AFRO FESTIVAL 2024
The Afro Festival was held in the Museum of African Art from Friday, June 29, to Sunday, June 30. Every year in the last weekend of June, the MAU garden becomes a beehive of sorts for the gathering of a vast museum audience as well as numerous other art and music buffs, tourists, the diplomatic community and the general public, becoming a place to meet, exchange ideas and good feelings fueled by the discovery different forms of creativity that come from the African continent.
Rich dance and musical program made Afro festival atmosphere great through the dance show by Donia Tembe Đurić, and music shows by Duo Libya, bend Avalski put, consisting of African students in Serbia, DJ Pen, Nego Zamba, guitarist, with the support of Embassy of Brazil in Serbia, Singidundun, school of drums, as well as by the presentation of the great star Marko Louis. As every year, within Afro festival we organized Bazaar, the sales exhibition offered visitors a wide variety of art, craft and souvenir items from the most diverse regions of Africa. In cooperation with local artists and creatives, we offer a selection of jewelry, textiles, clothing and accessories inspired by African motifs and designs.
The visitors had opportunity to enjoy in the exhibition “Zdravko Pečar – (Self)Portraits” and in a guided tours by Nemanja Radonjić and Ana Knežević, as well as in the exhibition of works from the IX art competition “Impressions of Africa”. In collaboration with Polish institute in Belgrade, the lecture dedicated to the electronic music in East Africa was held by Piot Cichocki. Art historian Dragica S. Jovanović held a lecture about West African traditional music, and in collaboration with Gabon consulate in Serbia, Paul Armand Mombey Indaki held a lecture about Bwiti/Bwete ritual. Special event during this Afro festival was a fashions show of Nigerian brands and designers, organized in collaboration with Central East European and West African Business Association. As every year, during this Afro festival, “Swahili language workshop” certificates were given, as well as awards for the best drawings within IX art competition “Impressions of Africa”.
During the whole day, creative workshops for children and adults organized by curators of the Museum were held, as well as a variety of educational and promotional programmes by association of African students in Belgrade World in Serbia (WSSSR) and the game mancala was played in the Museum garden.
With the invaluable participation of the African embassies in Belgrade, in the pleasant garden of the Museum, this day celebrated African music, dance, craftsmanship, art and culture. The embassies of Algeria, Angola, Brazil, Egypt, DR Congo, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia and Tunisia, as well as the consulate of Jamaica, Gabon and Namibia participated in this year's festival with richly decorated stands and an offer of traditional specialties. The highlight of the Festival, the so-called Durbar – day of friendship, music and dance – was held on Sunday, June 30. The visitors were addressed by Marija Aleksić, PhD, the director of the Museum of African Art, Mr Mohammed Amine Belhaj, the Dean of the Group of African Ambassadors as well as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Đuro Likar, Head of the Africa and Middle East Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and Stanko Blagojević, Assistant of the Minister of Culture for International Relations.
Photo: Marija Piroški
