Music programme
Thursday, 29th May 2025
Music stage, 2:00 pm
Farafina
THE LEGENDARY TRADITIONAL GROUP FROM BURKINA FASO
Farafina was one of the first traditional bands from West Africa to win over many fans with its live performances, for example at the unforgettable ‘Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday’ concert at London’s Wembley Stadium in 1988. Band founder Mahama Konaté left the group in 1991 and over the decades various musicians have joined the band for short or long periods of time. Today, the band is made up of artists from the so-called ‘Farafina School’, who keep the spirit of the band alive and thus also the balafon playing as a central element.
Music stage, 6:00 pm
Balu & Borumba
CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF RUMBA
Since 2021, Congolese rumba has been firmly registered as intangible heritage by UNESCO. Bandleader Jocely Balu, born in Kinshasa, revives the energetic atmosphere of the ‘maquis’ – the relevant bars and bistros – of the 1940s to 1970s by performing the hits, as well as his own compositions in this style, on stage. No wonder, because his mentor and teacher was none other than the great Wendo Kolosoy, who is regarded as the ‘father’ of Congolese rumba. So his concerts will not only remind you of him, but also of the unforgotten Papa Wemba.
Evening concert, 8:30 pm
HABIB KOITÉ, ALY KEÏTA, LAMINE CISSOKHO, MAMA KONÉ
WESTAFRICAN ROOTS UNPLUGGED
Mali’s exceptional guitarist and songwriter Habib Koité has teamed up with three experts in their field and created a new project ‘Mandé Sila’. With the balafon player Aly Keïta, the kora virtuoso Lamine Cissokho and the percussionist Mama Koné, he will delight his fans this time ‘unplugged’ and invite them on a unique musical journey to West Africa. He can count on the many years of stage experience of his fellow musicians. Aly Keïta, born in Abidjan, comes from a famous Malinké griot family, Lamine Cissokho from Senegal has already worked with a number of musicians such as Ballake Sissoko and Eric Bibb, and Habib has been working with Mama Koné from the Mopti region for a long time, including as a member of his band ‘Bamada’.
Evening concert, 10:00 pm
OMAR PENE & SUPER DIAMONO DE DAKAR
THE MBALAX LEGEND FROM SENEGAL
The singer is considered one of the most important Mbalax singers in his home country. He is revered as a legend and his voice is considered one of the most beautiful in West Africa. He founded his band ‘Super Diamono de Dakar’ in 1974. Pene influenced West African pop music just as much as Youssou N’Dour, who jokingly refers to him as his ‘rival’, but at the same time calls him a living legend of African music. Omar Pene also mixes elements of jazz, reggae and salsa into the classic Mbalax sound, which makes his music sound very varied. We can look forward to seeing this legend again after his last appearance in 2012! With his band Super Diamono de Dakar, he is simply one of the best live bands and will bring the atmosphere in the tent to boiling point!
Friday, 30th May 2025
Music stage, 2:00 pm
GANGBE BRASS BAND
´THE SOUND OF METAL´ – JÙJÚ, VOODOO & JAZZ FROM BENIN
“Gangbe”, translated from the “Fon” language of Benin, means: “The sound of metal”! The name could not be more apt for this multi-member big band from Benin, as brass instruments such as trumpets and saxophones dominate the sound of the ensemble. Once brought into the country by French colonial officers with their military bands, many local artists have discovered these instruments for themselves and created a new African style of ‘dance hall music’. Now celebrating their 30th anniversary on stage, they are guaranteed to invite the festival audience to a ‘Big Party’.
Music stage, 5:00 pm
SIÂN POTTOK
MAGIC SOUNDS FROM THE WORLD CITIZEN LADY
Siân Pottok is truly a citizen of the world. Her music unites all shades of her roots, from the Congo to Belgium, Austria and India. Born in Florida and raised in Indonesia, Paris has now become the centre of her life. She successfully completed her jazz studies at the conservatory there. She is just as popular on jazz stages as she is at world music festivals. As an expressive singer, she plays the ‘Kamele Ngoni’ – a West African harp – and has already supported artists such as Richard Bona and Fadda Freddy. Her recently released album “Deep Water” is in her ‘tour luggage’.
