Tanzania

Tanzanian songs, dances and afrofusion / Abeneko

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The main artist of this year’s Fest Afrika concerts Abeneko (Isack Abeneko) is a versatile musician, dancer and choreographer, who has performed internationally in various dance and music productions, in recent years also with his own band. As a dancer, he concentrates primarily on contemporary dance, which he has trained in with several African contemporary choreographers, such as Germaine Acogny (Senegal) and Opiyo Okach (Kenya). This Tanzanian multi-talent is active in his home country also as a festival and concert organizer. You can read more about Abeneko on his website.

With Abeneko we will first, on Friday, get to practice traditional Tanzanian songs and dances, and on Saturday he will teach a class of his own dance concept “afrofusion without confusion”, which fuses the style of traditional Tanzanian dances to different techniques of contemporary dance.  The aim is to explore the possibilities of one’s own bodily expression, approaching dance as a journey from tradition to something new.

Check the prices, instructions for signing up and other workshops on the workshop page!

Fire dance workshop / Sisi Majitu

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photo: Iida Liimatainen

Welcome to learn the secret of Tanzanian fire dance! The workshop will be taught by Finnish-South African dancer and musician Ayla Brinkmann and accompanied by live rhythms by drummer Juuso Aumala. Both teachers are members of Sisi Majitu, an African art collective based in Jyväskylä.

We will learn the basics of the dance first using sticks without fire, then move on to fire safety procedures and after that we can practice with burning torches. We will also learn a small song in the Sukuma language that goes with the dance. At the end of the course, participants are invited to join in a small performance of the fire dance in the open space in front of Ratina.

The course will take place in open air at Ratinannokanpuisto. The course price includes the use of torches and lamp oil. Please sign up for the course and pay the course fee by 24 June, so we can confirm the workshop well in advance!
Check the prices, instructions for signing up and other workshops on the workshop page!

Park afro

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An African dance class for everyone with live accompaniment in Sorsapuisto: even if you have never danced in your life, you are welcome to this class! Wear some comfortable clothes and light sneakers, or dance with bare feet.

The class is led by Tampere’s own Kelly, Catherine Knuutila, and Fest Afrika’s director Menard Mponda will provide drum accompaniment, join us to have fun Tanzanian style!

No advance enrollment needed, the price is 5 euro (in cash). In case of rain, the class will be cancelled.