Awesome Africa

Bio

The Awesome Africa International Arts Festival is a multi-dimensional and pioneering 'World Music' festival with a unique musical identity. It began in 1999 and has since featured 184 pan-African and international artists from 29 countries during its lifetime, as well as approximately 650 South African artists. It aims to create a community from the fragments of the African music industry and a showcase of heritage and musical freedom, giving power to the lyricists and musicans who move and give a voice to the people of their nations. Awesome Africa was the first festival in South Africa to mix musical genres and focus on nation-building. It includes pan-African 'world' styles, Afro-pop, jazz, rock, gospel, RnB, hip-hop, house and ambient DJs, as well as indigenous styles like isicathamiya and maskandi.

Awesome Africa is much more than a music festival, with CSI projects and skills transfer programmes being a high priority. The focus is on empowering cultures and communities through music and to create collaborations with International and African musicians. Awesome Africa has been extensively involved in the job creation, skills transfer and educational music workshops arena, which includes the promotion, awareness and appreciation of African musical cultures, the stimulation of economic development, working with local communities to identify growth opportunities, building capacity of local communities in identified areas, and involving the youth via the Awesome Africa Youth Outreach Marketing. Besides the branded festivals, Awesome Africa has also produced many concerts and cultural collaborations, both national and international, and are the producers of the WOMAD South Africa Festival.

ZADurban, South Africa
In operation since: 
1999

Contact

Awesome Festivals
Profile added by Music In Africa Foundation on 23 Apr 2015
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