Evening concert, 8:30 pm
FAADA FREDDY
SOLO & UNPLUGGED
Faada Freddy aka Abdoul Fatah Seck has already proven that he can enchant and enthral with his voice alone during his last performances with his A-Cappela Band. Now, after ‘Gospel Journey’, his new solo album ‘Golden Cages’ has also been released on the market. Now the singer, who was born in Saint-Louis in Senegal in 1975, will face his audience without any accompanying musicians and thus ensure a sensational German premiere. With Afro-soul, blues and jazzy elements, he will present his unique skills with the support of his acoustic guitar. Usually on tour with his long-time partner N’Dongo D. and their Daara J Family, his hip-hop roots will certainly not be neglected. More than exciting!
Evening concert, 10:00 pm
ELIDA ALMEIDA
FINE GROOVES FROM THE CAPVERDIAN ISLAND SANTIAGO
Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida, born in Pedra Badejo on the Cape Verdean island of Santiago in 1993, grew up under simple conditions in the mountains of her home island and the neighbouring island of Maio. She began her singing career at the age of 17 in a church choir. Through smaller and larger concerts in local bars and festivals, she came to the attention of producer José da Silva, who had already worked with Cape Verdean legend Cesária Évora. She is one of the biggest voices in contemporary Cape Verdean music and is now back with her fifth album ‘Di Lonji’. With traditional grooves from Batuku, Morna or Funaná, she already thrilled the audience at the 29th International Africa Festival when she performed on the Open Stage.
Saturday, 31st May 2025
Music stage, 2:00 pm
EUSEBIA
CELEBRATING THE RHYTHMS OF MADAGASCAR
Eusébia Fatoma is the daughter of the famous Malagasy musician Jaojoby. He is considered the king of the ‘Salegy style’ beyond the borders of the island state. Together with him, she gained her first stage experience as a backing vocalist and dancer. She then launched her successful solo career in 2012 with her first album ‘Viavy Gazy’. Love, solidarity, nostalgic stories, but especially the strength and knowledge of the women of her home island are the themes in her songs. Carried by the powerful ‘Salegy’ rhythms from the north of Madagascar, her concerts are always an event.
Music stage, 5:00 pm
FOLA DADA
JAZZ, SOUL, AFROBEAT AND MORE
Fola Dada, born in Stuttgart in 1977 with Nigerian roots on her father’s side, actually began her career as a tap dancer. She is now regarded as one of the best jazz voices in Germany and was consequently honoured with the German Jazz Award in 2022. Seemingly weightless, she swings and walks unerringly between all genres from soul, jazz, Afrobeat and R&B to reggae, always creating a special atmosphere with her exceptional voice. She has just recorded and released her new album “Sisters & Brothers”.
Evening concert, 8:30 pm
YARIMA BLANCO Y SON LATINO
DANCE MUSIC FROM CUBA
During her studies at the music academy in Cuba, Yarima Blanco impressed not only her fellow students but also her professors with her skills on the tres cubano (Cuban instrument with 3 sides). She quickly made a career with this instrument and was part of the Cuban women’s orchestra ‘Anacaona’, in which she played successfully for ten years.
In 2015, she founded her own septet ‘Son Latino’, in which she combines various Cuban styles with a range of Latin American influences. She has also taken on the role of front woman and singer. The audience loves her charismatic voice and her band inspires with their typical Cuban style. We are looking forward to a hot festival debut with lots of danceable music!
Evening concert, 10:00 pm
RAÚL PAZ
LATINO-POP FROM CUBA
Raúl Paz was born in 1969 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, a city famous for its excellent tobacco and musicians. He is considered one of the most important representatives of contemporary Cuban music. Since the release of the album Mulata in 2003 (Naive), Raúl Paz has proved himself to be an innovator of traditional Cuban music, constantly influencing the new musical trends in his country. He played for the first time in 2005 at the 17th Africa Festival.
His music has captivated Cuban and international audiences with 14 albums and hundreds of concerts around the world. His new CD ‘Guajiro Chic’ will be released in February 2025, which he will present during his return to the festival. An evening to dance to!
