms and catchy tunes, seasoned by a dash of pop, the black and white South Africans won the hearts of 2,000 people listening to them. The band left the stage at midnight with the audience demanding four encores.  

Further musical main attractions were the singer Lura from the Capverdian Islands, Andy Palacio and his Garifuna Collective from the Middle American ministate Belize, and Ba Cissoko from Guinea with his group that generated sounds on the kora that could have come from a hard rock band. A total of about 250 musicians appeared on stage in the course of the Africa Festival.

The festival finished with a Day against Racism. 1,000 black and white balloons were already launched during the first festival days, setting an example against discrimination. On Whitmonday, Afro-German musicians, among them this year's festival award-winning Adé Bantu, debated with the audience about the subject of racism. The Day against Racism was finished by a concert of four young German reggae bands that perfectly entertained a mostly young, enthusiastic audience.

The bazaar was well frequented during the four days, offering African jewellery, artefacts, drums and other music instruments in 80 stalls.

Afro Project, the organiser, is deeply satisfied with the course of the festival. There were no severe incidents. Just as the 18 forerunners, the 19 th International Africa Festival was again a peaceful get-together of ten thousands of people from different cultures and colours of the skin.

Next year, we will be celebrating the festival's 20 th birthday with a "best of" programme showing highlights of 19 years of Africa Festival!