Africa is known to be the home to some of the most diverse music and culture on earth, and some of the world’s best music gigs, from lakeside beach parties to surreal desert gatherings. Here are some Africa’s top music festivals to add to your festival bucket list.
Festival au Désert, Mali
It takes a lot of effort to get to the Malian desert, but if you’re an adventurous person then the Festival au Désert is definitely worth giving a try. Held on sand dunes near Timbuktu, this three-day festival has performances from award-winning Malian musicians such as Tinariwen, as well as other African acts and some international performers. This is probably Africa’s most glamorous festival: expect to share the dance floor with camels and turbaned desert nomads.
Up the Creek, South Africa
This quiet small, laid-back festival is all about the creek – also called the Breede River. There are stages on land, with blues, indie and rock bands, but the river stage is definitely the best part. Floating on a Lillo and splashing around on a dance floor in the river to your favourite bands is the best way to spend a summer weekend.
Sauti za Busara, Zanzibar
| cross section of audience at the festival |
Running for a decade, Sauti za Busara is East Africa’s largest music festival, with hundreds of musicians from all over the continent and performances in an open-air amphitheatre. Stone Town is awash with the sounds of the continent for four days as fringe performances – impromptu and planned – take place all over town.
| scene from the festival |
AfrikaBurn, South Africa
| another scene |
Africa’s answer to Burning Man, the popular event held also in the US, is more than a music festival: it is indeed a surreal world of art, music and performance in the Karoo desert. Thousands of festival goers participate voluntarily to provide entertainment (anything from a circus to DJs playing out of a giant purple bus) and give gifts, from cocktails to ice creams (there’s nothing to buy at AfrikaBurn other than much-needed ice).
| a scene from afrika burn |
Bushfire, Swaziland
Each year 20, 000 people head to Swaziland for a three-day Bushfire festival which offers a line up of music, theatre, poetry, dance and visual arts. The festival has a feel-good aspect: all of its profits are donated to NGOs and community development projects.
Gnaoua World Music Festival, Morocco
Traditional Gnaoua musicians (descendants of slaves from sub-Saharan Africa) are joined by jazz, pop and rock performers at this annual festival that draws hundreds of thousands of people. Performances, many of which are free, take place at different spots around the coastal fortified town of Essouira, with its narrow alleyways and bustling bazaar
9) Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, Morocco
If you are a lover of traditional music, then this is the festival for you. Beautiful scenery and gardens of the medieval city of Fes are the settings for performances from traditional musicians, bands and dancers from around the world – think Iranian chanting mystics from Iran and whirling dervishes from Turkey.
Lake of Stars, Malawi
Malawi’s picturesque lake is the perfect setting for a music festival: imagine swimming in the calm water in between performances or lying on the beach under the shade of a palm tree listening to bands. The line up is a diverse mix of music, from afro pop to indie rock, and there are local acts alongside international bands and DJs (such as the Foals and Freshlyground).
The Lagos countdown Festival
This event is held in the heart of the Atlantic city of Lagos; over 17,000 people attend this annual event. The Lagos countdown event is used to usher in a new year. The amazing part of this gig is the display of over 15,000 fireworks and daily performance by Nigeria’s top music icons.
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