Sunday, 1st June 2025
Music stage, 2:00 pm
GLADYS MWACHITI
THE VOICE FROM KENYA WITH A GREAT HEART AND SOUL
Born in Mombasa in 1986, she came to Germany at the age of 3 ½ and grew up in Munich. With role models such as Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston in her head, she quickly realised at a young age that she wanted to become a singer. Since then, she has led a children’s choir, taken singing lessons with Beyoncé’s former vocal coach David Lee Brewer and performed in various live shows, such as ‘X Factor 2011’. However, many will recognise her from the soundtrack of Disney’s ‘The Lion King’, to which she contributed the song ‘The Eternal Circle/Nants “Ingonyama” with Lebo M.
Music stage, 5:00 pm
MELANE
AFRO-RUMBA AND AFRO-POP WITH CONGOLESE ROOTS
Melane Nkounkolo, the current winner of the ‘Female Producer Prize 2024’, will be performing her first solo album ‘Mirrors & Windows’ at this year’s Africa Festival. Her first singles ‘Ubuntu’ and ‘I Am I’ already caused quite a stir in 2020 and 2021. No wonder, because her voice has already been appreciated by such greats as Tony Allen, Manu Dibango and Gentleman, whom she supported as a backing vocalist. Of course, ‘Show Me The Way’ by the legendary Papa Wemba is also part of her large repertoire of songs, as are other stories and experiences from her life that she would like to share with us.
Evening concert, 7:30 pm
Treesha
POWERFUL AFRICAN REGGAE GROOVES FROM KENYA
Treesha, aka Patricia Wambui Mwaura, has long been recognised as one of the great female reggae artists in the mostly male-dominated scene. Her gifted voice was born in her native Nairobi – like her middle name ‘Wambui’, the ‘singer of songs’ in the Kikuyu language. She was already in demand as a soloist in her church’s gospel choir at the age of eight. She now tours as a sought-after backing vocalist with Gentleman, among others, and is working on her own solo career. She recorded her latest album ‘Love, Scars N’ Attitude’ in 2024. With reggae, RnB, dance hall and lots of African soul, she will inspire us all, as she did recently at the Federal President’s Citizens’ Festival in Berlin!
Evening concert, 9:00 pm
MARLEY’S GHOST & FRIENDS FEAT. FRANK DELLÉ
CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF BOB MARLEY
Germany‘s long-time reggae icon Sebastian Sturm has joined forces with his friend Frank Dellé and is to celebrate the 80th birthday of the unforgettable reggae legend Bob Marley in 2025. Sebastian Sturm, born in Aachen in 1980 with Indonesian roots, dedicated himself to roots reggae from an early age. Whether with his own band, Marley‘s Ghost or Klub Kartell, he has been thrilling audiences for years. Frank Allessa Dellé, a native of Berlin who spent six years of his childhood in Ghana, has been the frontman and singer of the band Seeed for many years and is also active as a solo artist. With the support of a first-class band, they will revive the unforgotten ‘Songs of Freedom’.
Framework programme
Photo exhibition: BOB MARLEY – THE KING OF REGGAE
EXHIBITION WITH PHOTOS BY ADRIAN BOOT
© Photo: Nathalie Delon / Urbanimage
Bob Marley with Junior Marvin, Jacob Miller and Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, on their trip to Brazil in 1980.
Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley would have celebrated his eightieth birthday this year. Born on 6 February 1945 in Nine Miles, Saint Ann Parish, he is undisputedly the most important artist and ‘founder’ of reggae music. All his albums and songs, such as ‘Get Up Stand Up’, ‘No Woman, No Cry’ and ‘Could You Beloved’, are classics of the scene. He has become a source of inspiration for many people and artists. His music has sold more than 75 million records to date. This makes him one of the musicians with the most records sold worldwide. His death from cancer on 11 May 1981 at the age of just 36 left more than just Jamaica in mourning. To honour his memory, we are showing a photo exhibition by renowned photographer Adrian Boot.
