It's a new dey!

Africa: The Next Generation

A salute to all that's best and bright in the world, this year's Afrikadey! festival will bring the future of our community into the spotlight by focusing on the creative development of young people in our midst.

Having built a solid cultural foundation for the appreciation of African culture in Calgary, Alberta, and beyond, our intention is to continue playing into our greatest strengths as we proudly pass this torch onto the next generation.

The Afrikadey! Opening Gala showcases the young as torchbearers, revolutionaries, and individuals linked to their predecessors in profound ways. Adejoké Taiwo, a young Nigerian Calgarian, takes up the torch of Chief Nike Okundaye, an established batik artist from Nigeria, by designing modern fashion from Nike's traditional prints. Bassekou Kouyate has sparked interest and debate with his revolutionary new use of the ngoni, a traditional Malian 4- or 7-stringed lute. Simone Saunders, a young Calgarian actor, performs a monologue celebrating her ancestry and her grandmother's life in Jamaica.

Our film screening of Nollywood Babylon charts the birth of a cinematic centre: Nigeria's young Nollywood. Children's workshops on and off the Island nourish young creativity and allow it to flourish.

On the August 14 Afrikadey! Prince's Island Park stage we present an army of rising talent trading in machine guns for microphones, all taking to heart Fela Kuti's maxim "music is the weapon of the future". These young artists strive to better their communities using music as a weapon of change. M5 is a family affair, a nascent band coming into their own through hip hop. Nomfusi, our South African songstress, possesses a maturity well beyond her years and her dawning career, full of comparisons to heavyweights like Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin, will show bright on the Afrikadey! stage. Dragon Fli Empire, a good vibes hip hop duo that had its inception at a William Aberhart High School talent show, brings old school to a new generation.

August 14 Afrikadey! headliner, renowned Canadian-Somali beat-maker K'naan, is an example of the artistic and moral capacity of the young. Delivering his message of peace and tolerance with style and flare, this Juno-award-winning artist delves into his childhood experiences growing up in Mogadishu to create his poignant and entertaining songs. K'naan brings his "Waving Flag" anthem to Afrikadey! and Calgary where thousands will be singing along: "when I get older, I will be stronger."

Welcome to our festival! Browse through our website to learn what Afrikadey! 2010 has to offer and please join us as we partake of the inspirational delights of African youth in Canada at this year's Afrikadey! Festival.

CONGRATULATIONS K'NAAN!

Afrikadey! festival extends very warm congratulations to K'naan on his two Juno awards for Artist and Songwriter of the Year. We are proud of K'naan's accomplishments and look forward to his performance at Prince's Island Park August 14, 2010.

2010 Main Stage Schedule

RUINED

Breaking the silence

Breaking the silence - PDF