Yearly Archives: 2015


Become a volunteer

We still need volunteers for this summer’s festival. If you want to help, send a message to info@festafrika.net or fill out the online form (in Finnish).

Volunteers are needed most of all for selling tickets in the evenings, but possibly also to serve as security, drivers or guides, as well as to help out with other kinds of tasks during the festival. You can also offer to help in the preparations of the festival, e.g. in the distribution of posters and flyers (also outside Tampere).


Fest Afrika becomes member of Pirfest

The board of Pirkanmaa festivals has accepted Fest Afrika as member of the festival network Pirfest. The members of Pirfest include at the moment 38 cultural festivals that represent the different fields of art and culture. Pirfest ry  aims to promote the activities of cultural festivals in the region of Tampere both in Finland and abroad. Tampere region festivals are attended by over half a million visitors and the festival season continues throughout the year.


Best energy in the city

Please help Fest Afrika win 3000 euro and go to like us on the Helen competition website (only in Finnish unfortunately but you can find the thumb button underneath the text)!

You can also support us by sharing the link to the festival website or photos and videos of your favorite Fest Afrika moments on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. with the hashtag #FestAfrika.

Thank you for your support!


Salif Keita performing at Fest Afrika!

The Malian world music star Salif Keita will be performing with his band at Pakkahuone in Tampere on Wednesday, July 22nd. The acoustic seven-man band will perform highlights of the long musical career of Salif Keita, born in 1949.

Photo: Thomas Chéné Art: Lemza

Photo: Thomas Chéné
Art: Lemza

Salif Keita, often called “The Golden Voice of Africa”, moved in 1967 to Mali’s capital Bamako and put together Les Ambassadeurs that became the most important band of Western Africa and a model for many younger musicians.

In 1984, Keita moved to Paris and developed a more electric sound, which later fixed his position among the most famous world music artists. In the late 1980’s, he contributed actively to campaigns against apartheid and to spreading information about AIDS, in addition to his ongoing work for peace and human rights.

Salif Keita has personally experienced discrimination: born an albino, he was already as a child faced with prejudices. Being an albino is in many cultures considered a sign of bad luck or even a curse. Still, that could not stop Salif Keita, a descendant of Sundiata Keita, the founder of the ancient kingdom of Mali, from living his dream and becoming a world music super star.

The concert is organized in collaboration with Tampereen Kulttuurikamari and Tampere-talo.

Tickets are available now! Prices starting from 46,50 eur (advance tickets from Tiketti and Lippupiste), at the door 48 eur.