37. Africa Festival – Evening programme

Evening programme, 20:30

Fafa Ruffino

POWERFUL AFRO VIBES & GROOVES FROM BENIN

Ahouefa “Fafa” Ruffino was awarded the coveted Africa Festival Award in 2024 alongside Moh Kouyaté at the 35th Africa Festival. She received the award in particular for her commitment to combating genital mutilation of young girls and women on the African continent. Since the beginning of her musical career, she has also used her music to campaign for the rights of African women, sometimes as a solo artist, sometimes as a permanent member of the women’s collective “Les Amazones de Afrique.” Raised in Benin, the powerful singer has now put down roots in various countries, from Ghana to France to Germany, where one of her brothers lives. Now, at the 37th Africa Festival, she will present her new, current album with a large accompanying band. We can look forward to a more than lively start to the festival!

Evening programme, 22:00

LOKUA KANZA & GUESTS

THE WONDERFUL SONGWRITER FROM KINSHASA

Pascal Lokua Kanza first enchanted festival audiences in 1998 at the 7th Africa Festival on the Mainwiesen. His wonderful voice and his acoustic guitar playing are always at the center of his performances. He is accompanied by a small backing choir, often consisting of his musical family, including his brother Didier Ekukan and daughter Maleika Lokua, but sometimes also by a larger band, as was the case at the 34th Africa Festival in 2023, with talented musicians from his hometown of Kinshasa that he brought together himself. Now, at over sixty years of age, he can look back on a long career that has taken him from collaborations with Manu Dibango in his “Soul Makossa Gang” and Ray Lema in the “Bwana Zoulou Gang” to his first solo album in 1993. It was a special honor for him to compose and write several pieces for Miriam Makeba’s album “Homeland.”

We are looking forward to seeing who he will be sharing the stage with this time.

Evening programme, 20:30 Uhr

JAHCOUSTIX

POSITIVE ACOUSTIC REGGAE VIBES FROM GERMANY

Jahcoustix, alias Dominik Haas, born in Bonn in 1978, was the son of a diplomat and had a cosmopolitan upbringing from an early age. Whether in Egypt, Ghana, or the countries of East Africa, he always found a home for a while. His experiences there, as well as on his later tours around the world, sharpened his view of world politics and the social conditions under which people on different continents have to live. These impressions are repeatedly reflected in the themes of his songs. In 2025, the committed songwriter, who has dedicated himself to reggae vibes, celebrated his 25th anniversary on stage. In 2026, he will release his ninth studio album and present it to us with great passion, also as a long-time supporter of the Africa Festival.

Evening programme, 22:00

made kuti

THE NEW AFROBEAT FUTURE FROM THE GRANDSON OF FELA

Made Kuti, grandson of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and son of Femi Kuti, grew up in “The New African Shrine,” the legendary music club owned by the Fela family in Lagos, Nigeria. Surrounded by the sounds and rhythms of Afrobeat, he picked up the saxophone, just like his father did as a child, and at the age of eight he was already accompanying his father in his “Positive Force” band. On April 4, 2021, the time had come. With his own backing band “The Movement,” he opened the evening program for the popular “Sunday Jump” at the Shrine as the headliner. Musically, as an artist of a younger generation, his Afrobeat fuses new shades with jazz and rock elements while remaining true to the spirit of Fela and his father’s legacy. Together with his father, he released his debut album “For(e)Ward” in 2021.

Evening programme, 20:30

AMI WARNING

REGGAE VIBES & GERMAN AFRO-SOUL 

Ami Warning has been thrilling festival audiences with her music and wonderful performances since the 28th Africa Festival. Sometimes unplugged, sometimes with her well-rehearsed backing band, or, most recently, together with her father Wally Warning, who sadly passed away far too early in September 2025, at the 35th Africa Festival in 2024. From childhood onwards, Wally was not only her loving father, but also her mentor when it came to her musical career. Most recently, they recorded their current album “Wally & Ami Warning Live” together. She moves seemingly effortlessly between all styles and sings her songs sometimes in English (‘Jungle’) and sometimes in German (“Auszeit”). We can look forward to another very special concert from her.

Evening programme, 22:00

Angélique Kidjo

THE MULTI GRAMMY AWARD WINNER IKON WITH NEW VIBES

The artist from Benin in West Africa, who has won several coveted Grammy Awards and has performed many times at the Africa Festival, will present her new album “Hope” to the festival audience in 2026. She is now probably the best-known singer from the African continent internationally and has no problem building musical bridges, whether in collaboration with artists such as Carlos Santana or in remake projects, such as her interpretation of the Talking Heads’ “Remain In Light” album. She has now been in the studio with Fally Ipuda X The Cavcemen and Sheila Maurice-Grey (“Kokoroko”), among others. The single release “Nadi Balance” gives us a little taste of the musical treats we can look forward to, and her hits such as “Agolo” will certainly not be neglected.