22nd Africa Festival / In league with the weather gods

22nd Africa Festival / In league with the weather gods

BERLIN, May 27, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ --

For another time the Africa Festival overran the mark of 100 000 visitors. At the end of the four-day-event, the organisers of Afro Project e.V. had welcomed 106 649 visitors. Again a new record was established: On Whit Sunday alone 44 075 people came to the festival. Never before there has been so many visitors on the Talavera Mainwiesen in one day. The previous one day record of 38 000 visitors from last year was clearly outnumbered. After the bad weather of the last weeks, the summerlike temperatures were surely a reason for many visitors to come to the festival ? of course besides the various attractions. And luckily, there were no incidents during the festival.

The musical highlight was without any doubt the concert of Youssou N´Dour on Whit Sunday in the circus tent which has been sold out for several weeks. During the first part of the concert, the superstar from Senegal presented his new CD ?Dakar ? Kingston? which includes new and old songs of Youssou N´Dour arranged in reggae style. On Monday, Youssou N´Dour who has been personally bonded with the Africa Festival for many years, was honoured with the Festival Award 2010 by the organisers for his political commitment. During a public press conference, he commented on social and political questions concerning Africa in the restauration tent which was filled with several hundreds of visitors. This kind of new presentation could be continued during future festivals.

As host country of the first football world championship on the African continent, South Africa was this year´s country of honour ? not only in the music programme. Vusi Mahlasela guaranteed with his expressive songs an impressive kick off, Freshlyground celebrated a wonderful party with the audience and on the open stage Tidal Waves offered a rock reggae version while Kwani Experience presented a new way of Afro fusion. With a big delegation the South African minister for art and culture Lulu Xingwana visited the Africa Festival and was happy about great concerts of her fellow countrymen, including the Afrosoul diva Lira.

A fulminant last point was set by the Seeed singer Frank Dellé with his band whose reggae grooves could not keep the audience still.

The round about 100 salespeople on the bazaar who were blessed with good turnovers because of the big reception of the visitors, were happy. The panel discussions which are by now an inherent part of the festival, attracted again many interested listeners.

The date for the 23rd Africa Festival is already set: it will take place from June 2nd to June 5th 2011.

For all who could not come to the festival or did not get a ticket, there is a little consolation: The concerts of Chiwoniso & Max Wild, Freshlyground, Mariana Ramos and Youssou N´Dour have been shooted by ARTE and can be watched for the next days in the internet under http://liveweb.arte.tv. ARTE also shows the concert of Youssou N´Dour on TV on Thursday, June 17th at 11.40 pm.

Source: International Africa Festival

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