KAN Festival returns to Usa River in Tanzania this month

Highlights from the programme include live showcases by Kenya’s Nazizi and Tanzania’s DJ Skadi Gnako, Nikki wa ii, Grace Matata, Warriors from the East, Frankie Maston, Tara Jazz, DJ Hazuu and Richie Lumambo.

The programme will also feature creative activism panel discussions with development practitioners and artists, round tables with visual artists and filmmakers, art exhibitions, and film and storytelling sessions.

The activities are meant to encourage participants to create synergies, increase mutual understanding and approach development solutions from different angles.

This year, the organisers have introduced KANx, a youth platform that facilitates intergenerational dialogue and encourages new thinking and innovation. The organisers will also be holding the KAN Run, a jogging and cycling event running under the theme, Emerge! Healthy, Strong and Fit.

“The aim is to bring young people from various sectors and universities to not only network but share opportunities, examine challenges and collaborate in pursuit of a youth-centred development agenda and address youth challenges,” the organisers said.

“KANx also seeks to understand and identify youth-centric policy hindrances and capacity constraints that young people face in undertaking community-centred enterprises. The pilot of KAN Run is composed of 21, 10 and five kilometres, and a family run. Over 700 people and 300 cyclists are expected to join the running community.”

KAN is a pan-African gathering that brings together development practitioners and artists co-joined by a common agenda. The event seeks to create opportunities for mutual stimulation and collaborative analysis of social challenges such as teenage pregnancy, refugees, youth unemployment and corruption.

Tickets are available here.