WELCOME TO AFRO FESTIVAL 2023 –
KENYA: THE PRIDE OF AFRICA!
For over two decades, through popular and educational programs that promote African art and the protection of cultural heritage, the Afro Festival has been a place of gathering for museum lovers and the general public. During these days, the Museum of African Art turns into a beehive for art lovers – a place of gathering, the exchange of ideas and good vibes fuelled by discovering and delving into the various forms of creativity that come from the African continent.
As a result of the successful international cooperation established among the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia and the Museum of African Art, this year's guest of honour is the Republic of Kenya. The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Arts and Sports and the Kenya Cultural Centre will present the country’s rich cultural heritage with under the slogan Kenya – The Pride of Africa! Over thirty music and dance performers will share the spotlight, along with sale exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art and craft products, fashion design, textiles, and jewellery.
With the support of the African diplomatic community in Belgrade, specially arranged stands will evoke the diverse cultural, tourist and gastronomic treasure of Africa.
PRОGRАМME
Friday, June 23
>>18h
The first day of the festival and ceremonial opening of the exhibition:
"Art, In Spite of Everything – Contemporary African Art from the Ilija Gubić Collection”
Opening speech: Ivаnа Bаšičеvić Аntić, PhD, Director of the Museum of Naive and Marginal Art in Jagodina/Belgrade
Performances by Sounds of East Africa and NG Kids from Burundi in cooperation with SANU Musicological Institute
Saturday, 24 June
>>10:00-18:00
AFRICAN BAZAAR and KENYAN TREASURES
The African Bazaar offers visitors a wide variety of art, craft and souvenir items from all over Africa. In cooperation with local artists and creatives, we offer a selection of jewellery, textiles, clothing and accessories inspired by African motifs and designs. We especially invite you to join the great Kenyan market and this year's guests - vendors, artists and artisans from Kenya. Arts and crafts, clothing, jewellery and accessories, examples of basketry and leatherwork are made from natural and recycled materials respecting ecological standards of protection and sustainability of the natural environment.
>>10:00-18:00
"WORLD IN SERBIA" (WSSSR) STUDENTS' CORNER
Get your make-up done and afro-style look at our beauty corner – braiding and sale of extensions, Afro-style make-up, jewellery, accessories as well as shea butter beauty products. Join our African artists and create your own little work of art.
>>10:00-11:00
PRESENTATION OF THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION "WORLD IN SERBIA"
Traditional dance of Angola, Liyabona Phinzi singing South African songs, Sebenele Ndlovu singing songs from Swaziland and presentation of the artist Jonk Melisha from South Sudan.
>>11h & 13h
МАА TRADITIONAL DANCERS
Dance group from Kenya performance! Kenya is home to 43 ethnic groups that are proud of their traditional dance heritage. The dances are inspired by the landscape, natural environment and neighbours. The MAA dancers will present dances form the Great Rift Valley of Kenya.
>>12h & 14h
KENGE KENGE ORUTU SYSTEM
A fusion of rumba, afro-fusion and Ohangla - local musical styles of Kenya.
>>15:00-18:00
DЈ SТK
Born in Durban, South Africa, DJ STK will share the sounds of the hottest African genre amapian, with Afrobeat, dancehall and kizomba sets.
>>11:00-14:00
COME, DANCE WITH ME
Workshops for children
A special opportunity for children to join the instructors from the Student International Vision Association (SiVision), learn and try out traditional and urban choreographies of Africa.
POSTER ROLLER COASTER
Workshop for children
Children will create a paper poster by combining words and images based on their idea, searching for a successful design solution of shapes, colours and syllables.
>>11:00-17:00
MANCALA - BOARD GAME
Workshop for children and adults
Mancala is one of the oldest board games played in different variants on four continents: Africa, Asia, South and North America. Practice playing mancala in one of the spontaneous mini-tournaments and join the growing number of passionate fans of this board game.
>>11:00-13:00
AFRICAN TURBANS
Presentation and workshop for adults
Find out how and on what occasions African women wear turbans, what materials they are made of and why it is their favourite fashion accessory! Get ready for summer: learn several African turban tying styles from African batik fabrics! You are welcome to bring your own scarf: a sturdier cotton fabric, approximately 215x65cm. Programme author: Aleksandra Prodanović Bojović (ethnologist), demonstrators: Rose Thumbi from Kenya, Christiana Haruna from Nigeria.
>>14:00-17:00
COLOR AND MOTIFS OF KANGA FABRIC
Workshop for children
The colour and motifs of East African kanga fabrics will be the inspiration for the large-scale painting composition.
CAPOEIRA ANGOLA BELGRADO
Capoeira presentation with Afro-Brazilian rhythms
Members of Capoeira Angola Belgrado will present their skills in Capoeira Angola and Afro-Brazilian percussions.
Photo: Jovana Pantelić
>>16:00-17:00
Talk: CULTURAL DIPLOMACY, MUSEUMS AND ART
Participants: Ilija Gubić, collector, and Jovan Mladenović, art historian
Moderator: Aleksandra Gačić, curator
On the occasion of the exhibition Art, in Spite of Everything - contemporary African art from the collection of Ilija Gubić, we have prepared an open talk where the concept of cultural diplomacy will be viewed from a museological context. What is the role of museums in cultural diplomacy? How do artists, collectors, and other subjects in culture actively contribute to the achievement of cultural diplomacy? These are just some of the questions we will touch on!