Adrian Boot, born in 1947, is regarded as one of the best and most renowned photographers in Great Britain, particularly in the music scene.
He came to professional photography by chance. In the early 1970s, he spent three years in Jamaica at the University of West Indies in Kingston and at Titchfield High School in Port Antonio as a lecturer specialising in physics. Back then, still an amateur photographer, he had the opportunity to photograph the still unknown local reggae scene up close. This led to a friendship with Bob Marley, of whom he took – now world-famous – pictures.
Chris Blackwell, friend, music producer and founder of Island Records, had the courage to invite the young Bob Marley and his band to London for his first recordings.This is how his ten legendary albums from ‘Catch A Fire’ (1973) to ‘Uprising’ (1980) were created. As Adrian had already been there, his photos were the first to be used for promotion and albums. This brought him to the attention of various music magazines and newspapers such as ‘Melody Maker’, ‘The Times’, ‘The Guardian’ and ‘The Face’, as well as many music stars such as the Sex Pistols and Sting, who appreciated his photographic eye. Further work has taken him to West Africa and India.
To mark the charismatic artist’s 50th birthday, Adrian Boot published the book ‘Bob Marley – Songs of Freedom’ in 1975. In it, the story of Marley’s life is accompanied by more than four hundred photos, illustrations and graphics as well as facsimiles of his musical lyrics.
The exhibition will take place from 16 May to 31 July 2025 at the University of Würzburg, Sanderring 2, 97070 Würzburg. Open: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., admission is free.
STAGE FOR TRADITIONAL MUSIC
BRIDGE Der deutschen Einheit, DO-SO
This year, visitors can once again experience traditional music from West Africa (Guinea, Gambia, Senegal and Ghana) every day under the Bridge of German Unity.It will be played on various instruments such as the djembé, doun-doun and balafon.
HAVANA CLUB & DJ CULTURE
Thursday – Saturday, 8:00 PM & Sunday, 7:00 PM
By popular demand, we have reopened the Havana Club. This time it will take place in the new multi-tent, which is equipped with a large dance floor and the appropriate lighting. The Havana Club is all about Cuban rum, Caribbean music and joie de vivre. All friends of reggae, Latino and Afro DJ music are cordially invited to dance again. At the Havana Club Bar you can once again sample various Cuban rum cocktails accompanied by hot music.
DJ Freegah will be spinning reggae and modern Afrobeats on Thursday and Saturday evenings, while on Friday evening he invites you to a Noche Latina. On Sunday evening, our DJ Hi John from Kingston, Jamaica will once again provide a hot atmosphere at his reggae party under the motto ‘Celebrating Bob Marley’.
All DJs will also be playing songs by Bob Marley on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
FASHION MADE IN AFRICA
Multi tent, THURSDAY: 4:00 PM AND FRIDAY – SUNDAY 12:45 AND 6:30 PM
The African fashion designer Rama Diaw from Saint Louis (Senegal) will once again be present at the Africa Festival with several fashion shows. To support her association ‘Aissaitou’, which brings together disadvantaged tailors, seamstresses and fabric dyers in the countryside and provides work, Afro Project is once again providing a free tent and organising the fashion shows. Madame Rama will once again present beautiful collections with various African fabrics.
The fashion shows will take place on Thursday at 16:00 and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 12:45 and 18:30 in the new multi tent.
CHILDREN´S PROGRAMME
KARI-BUNI WATOTO – Welcome children!
Daily 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
“Kari-buni Watoto – Welcome children!” is the name of the dedicated children’s area, where – thanks to the cooperation with s.Oliver – there will be a wide range of activities for children of all ages, including the City of Würzburg’s play package, a large bouncy castle, face painting and colouring. Away from the hustle and bustle of the festival, parents and grandparents can watch their children play while enjoying a cool drink or coffee. The children’s area is available to visitors of all ages free of charge.
Ibu story teller
Multi Tent, Daily 1:15 PM & additional sunday 3:00 PM
The children’s programme is an integral part of the Africa Festival. The author and musician Ibrahima Ndiaye from Senegal has a unique ability to inspire his young audience with a mixture of traditional storytelling, pantomime, percussion, dance and song. This time he tells stories from Africa of today and yesterday for tomorrow. Included are tales and black wisdom from his grandmother for young and old. You can listen to Ibu daily in the new multi tent at 1:15 PM and additional on Sunday at 3:00 PM.
