Happening This Week: Fest Afrika Reykjavík

Reykjavík is a small city. Attend one of the many music festivals, join in a summer art residency, or just walk up and down Laugavegur a couple times and you are already starting to recognize faces. Because of its size the potential for collaboration is unlike that in any other capital city. This needn’t only be thought about on the individual level.

From September 28 – October 2 the 7th annual Fest Afrika will be held throughout Reykjavík. The festival was started in 2009 by Guinea drummer and dancer Cheick Bangoura. Cheick used the festival as an opportunity to to promote African performing arts through education and entertainment, to create an awareness of African culture in Iceland, and to bring communities together.

This year they Festival has released its most extensive program to date! Dance performances, concerts and speakers will be held at the main venues Nordic House, Gamla Bíó, Tjarnarbíó, and Iðnó every night from now until Sunday. The official program can be found here.

Loft Hostel will host “off-venue” readings and concerts every night starting at 17:00. That line-up can be found here.

Another feature of this year’s festival is a showcase of African foods every night from 18-20:30 at Kryddlegin Hjortu. Thursday night features food from Tanzania and Kenya; Friday spotlights Mozambique and Ghana; and Saturday hosts Guinea and Senegal.

It’s easy to celebrate cultures when they bring the celebration to you. Check out the festival’s official website for more information!