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’.