Afropop Vignettes: Festivals Around the World

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Highlights from Afropop's reports on oustanding music festivals in
Mali, Zanzibar, New York and Detroit. AND...
a sampling of other great world music festivals worldwide!

The Latin Alternative Music Conference
New York City
July 8-12, 2008
LAMC is the only major conference geared towards the marketing of Spanish-language alternative music - the voice of today's Latinos. This four-day event providing networking opportunities with the genre's leading artists, label executives, journalists, managers, retailers and programmers, is the most extensive gathering of Latinos in entertainment to be offered by a music conference to date.

See Afropop’s 2006 LAMC coverage.

Sauti za Busara Music Festival

Stone Town, Zanzibar
February 12-17, 2009
The Sounds of Wisdom Swahili Music Festival is a cultural extravaganza showcasing the best in Swahili traditions from the past, present and future. Taking place annually in February at Forodhani Gardens on the seafront of Zanzibar's historic Stone Town, it is the friendliest festival on the planet. Visit Busara Promotions for details on this festival.

See Afropop’s 2004 Sauti Za Busara Festival coverage.

Concert of Colors Diversity Festival

Detroit, MI
July 17-20, 2008
Known as one of North America's largest free world music festivals, Concert of Colors has been going on strong for 14 years in Detroit, Michigan

See Afropop’s 2006 Concert of Colors coverage.

The SACRED WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Fes, Morocco
June 6-15, 2008
The Fes Festival is widely acclaimed as one of the world’s great musical events. Now in its 14th year, it brings together performers from every corner of our planet for a week of artistic excellence in Morocco ’s ancient holy city. It represents the spiritual heart of Islam – peaceful, pluralistic, generous and cheerful.

See Afropop’s 2004 Sacred World Music Festival coverage.

AFRICA OYÉ
Sefton Park, Liverpool, England
June 21^st and 22^nd, 2008

The largest free African music festival in the United Kingdom is celebrating their 14^th anniversary. This year Africa Oyé programmed a schedule filled with rare Caribbean gems, timeless African legends and debuting new world music talent.

Artists at Africa Oyé 2008:
Odemba OK Jazz (DR Congo)
Body, Mind and Soul (Malawi)

Bedouin Jerry Can Band (Egypt) Massukos (Mozambique)
Kenge Kenge (Kenya)
Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba (Mali)
Macka B & The Royale Roots Band (Jamaica/UK)
Candido Fabre y Su Banda (Cuba)

View full artist roster here

FESTIVAL ON THE NIGER

January 29- February 1, 2009

The Festival on the Niger offers a unique three-day spectacle, with music and dance from the region, as well as well-known West-African artists, who will play on the river Niger. The Festival brings together people from Segou, Mali and foreigners from all over the world, to discover one another and to learn from our differences. Check here soon for the 2009 program schedule.

Harbourfront Centre Summer Concert Series
Toronto, Ontario
June – July, 2008
Harbourfront Centre, on Toronto’s waterfront, is an innovative non profit cultural organization which creates events and activities of excellence that enliven, educate and entertain a diverse public. Harbourfront offers a plethora of entertaining and innovative programming covering the rich spectrum of cultures in Western Canada. Here’s a sampling of this summer’s season!

Featured Events:

Beats, Breaks & Culture, Huly 4-6
Ritmo Y Color, July 11-13
Island Soul, August 1-4

With Special Performances by:
Lee “Scratch” Perry
Monday, June 30, 9pm
Seun Kuti and Egypt 80
Wednesday, July 2, 9pm
Orchestra Baobab
Thursday, July 3, 9pm
and more!

Festival International Nuits d’Afrique
Montreal, Quebec
July 8-20, 2008
Many of the greatest names in world music have played on Festival International Nuits d’Afrique stages. Local artists from diverse cultural backgrounds are also vital contributors to Festival International Nuits d’Afrique. In many cases, the festival has been an important platform for some who might otherwise have few opportunities to promote their considerable talents.

First published: www.afropop.org

Afropop Vignettes: Festivals Around the World

Aired November 20, 2008

In the next installment of our ongoing celebration of Afropop's 20th anniversary, we travel to our favorite African music festivals. In terms of ambience and fantastic artists not yet known on the international world music festival circuit, they can't be beat. We travel to festivals in Stonetown, Zanzibar; New York City; Detroit; Dakar, Senegal; Fes, Morocco; Recife, Brazil and others to enjoy concert highlights and soak up the scene.

Discography