African music and traditions on display at the Africa Days Festival in Bucharest

The International Day of Africa marked on May 25th, celebrates the African continent, its role, diversity, cultural and spiritual wealth that brings it to the global context.

Ikhaya Drum Association and its partners will celebrate the 1^st edition of the “Africa Days Festival” special event in Bucharest not just one day but four days (May 25-28).

This festival aims at bringing the music and other traditional African art forms closer to the wide audience in Bucharest and Romania. “We want to contribute to changing mentalities and prejudices that often exist in Romania to the African continent and people of African origin,” the organizers say.

All those interested are expected in large number at the Culture House of Students and the Venus Park to take part in a series of actions designed to help them learn and discover things about Africa less known or accessible to them.

The festival the evening concerts are opened every day from 21.00 with a special concert offered by Ikhaya Band.

During the festival more exhibitions will be on display. Besides photos from different parts of Africa there are paintings and painted materials by Nyanga Queen Alina Avom Ossanga. Free entrance for all activities.

Permanent exhibitions will run at the Culture House of Students

Nyanga Queen Alina Avom Ossanga – Paintings, T-shirts and painted materials
Embassy of South Africa – Photos
Mark Oostendorp – Photos of South Africa in White and Black- Before 1994
Venus Park (The instructions are received at the Culture House of Students)
Interactive game: “How much do you know about Africa?” (Individual or group)

May 25
The Culture House of Students
16.00-17.00 International Day of Africa – Festival Opening
17.00-20.00 Human Library
18.00-19.00 Intercultural education workshop – focus on Africa
21.00-22.30 Ikahya Band concert

May 26

The Culture House of Students
16.00-17.30 Intercultual education workshop – focus on Africa (A.R.T. Fusion)
17.30-19.00 Film screening -State Examination (Dieudo Hamadi Congo)
18.00-19.00 Workshop –Traditional Dance from Rwanda (Daniel Ngarukie)
21.00-22.30 „Cercul Intreg-Cluj” Concert;
Daniel Ngarukie (Rwanda) Dance and Concert with Inanga Instruments

May 27
The Culture House of Students
16.00-17.30 Film screening- Exhume (Jolynn Minnaar-South Africa)
17.30-18.30 Intercultual education workshop – focus on Africa (Hillents)
18.30-19.00 Tudor Vintiloiu (photojournalist) – Presentation Photo Documentaries (Ghana, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Maroc)
17.00-18.00 Inanga Course (Rwanda traditional instrument)- Daniel Ngarukie
18.00-19.00 Workshop African Songs(Jim Pywell și Sally Ann Clark)
21.00-22.30 „Star Fix-Pitești” Concert and „Ikhaya Drum-București”;
West African Dance representation – Cercul Întreg
Concert with Kora instruments (Jim Pywell and Cercul Întreg)
Jam Session (The stage is open)
Venus Park
17.00-19.00 Percussion workshop (Ikhaya Drum)

 May 28
The Culture House of Students
14.30-15.00 George Popescu (photojournalist)– Photo Projection „Mauritania”
15.00-19.00 Human Library
15.00-16.30 Intercultual education workshop – focus on Africa (Hillents and A.R.T. Fusion)
16.30-19.00 Film screenings:
„Body Games. Capoeira and Origin” (Richard Pakleppa, Matthias Röhrig Assunção and Mestre Cobra Mansa-South Africa/UK/Brazil/Angola
Beach Boy (Emil Langballe- Marea Britanie/Kenya)
The National Youth Orchestra Kenya (Jim Pywell)
17.00-19.00 Traditional West African Dance Workshop – Papa Faye
(Senegal)
21.00-22.30 Ikhaya Drum(Bucharest), Cercul Întreg (Cluj) and Star Fix (Pitești) Concert
Venus Park
13.00-14.00 Workshop – Dance from West Africa”(Cercul Întreg)
14.00-16.00 Capoeira circle (Cercul Întreg-Cluj)
16.00-18.00 Percussion workshop (Ikhaya Drum)

The festival enjoys the financial support from AFCN (Administration of National Cultural Fund) and SCANDO Trading. The Ikhaya Drum partners in implementing the festival are A.R.T. Fusion, Full Circle, StarFix, One World Romania, Hillents and Embassy of South Africa to Romania.