African Festival Melbourne at Queen Victoria Market 15 - 16 July 2023
When you listen to the beat of the drum your body starts to sway. The fragrance in the air will get your mouth watering. Everyone treats each other like old friends. This is Africa and it's coming back to Queen Victoria Market
Back for it’s 3rd year the much love African Festival is running over 2 days at Queen Victoria Market’s C & D Sheds.
A perfect way to enjoy your winter break with delicious food, lively entertainment and a host of free activities for everyone to enjoy.
Bustling with vendors serving flavours from all over Africa, lots of activities for kids and entertainment only the African community can deliver. You will be humming and swaying, and dancing to the beat of the drum.
This is a cultural immersion, where you can meet the community, eat the food and enjoy the entertainment.
When - Saturday 15 – Sunday 16 July
10 AM – 4PM
Queen Victoria Market (C&D Shed)
Entertainment
Saturday 15th July
All day
Dorcas Maphakela Emcee
Recipient of the 2017 Multicultural Awards for Excellence by the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Dorcas is the Founder/Producer and Presenter of OZ AFRICAN TV and works tirelessly within her various roles in uplifting the African community
10.00 am - 11.00 am
WALA Drumming Workshop
WALA – Means “Life” in their ancestral language from Ghana, West Africa.
WALA is about celebrating, honouring and sharing their ancestral history — Fusing their own contemporary original compositions, inviting you to sing and dance together in celebration during this Drumming Workshop.
11.00am - 11.45 am
WALA Drum & Dance Performance
WALA – Means “Life” in their ancestral language from Ghana, West Africa.
Six passionate musicians and dancers create a dynamic fusion of an assortment of handmade African drums and flutes, dance, and soaring vocal harmonies celebrating their ancestral roots and culture in an exciting display of instruments played with hands, feet, sticks and stunning costumes.
12.00 pm- 12.15 pm
Welcome Remarks
12.30 pm - 1.45 pm
David Smile Dance
Afro-Latin Dance
Teaching Afro-Latin dance styles, including Cuban salsa, reggaeton, kizomba and Afro grooves. David will get you smiling and having fun on the dance floor in no time.
2.00 pm - 4.00 pm
One Spirit Africa
Afro-fusion band, powerful and authentic sounds, unique vocal harmonies with deep connection to the Ghanaian root which nurtured in our song lines: with spiritual and historical messages which enables listeners to discover connections to Multiculturalism in Australia
Plus roving performers and a free photobooth
Sunday 16th July
All day
Octaves Sylver - DJ & MC
A-multi discipline artist, Octaves is a DJ, Dancer, and MC/host. Born in Congo Brazzaville and raised in NZ, MC Octaves knows how to keep the crowd engaged. Founder of M.A.D. Dance Crew and Mabina Battles, you will be sure to get your body moving to the explosive music
10.30 am - 11.30 am
Super Mande Percussion
African Drumming Academy & Performance is a center of West African music, culture, drumming, and dance, based in Melbourne and operating throughout Australia. Run by Mady Keita, an authentic and renowned musician and Master Drummer from Mali, we offer an extensive range of African djembe drums, drumming and dance classes, school incursions, team building and corporate workshops, music, and entertainment for community events and private functions, and drum repair services
12.00 pm - 12.45 pm
One Spirit Africa
Interactive live drumming workshop for everyone to join in.
1.00 pm - 1.45 pm
M.A.D. Dance Crew
Choreographed performance, freestyling, and crowd interaction workshop/mini class
2.00 pm - 4.00 pm
Sonik Waves
Melbourne-based Mauritian Cultural Band brings the vibrant rhythms of Mauritius to life through its enchanting music. Specializing in traditional Mauritian music, particularly the lively Sega, they also showcase their versatility by performing captivating Island Styles music, creating an immersive musical experience that transports audiences to the sun-soaked shores of Mauritius
Plus roving performers and a free photobooth
Showcasing foods from Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, and more, festival-goers will really get to enjoy flavours from the continent of Africa.
There will also be plenty of opportunities to show for African giftware and jewellery.
Festival Sponsors