Sunday, June 25
>>10:00-18:00
DURBАR, THE FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS
Day of Friendship, Music& Dance
With the participation of African embassies in Belgrade, in the pleasant garden of the Museum, this day celebrates African music, dance, crafts, art and culture. The embassies of Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Congo, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and the consulate of Jamaica are participants in this year's festival.
This years' guest of honour is Kenya, whose delegation is participating in the Afro Festival for the first time with sale exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art and craft products, fashion design, textiles, and jewellery.
>>10:00-18:00
AFRICAN BAZAAR and KENYAN TREASURES
The African Bazaar offers visitors a wide variety of art, craft and souvenir items from all over Africa. In cooperation with local artists and creatives, we offer a selection of jewellery, textiles, clothing and accessories inspired by African motifs and designs. We especially invite you to join the great Kenyan market and this year's guests - vendors, artists and artisans from Kenya. Arts and crafts, clothing, jewellery and accessories, examples of basketry and leatherwork are made from natural and recycled materials respecting ecological standards of protection and sustainability of the natural environment.
>>10:30
THE "IMPRESSIONS OF AFRICA" ART COMPETITION AWARD CEREMONY
Award ceremony for the most successful works of the art competition chosen from among hundreds of participants.
>>10:55
PROMOTION OF THE "YOUTH AMBASSADOR" PROGRAM OF THE SIVISION STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Formal presentation of the Student International Vision (SiVision) association and students who have been selected as youth ambassadors as part of the "Youth Ambassadorship" programme.
>> 10:00-18:00
"WORLD IN SERBIA" (WSSSR) STUDENTS' CORNER
Get your make-up done and afro-style look at our beauty corner – braiding and sale of extensions, Afro-style make-up, jewellery, accessories as well as shea butter beauty products. Join our African artists and create your own little work of art.
>>11:00-14:00
COME, DANCE WITH ME
Workshops for children
A special opportunity for children to join the instructors from the Student International Vision Association (SiVision), learn and try out traditional and urban choreographies of Africa.
POSTER ROLLER COASTER
Workshop for children
Children will create a paper poster by combining words and images based on their idea, searching for a successful design solution of shapes, colours and syllables.
>>11:00-13:00
AFRICAN TURBANS
Presentation and workshop for adults
Find out how and on what occasions African women wear turbans, what materials they are made of and why it is their favourite fashion accessory! Get ready for summer: learn several African turban tying styles from African batik fabrics! You are welcome to bring your own scarf: a sturdier cotton fabric, approximately 215x65cm. Programme author: Aleksandra Prodanović Bojović (ethnologist), demonstrators: Rose Thumbi from Kenya, Christiana Haruna from Nigeria.
>>11:00-17:00
MANCALA - BOARD GAME
Workshop for children and adults
Mankala is one of the oldest board games played in different variants on four continents: Africa, Asia, South and North America. Practice playing mancala in one of the spontaneous mini-tournaments and join the growing number of passionate fans of this board game.
>>11:30
МАА TRADITIONAL DANCERS
Dance group from Kenya performance! Kenya is home to 43 ethnic groups that are proud of their traditional dance heritage. The dances are inspired by the landscape, natural environment and neighbours. The MAA dancers will present dances form the Great Rift Valley of Kenya.
>>12:00
OFFICIAL AFRO FESTIVAL 2023 CEREMONY
In the presence of high-ranking dignitaries, representatives of the diplomatic community and the media, visitors will be addressed by the organizers, representatives of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Arts and Sports of the Republic of Kenya and the Kenya Cultural Centre.
>>12:45
KENGE KENGE ORUTU SYSTEM
A fusion of rumba, afro-fusion and Ohangla - local musical styles of Kenya
>>15:00-18:00
DЈ SТK
Born in Durban, South Africa, DJ STK will share the sounds of the hottest African genre amapian, with Afrobeat, dancehall and kizomba sets.
>>14:00-17:00
COLOR AND MOTIFS OF KANGA FABRIC
Workshop for children
The colour and motifs of East African kanga fabrics will be the inspiration for the large-scale painting composition.
CAPOEIRA ANGOLA BELGRADO
Capoeira presentation with Afro-Brazilian rhythms
Members of Capoeira Angola Belgrado will present their skills in Capoeira Angola and Afro-Brazilian percussions.
Photo: Marija Piroški
>>16:00-17:00
ART, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING – CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FROM THE ILIJA GUBIĆ COLLECTION
Inspired by the life stories and social contexts in which African artists work, with this exhibition we wanted to send a message that the seemingly insurmountable obstacles of the modern world such as war conflicts, ethnic tensions, low living standards, climate etc. fail to quash the urge for creative expression. The ideas that their art works convey, defy geopolitical frameworks and resonate around the world, their messages leaving a cultural imprint on the global artistic scene.
Guided tour of the exhibition by Аlеksаndrа Gаčić, curator
Program realisation:
Museum of African Art, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Arts and Sports and the Kenya Cultural Centre.
Buy your ticket at the Museum on Festival days.
Price: 300 RSD
Entrance is free for children under 6 years of age.
The MAA garden is pet friendly. 
Аfro Festival 2023 - Invitation
