African festivals not to miss in 2024

Festivals are an expressive way to celebrate glorious heritage, culture and traditions. They are meant to rejoice special moments and emotions in our lives with our loved ones. They play an important role to add structure to our social lives, and connect us with our families and backgrounds. They give us a distraction from our day to day, exhausting routine of life, and give us some inspiration to remember the important things and moments in life. Festivals were started to pass the legends, knowledge and traditions onto the next generation.

Overall in simple terms, universally all festivals are related to harmony, peace and happiness. Here is a list of some African festivals celebrated across the continent.

MTN bushfire (Eswatini)

Globally infused, authentically African and proudly Eswatini, MTN Bushfire is one of Africa’s largest multicultural gatherings, illuminating the transformational power of the arts. A diverse, inclusive and family-friendly music and arts festival set in a fantasy-scape of the imagination, MTN Bushfire takes place in the beautiful farmland and mountains of the peaceful Malkerns Valley. Be prepared for an energising and uplifting weekend, with an eclectic programme featuring some of the finest musical and artistic talents from across Africa and around the globe.

Lake of stars (Malawi)

As the leading international festival in Malawi, Lake of Stars also provides local artists with a unique platform to showcase their art to a global audience, as well as attracting high profile names to perform from across the world, often for the first time in Africa

Harare International Festival of Arts (Zimbabwe)

It is a 6 day annual festival that showcases the best of local, regional and international art and culture in a programme that includes theatre, dance, music, circus, street performances and visual arts among others. HIFA has become an important symbol of something positive about Zimbabwe, unifying socially and culturally the disparate groups of Zimbabweans at a time of ideological conflict and political uncertainty, which manages to combine a wide audience to celebrate something positive: the constructive capacity of the arts .

Sauti za Busara festival (Zanzibar)

The 21st edition of Sauti za Busara festival will take place in Stone Town, Zanzibar from 9 – 11 February 2024. Celebrating live music from across Africa and beyond, the festival’s spotlight will once again shine on women artists, as well as young and emerging talents on three stages in- and outside the historic Ngome Kongwe (Old Fort).

CHOPI Music Festival (Mozambique)

If you want to find out more about culture and life in Mozambique, the CHOPI Music Festival in July and into August is the one for you. It was set up to help preserve the musical heritage of this part of the world, celebrating in particular the mbila, a handmade xylophone unique to the region. Other traditional instruments that take centre stage include animal horns, rattles, drums and whistles.

The Amani Festival (DRC)

From Friday 16 to Sunday 18 February 2024, 3 days of The Amani Festival whose objectives are to bring people together through culture. Thus offer a space for celebration, far from the everyday problems and the aftermath of war, where the peoples of the Great Lakes region can meet, think and commit themselves to a better common future. Improve the image of Goma, eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region in general and show the world the will of the region’s young and old to build a better future and use their talent to achieve it.

Durbar Festival in Kano (Nigeria)

The impressive Durbar Festival in Kano, one of the most fantastic cultural experiences to be seen in Nigeria and all of West Africa.

The Durbar Festival is possibly the most important traditional festival in the north of the country and is held twice a year, on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr (the end of Ramadan) and Eid-el-Kebir (three months after Ramadan). Also known as Sallah or Hawan Daushe, it is celebrated in several cities, including Katsina, Sokoto, Zazzau, Bauchi, Bida and Ilorin. This grand cultural, political, religious and equestrian celebration offers all the tribes of the region the opportunity to come and pledge allegiance to the Emir, in a riot of ‘pomp’ and lavish costumes.

Kano, the oldest city in West Africa, is famous for having the largest Durbar country, and during the festival is said to be the largest parade of decked-out horses in the world

Kampala Contemporary Art Festival (Uganda)

The Festival aims to explore new and innovative ways of creating art and presenting outcomes to the public. 12 shipping containers will be placed around the city and used as an exhibition space and platform to showcase new artistic talent. To be held from 28 to 29 January 2024.

Turkana Cultural Festival (Kenya)

One of Kenya’s top tourist attractions is the three-day festival held in June and takes place at Loiyangalani, Marsabit County. This festival features all nomadic communities in Northern Kenya. In addition, Tobong’ulore festival is held in Turkana county

Cameroon International Film Festival – CAMIFF (Cameroon)

The Cameroon International Film Festival – CAMIFF is establish with the aim to help create a vibrant film culture throughout the region. Every May the event will be committed to curating exceptional programs to engage and educate the local community, inspire filmmakers and nurture the growth of the Cameroon and African film industry. with it’s commitment to presenting works of Cameroonian filmmakers in competition alongside those by major talent of the world cinema. CAMIFF offers Cameroon diverse and enthusiastic audience a means of engaging with their own and others culture through the art of CINEMA. At the same time, a strong focus on the CAMIFF as a place for the world to discover and gauge the pulse of recent Cameroon and African films/filmmakers. To be held at Buea Mountain Hotel from 22 to 27 April 2024.

Egypt international airshow (Egypt)

Egypt International Airshow, the only event for Defence, Space, Commercial, and Business Aviation in Africa, is set to take off at El Alamein International Airport from 2 – 5 September 2024.

Supported by the Egyptian Ministry of Defence, Egyptian Air Force, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Egyptian Space Agency, and EgyptAir, seize the opportunity to explore their procurement plans and showcase your products to the entire aerospace ecosystem from Africa and the Middle East.

World Travel Market Africa (South Africa)

World Travel Market Africa delivers the leading global events for the travel industry. The Africa show was launched in 2014 under the Africa Travel Week umbrella to bring the benefits and opportunities of our global industry expertise to travel professionals in this region.

Join over 6000 travel industry professionals as they attend Africa’s leading and only business to business (B2B) exhibition for both the inbound and outbound African travel and tourism markets. To held at Cape town international convention centre from 10 – 12 April 2024.