Saturday, 26 & Sunday 27 June, 2021
The Afro Festival is one of the most important events of the Museum of African Art. Established in 1997, it has in time become known as the only Festival in the country and the wider region that promotes the rich cultural heritage and inexhaustible creativity of the African continent.
In addition to traditional museum contents such as exhibitions and public guided tours, the festival also offers an array of lectures and talks, concerts and travel programs, as well as music, dance and art workshops for children.
The doors of the museum are open to all visitors from 10 am to 6 pm, both days of the Festival!
PRОGRАМME
SATURDAY, 26 JUNE
10-18h
AFRICAN BAZAAR
Arts and crafts sale exhibition
The African Bazaar offers visitors a variety of arts, crafts and souvenirs from Africa.
11-14h & 14-17h
AFRICA FOR KIDS
Creative workshops for children
Through storytelling, painting textiles, dance and games, as well as learning about different materials that can be used to create a small work of art, a special creative space is set aside for an unforgettable day at the Festival for all our youngest visitors.
11-14h
- STORYTELLING STOOLS
- PROTECTING AND CREATING WITH RECYCABLES
14-17h
- CAPOEIRA АNGОLА – RHYTHM & MOVEMENT
- BASOTO MURAL PICTURES OF FLOWERS
11, 13 & 15h
PRАCТICUМ
Topical tours through the permanent display
Learn about some of the most beautiful examples of African art at the permanent exhibition of the Museum through stories about religion, rituals, social organization, art and the cultural heritage of West African peoples...
11h - “Myths and Legends of the Peoples of West Africa”
13h - “Remembrance Theatre – The Rituals of West African Peoples “
15h - “Forces of Discord and Unison – The Social Organization of the Peoples of West Africa”
*All tours are in Serbian
12h
RHYTHM OF THE DJEMBE
Music workshop for adults with “Djembija” Art & Culture Association
Djembija is a Cultural and Artistic Society that promotes, preserves and spreads West African music, rhythms and traditions. Djembija was founded in 2007 and since then has been organizing djembe and dundun percussion workshops, along with African dance workshops and the open Belgrade Drum Circle. In 2017, Djembija officially became a cultural and artistic society that gathers enthusiasts in this field of musical, organizes performances and workshops with masters of this craft from all over the world.
Mateja Miljački
Percussionist, engineer and producer Mateja Miljački, began his research on West African rhythm and percussion in the US with teachers: Milford Graves, Ibrahim Camara, Babatunde Olatunji, Alan Tauber, Mamady Keita, Famadou Konate, Babara Bangoura and then in Mali Mouctar Toure, Moussa Traore, Sega Cisse, Karim Coulibaly, Alisco Diabate, Sory Diabate, and other masters of this craft. Mateja has performed with traditional percussion and dance groups Benkadi, Timinandi, Troupe Sewa, as well as the afro-beat band SambaLolo. He dedicated his engineering and production work to young traditional groups in West Africa, where he founded the production group SambaLolo S.A.R.L. whose discography includes a dozen albums of traditional music. He founded the Djembija Cultural and Artistic Society in Belgrade, with the aim of promoting West African culture and cooperation with artists and other cultural and artistic societies in the region.
12-18h
МАNCАLА
Learn the rules of the board game and compete
Mancala is one of the oldest board games, played in different variants on four continents: Africa, Asia, South and North America.
13.30h
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.
14-18h
Combining African rhythms with contemporary pop hits DJ Ales is in charge of a chill festival vibe
Dj Ales has been actively involved in music for 30 years. In his career so far, he has worked with the biggest names in electronic music such as Dj Tiesta, Paul VanDyk, Paul Oakenfold and many others. He is known for more dynamic, as well as more elegant sets that mostly contain tribal, funk and disco elements.
16h
TRADITIONAL THEATRE PUPPETS OF MALI. From the Andrej Jerovšek Collection and the Collection of the Museum of African Art
Curator guided tour of the exhibition with Маriјa Мilоš
The long and rich tradition of puppet theatre inherited by the Republic of Mali originated in the region of Segou, where it still holds special importance in cultural life, providing powerful inspiration for the contemporary performing arts both on the national and on the international scene.
*The tour is in Serbian
17h
THE AFRICAN CONTINENT FROM A TRAVELLLER’S PERSPECTIVE
A conversation with Prof. Dr. Dragica Tomka, traveller and writer
Travel is always, in a way, an encounter with oneself. Meeting some part of yourself. When we indulge in travel, we find parts of our own soul. We open them, observe, shape and accept them, and so we grow. - Dragica Tomka
*The talk is in Serbian.
SUNDAY, 27 JUNE
10-18h
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, Guinea, Egypt, Congo, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and the consulate of Namibia are participants in this year's festival.
10-18h
AFRICAN BAZAAR
Arts and crafts sale exhibition
The African Bazaar offers visitors a variety of arts, crafts and souvenirs from Africa.
11-14h & 14-17h
AFRICA FOR KIDS
Creative workshops for children
Through storytelling, painting textiles, dance and games, as well as learning about different materials that can be used to create a small work of art, a special creative space is set aside for an unforgettable day at the Festival for all our youngest visitors.
11-14h
- STORYTELLING STOOLS
- PROTECTING AND CREATING WITH RECYCABLES
14-17h
- CAPOEIRA АNGОLА – RHYTHM & MOVEMENT
- BASOTO MURAL PICTURES OF FLOWERS
11, 13, 15 & 17h
PRАCТICUМ
Topical tours through the permanent display
Learn about some of the most beautiful examples of African art at the permanent exhibition of the Museum through stories about religion, rituals, social organization, art and the cultural heritage of West African peoples...
11h - “Art that Heals – Traditional Medicine of West African Peoples”
13h - “Catch the Rhythm! The Music of Africa”
15h - “’Between Heaven and Earth’ – Sacred Objects of West African Peoples”
17h - “Culture in Space. Manifestations of Life Philosophies in Dogon, Bamana and Fon Architecture”
12 noon
OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FESTIVAL
Official address of the Ambassador of Algeria H. E. Abdelhamid Chebchoub
12-18h
МАNCАLА
Learn the rules of the board game and compete
Mancala is one of the oldest board games, played in different variants on four continents: Africa, Asia, South and North America.
14-18h
Combining African rhythms with contemporary pop hits DJ Ales is in charge of a chill festival vibe
Dj Ales has been actively involved in music for 30 years. In his career so far, he has worked with the biggest names in electronic music such as Dj Tiesta, Paul VanDyk, Paul Oakenfold and many others. He is known for more dynamic, as well as more elegant sets that mostly contain tribal, funk and disco elements.
16h
TRADITIONAL THEATRE PUPPETS OF MALI. From the Andrej Jerovšek Collection and the Collection of the Museum of African Art
Curator guided tour of the exhibition with Маriјa Мilоš
The long and rich tradition of puppet theatre inherited by the Republic of Mali originated in the region of Segou, where it still holds special importance in cultural life, providing powerful inspiration for the contemporary performing arts both on the national and on the international scene.
*The tour is in English
Buy your ticket at the Museum on Festival days.
Price: 200 RSD
Entrance is free for children under 6 years of age.
The MAA garden is pet friendly 
*During the festival, all prescribed epidemiological measures will be maintained.
