AFRICA CENTRE SUMMER FESTIVAL: LONDON’S ONE STOP SHOP FOR AFRICAN CULTURE

The 2018 Africa Centre Summer Festival sponsored by Ecobank and supported by Colourful Radio and the GLA – returns on Saturday 18 August taking over Great Suffolk Street. The 1 day event will consist of free music, dance, street food and family activities providing an array of African cultural entertainment.

Packing an impressive music line-up, music will come from around the African continent from Congo, to Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and more. Performances will be spread across the festival’s three stages to represent the best in traditional folk, new urban music and dance coming from and inspired by Africa contemporary music forms. Kanda Bongo Man; Nigerian singer-songwriter Dotman; Afri pop singer-songwriter Wiyaala withkologo master Atongo Zimba from Northern Ghana; avant-garde South African electronica from Okzharp & Manthe Ribane; talented teenage Black and Minority Ethnic classical musicians from Chineke! Junior Quartet are among the performers this year.

The music programme at this year’s festival is programmed by curator and Black Music specialist Elliott Jack; DJ, and presenter of BBC 4 series Africa: A Journey Into Music, Rita Ray; and founding member of the youth initiative, The Young Africa Centre (YAC), Efosa Omorogbe. The vibrant dance programme has been curated by choreographer and UK Dance Ambassador Hakeem “Mr Impact” Onibudo. Recently appointed Director Kenneth Tharp said.

“Contemporary Africa is a powerhouse of creative energy. Nowhere reflects that creative force more strongly than the musical talents emerging from the continent”

Other festival highlights include:

A vibrant programme of dance, across all three stages, has been curated by Hakeem “Mr Impact” Onibudo with a special youth dance platform featuring 12 exciting youth companies from London, Reading and Wales.
125 stalls boasting an array of delicious food and world cuisine, as well as African-inspired goods including handmade jewellery, clothing, art, prints, hair and skincare products, literature, toys and homeware.

Saturday 18 August 2018 1pm-10pm