We had an amazing weekend of sublime music from all over Africa with dance, Afro-Welsh performances, workshops, film, an art/photography exhibition, and much more! A true celebration of Africa in Wales!
Dathliad Cymru-Affrica (meaning ‘Wales-Africa celebration’ in Welsh) 2023 brought a pan-African arts festival to Cardiff. The weekend was a celebration of the richness of diversity in Wales, specifically African diaspora culture and arts. We had guest bands from Africa (Mali, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo), plus African artists based in Wales and from across the UK.
Venues: The Wales Millennium Centre’s Weston Studio, Cabaret, & Glanfa stage
SATURDAY 10th JUNE
WESTON STUDIO
3.30pm HANISHA SOLOMON (Ethiopia)
5pm THE SUCCESSORS OF THE MANDINGUE ALL STARS & EVE GOODMAN (West Africa/Wales)
6.30pm RASHA (Sudan)
8pm MATUKI (The Gambia/UK)
9.30pm KANDA BONGO MAN (Democratic Republic of Congo)
GLANFA STAGE
1pm THE SUCCESSORS OF THE MANDINGUE ALL STARS opening
2pm Storytelling with BEVIN MAGAMA (Zimbabwe/Wales)
4.30pm Poetry Corner with DES MANNAY (Wales via Sierra Leone)
5.30pm NAWARIS dance group (Sudan/Wales)
5.40pm Fashion Show curated by SHARON KOSTINI and TIJESUNIMI OLAKOJO (The Creative Plug Cardiff)
CABARET STAGE
10.45am Djembe, Djembe, Djembe! workshops*
1.45pm West African Dance workshop with OUMAR ALMAMY CAMARA (Guinea)*
3pm OASIS ONE WORLD CHOIR (International/Wales)
3.30pm Urban Circle Film: The Start of HUMANiTREE
4.30pm Balafon Origins – film screening
6.30pm LILY WEBBE (Wales)
7.30pm KORASON (Wales)
7.50pm ethchedbright (Wales)
9pm IFY IWOBI (Wales/Nigeria)
11pm ADJUA (Wales/Ghana)
FFWRNAIS BAR CWTSH
12 noon University of Wales Trinity Saint Davids & Global Humanity for Peace Institute
SUNDAY 11th JUNE
WESTON STUDIO
3.30pm BANTU ARTS (Uganda)
5.30pm AGMAR BAND (Morocco)
8pm AFRO CLUSTER (Wales)
9.30pm BASSEKOU KOUYATÉ & NGONI BA (Mali)
GLANFA STAGE
12 noon LIZ IKAMBA (Wales/Democratic Republic of Congo)
12.30 Shiko & WOMP drumming (Wales)
3pm AFJ Cardiff dance performance (AfroJam)
7pm KRYSTAL LOWE & AIDA DIOP dance collaboration (Bermuda/Wales/Senegal)
CABARET STAGE
11am Ethiopian Dance workshop with ADI DETEMO*
1.00pm Voice and body percussion workshop with LIZ IKAMBA*
2pm Afrobeat Afternoon with MORACK, OLOYE, DJANGO, and XWAGGARUNS
3.30pm Onismo Muhlanga film: Ancestors mewn Golau
4.30 Film presentation and Spoken Word workshop with ALI GOOLYAD*
6.30pm Tŷ Cerdd presents SEUN BABATOLA (AKA MISTA B)
7.30pm Tŷ Cerdd presents AISHA KIGS (Wales/Tanzania)
9pm RAHIM EL HABACHI & AYOUB BOUKHALFA (Morocco)
10.30pm BLANK FACE (Wales/Nigeria)
DAILY
Visual arts exhibition Celebrating Africa in Wales featuring SHARON COSTINI, GLENN EDWARDS, MFIKELA JEAN SAMUEL, TAIYE OMOKORE, EWA NOWICKI, and ETCHEDBRIGHT.
WORKSHOPS
