June 25-27th
The Afro Festival is a cultural event organized annually at the Museum of African Art. Since 1997 it has continued to perpetuate an atmosphere of a true cosmopolitan festivity not only in our country but the wider region as well. The festival communicates the appreciation of cultural diversity and the presentation of cultural heritage through different programs and activities. This year the Afro festival opens with a panel talk that focuses on African music.
Friday, June 25th
- Convener:
- Dragan Ambrozić
- Special guest Bojan Đorđević
- 19h Panel talk:
- ADRENALINE AFRICA
The contribution of African pop culture in the 20th century has been extremely intense and world music as a legitimate musical genre and product of global civilization has benefited Africa’s emancipation in the most unexpected ways. Participants of this panel talk will discuss the topic of African pop culture, especially those musical trends that have appeared in recent decades on the African continent.
Opening up towards world culture and global trends continues to leave its mark and has slowly become part of everyday cultural life in Belgrade. A number of topics emerge when speaking of the further promotion of cultural values of an increasingly diversified world and all the genres that materialize in the field of creativity and different cultural contents. The representations of Africa in our community are a particularly challenging task bearing in mind the nature of developing and maintaining relations with the African continent in a historical sense. However, the observation of contemporary musical trends, initiating discussion and open debate on the importance of African music on a global level in the last decades, as well as the presence and contents that local audiences have the opportunity to “experience” through applied cultural policies, are a few of the many topics that will be considered at the panel Adrenaline Africa, part of the Afro Festival 2010.
The program is realised with the support of Dom omladine Beograd
- 20.30h
- Film screening: A VISIT TO ALI FARKA TOURE by Marc Huraux
The film reveals the life of Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure – pioneer of desert blues, focusing at the same time on the different cultures and peoples living between the desert and the river Niger in northern Mali. In the film, Toure speaks about his life and beliefs which are firmly rooted in his heritage and which played a key role in his musical approach. As an integral part of Toure’s life, music dominates throughout the film.
Sale of music CDs throughout the event
Saturday, June 26th
entrance: 100 din.
- 10-18h
- AFRICAN BAZAAR
The African Bazaar is a sale exhibition of arts and crafts: masks, stone and wood sculpture, handmade and dyed textiles, paintings, batik, jewellery and decorative household objects.
- 13-18h
- GOOD HAIRDRESSER HERE!
The Hairdresser and Barbershop Signs in Africa exhibition by Nataša Njegovanović Ristić is complemented with the Good Hairdresser Here! program which will demonstrate African styles and hairdressing techniques made by African and Belgrade hairdressers that will create an African image for all interested visitors of the Afro Festival. Our special guests will participate in the program with henna body applications, reproducing a variety of patterns that appear in African body adornment. This will be an opportunity for you to adorn your face with a miniature mark of the planetary mundial – the World Cup in Sout Africa!
Sunday, June 27th
entrance: 100 din.
- 10-18h
- DURBAR DAY
The most important day of the Afro festival is Durbar day – the “Festival of Festivals”, day of friendship, music and dance. With the participation of the African embassies in Belgrade, and in the beautiful setting of the exterior of the Museum, the whole day is dedicated to the celebration of African music, dance, arts and crafts. Visitors enter the rich African world through symbols such as the kente from Ghana, kasai velvet of Congo, the djelabu and kaftan from the north of Africa, colourful arabesques from Egypt, indigo textiles from Guinea, printed textiles from Angola. With the courtesy of the African diplomatic community the visitors are able to enjoy the culinary specialities from different parts of Africa. Specially arranged stands featuring art, crafts, textile, jewellery and colourful woven carpets contribute to the spirit of the festival which provides an unforgettable glimpse into the cultural treasures of Africa.
- 13-18h
- GOOD HAIRDRESSER HERE!
The Hairdresser and Barbershop Signs in Africa exhibition by Nataša Njegovanović Ristić is complemented with the Good Hairdresser Here! program which will demonstrate African styles and hairdressing techniques made by African and Belgrade hairdressers that will create an African image for all interested visitors of the Afro Festival. Our special guests will participate in the program with henna body applications, reproducing a variety of patterns that appear in African body adornment. This will be an opportunity for you to adorn your face with a miniature mark of the planetary mundial – the World Cup in Sout Africa!
