<\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEvening concert, 10:00 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ELIDA ALMEIDA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n FINE GROOVES FROM THE CAPVERDIAN ISLAND SANTIAGO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nElida 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 Jos\u00e9 da Silva, who had already worked with Cape Verdean legend Ces\u00e1ria \u00c9vora. She is one of the biggest voices in contemporary Cape Verdean music and is now back with her fifth album \u2018Di Lonji\u2019. With traditional grooves from Batuku, Morna or Funan\u00e1, she already thrilled the audience at the 29th International Africa Festival when she performed on the Open Stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Saturday, 31st May 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Music stage, 2:00 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EUSEBIA <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
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CELEBRATING THE RHYTHMS OF MADAGASCAR <\/strong><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nEus\u00e9bia Fatoma is the daughter of the famous Malagasy musician Jaojoby. He is considered the king of the \u2018Salegy style\u2019 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 \u2018Viavy Gazy\u2019. 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 \u2018Salegy\u2019 rhythms from the north of Madagascar, her concerts are always an event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
Photo: \u00a9 Laurence Varlet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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Music stage, 5:00 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FOLA DADA <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nJAZZ, SOUL, AFROBEAT AND MORE <\/strong><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFola Dada, born in Stuttgart in 1977 with Nigerian roots on her father\u2019s 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 \u201cSisters & Brothers\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Photo: \u00a9 Annette Cardinale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Photos: \u00a9 Yarima Blanco y son Latino<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEvening concert, 8:30 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YARIMA BLANCO Y SON LATINO<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDANCE MUSIC FROM CUBA<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring 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 \u2018Anacaona\u2019, in which she played successfully for ten years.
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nPhotos: \u00a9 Heydy Montes de Oca <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEvening concert, 10:00 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RA\u00daL PAZ <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLATINO-POP FROM CUBA <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nRa\u00fal 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), Ra\u00fal 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.
Sunday, 1st June 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Music stage, 2:00 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GLADYS MWACHITI <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
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THE VOICE FROM KENYA WITH A GREAT HEART AND SOUL <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBorn in Mombasa in 1986, she came to Germany at the age of 3 \u00bd 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\u2019s choir, taken singing lessons with Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s former vocal coach David Lee Brewer and performed in various live shows, such as \u2018X Factor 2011\u2019. However, many will recognise her from the soundtrack of Disney\u2019s \u2018The Lion King\u2019, to which she contributed the song \u2018The Eternal Circle\/Nants \u201cIngonyama\u201d with Lebo M. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
Photo: \u00a9 Gladys Mwachit <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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Music stage, 5:00 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MELANE <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAFRO-RUMBA AND AFRO-POP WITH CONGOLESE ROOTS <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMelane Nkounkolo, the current winner of the \u2018Female Producer Prize 2024\u2019, will be performing her first solo album \u2018Mirrors & Windows\u2019 at this year\u2019s Africa Festival. Her first singles \u2018Ubuntu\u2019 and \u2018I Am I\u2019 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, \u2018Show Me The Way\u2019 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Photo: \u00a9 Edmund Heinzler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Photos: \u00a9 Bugs Steffen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEvening concert, 7:30 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treesha<\/h2>\n\n\n\n POWERFUL AFRICAN REGGAE GROOVES FROM KENYA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTreesha, 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 \u2018Wambui\u2019, the \u2018singer of songs\u2019 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 \u2018Love, Scars N\u2019 Attitude\u2019 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Photos: \u00a9 Marley\u00b4s Ghost<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
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MARLEY\u2019S GHOST & FRIENDS FEAT. FRANK DELL\u00c9 <\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nCELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF BOB MARLEY <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nGermany\u2018s long-time reggae icon Sebastian Sturm has joined forces with his friend Frank Dell\u00e9 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\u2018s Ghost or Klub Kartell, he has been thrilling audiences for years. Frank Allessa Dell\u00e9, 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 \u2018Songs of Freedom\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Framework programme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Photo exhibition: BOB MARLEY – THE KING OF REGGAE<\/h2>\n\n\n\nEXHIBITION WITH PHOTOS BY ADRIAN BOOT<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\nBob Marley with Junior Marvin, Jacob Miller and Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, on their trip to Brazil in 1980. <\/strong>Adrian Boot<\/strong>, born in 1947, is regarded as one of the best and most renowned photographers in Great Britain, particularly in the music scene. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHe 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2018Catch A Fire\u2019 (1973) to \u2018Uprising\u2019 (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 \u2018Melody Maker\u2019, \u2018The Times\u2019, \u2018The Guardian\u2019 and \u2018The Face\u2019, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To mark the charismatic artist\u2019s 50th birthday, Adrian Boot published the book \u2018Bob Marley – Songs of Freedom\u2019 in 1975. In it, the story of Marley\u2019s life is accompanied by more than four hundred photos, illustrations and graphics as well as facsimiles of his musical lyrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exhibition will take place from 16 May to 31 July 2025 at the University of W\u00fcrzburg, Sanderring 2, 97070 W\u00fcrzburg. Open: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., admission is free.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSTAGE FOR TRADITIONAL MUSIC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBRIDGE Der deutschen Einheit, DO-SO<\/h3>\n\n\n\nPhoto: \u00a9 Peter Schuhmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis 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 djemb\u00e9, doun-doun and balafon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HAVANA CLUB & DJ CULTURE <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThursday – Saturday, 8:00 PM & Sunday, 7:00 PM<\/h3>\n\n\n\nPhoto: \u00a9 Havana Club<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2018Celebrating Bob Marley\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All DJs will also be playing songs by Bob Marley on the occasion of his 80th birthday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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FASHION MADE IN AFRICA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMulti tent, THURSDAY: 4:00 PM AND FRIDAY – SUNDAY 12:45 AND 6:30 PM <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPhoto: \u00a9 Bugs Steffen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe 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 \u2018Aissaitou\u2019, 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.
CHILDREN\u00b4S PROGRAMME<\/h2>\n\n\n\nKARI-BUNI WATOTO \u2013 Welcome children! <\/h3>\n\n\n\nDaily 12:00 PM \u2013 6:00 PM<\/h3>\n\n\n\nPhoto: \u00a9 Bugs Steffen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cKari-buni Watoto \u2013 Welcome children!\u201d is the name of the dedicated children\u2019s area, where \u2013 thanks to the cooperation with s.Oliver \u2013 there will be a wide range of activities for children of all ages, including the City of W\u00fcrzburg\u2019s 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\u2019s area is available to visitors of all ages free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Ibu story teller <\/h3>\n\n\n\nMulti Tent, Daily 1:15 PM & additional sunday 3:00 PM<\/h3>\n\n\n\nPhoto: \u00a9 Bugs Steffen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe children\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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ADESA <\/strong>– CHILDREN\u2019S MUSICAL \u2018RICE AND BEANS\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMulti Tent, Thursday \u2013 SATurday 3:00 PM<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPhoto: \u00a9 Bugs Steffen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n