ADESA – CHILDREN’S MUSICAL ‘RICE AND BEANS’
Multi Tent, Thursday – SATurday 3:00 PM
Alfred is a poor musician who struggles to earn a living playing street music in the shopping centre of a German city. On a sunny, warm summer’s day, Alfred meets the funny Kofi from Ghana, who is visiting Germany for the first time. The two become best friends and musically tell bizarre stories from Africa and Europe with a lot of humour. As a result, they learn to understand each other and their cultures better.
BAZAAR AND CULINArY DELIGHTS
Daily 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
The bazaar again has a lot to offer: among other things, African musical instruments and CDs with traditional and modern African music. In addition, extraordinary clothes and fabrics, jewellery as well as sculptures, traditional masks, objects of art and everyday objects will provide enthusiasm. To indulge in culinary delights, the food area has African and oriental delicacies in store for you from Thursday to Sunday (11:00 – 11:00). This year you can enjoy dishes from Ethiopia, Morocco, Rwanda, Cameroon and Germany, among others.
the university tent at the Africa Festival
University Tent, daily 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
The University of Würzburg once again invites you to visit the ‘Unizelt’. Here you will be informed about various research projects with and in Africa. Presentations are planned on combating the dangerous worm disease schistosomiasis in Würzburg’s twin city Mwanza on Lake Victoria in Tanzania, on climate-friendly agriculture in East Africa, on the consequences of climate change in tropical Africa and on cooperation with museums in Egypt and Tunisia. German colonial history will be highlighted in particular. You can expect individual short tours and cosy tea talks to get into conversation with the researchers themselves about an often misunderstood and underestimated continent.
SOcIAL AND INNOVATIVE PROJECTS
Place of social and innovative projects, daily 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
On the place of initiatives we will again present selected and meaningful projects around Africa as well as print media. The projects presented by the initiatives this year take place in Malawi, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Guinea, Ghana, Tanzania and many more. The information stands are open daily from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
ARTE Cinema tent
ARTE movie programme @ Africa Festival 2025
The cultural broadcaster ARTE is once again a partner of the 36th Africa Festival. We are delighted to be showing special ARTE films on African culture and music in the ARTE cinema tent on the festival grounds again this year. An entire evening will be dedicated to the current view of colonial history, with two current documentaries and a discussion on the topic broadcast live into the ARTE cinema tent in the ARTE:SALOON. In addition, the ARTE film programme on the 80th birthday of reggae legend Bob Marley is dedicated to the origins of this music genre.
thursday, 29th MAy
8:15 PM Dreams made of fabric – women fashion designers from Sierra Leone
Dokumentary, ARTE/ZDF 2023, 43 Min.
9:15 PM Senegal´s solar heroines
Dokumentary, ARTE France 2023, 53 Min.
FRiday, 30th MAy
Theme evening: Africa and Europe – then and now
6:15 PM Africa‘s forgotten history – film premiere: Freedom fighter or human trafficker – who was Jan Conny?
Dokumentary, ARTE/ZDF 2025, 28 Min.
7:00 PM ARTE:SALOON Africa Special | Live from Frankfurt, 90 Min
8:45 PM The pearl throne – Cameroon‘s cultural heritage in German museums
Dokumentary, ZDF 2024, 53 Min.
Saturday, 31st may
8:15 PM Visions for peace in Africa: Chad – Maps for peace and Nigeria – Sowing peace at least
ARTE Report, ARTE 2019/2024, 2×24 Min.
9:15 PM Rasta Gracie and Jamaica`s healers
Dokumentary, ARTE/SWR 2023, 52 Min.
Sunday, 1st june
8:00 PM Ethiopia – Promised Land of the Rastafari
ARTE Report, ARTE 2019, 24 Min.
8:30 PM Bob Marley: One Love
Film, Paramount 2024, 107 Min.
