Africultures Festival

The biggest annual African Festival is back, bigger and better!

The Africultures Festival has long been a vibrant celebration of African culture in Australia, and this year, it's back and better than ever. As we gear up for the 2024 edition, we spoke with the festival's organisers to find out what they think makes this year's event stand out.

Join us as we explore the highlights and positive social impacts of the festival and find out how you can come along and take part in this unforgettable day out.

What sets this year's Africultures Festival apart from previous years?

This year's festival is bigger and better, with a variety of entertainment on both Kilimanjaro and Serengeti stages. Our mainstage will feature bands playing traditional and contemporary African music all day, so bring your dancing shoes!

We will also have interactive workshops allowing participants to immerse themselves in cultures of Africa - from dance workshops, food talks and a panel discussion from African authors. The Watoto Corner will have a variety of cultural games for kids. There really is something for the whole family.

What are the top three things to see and do at this year's festival?

Live Entertainment: The two dedicated stages (Kilimanjaro and Serengeti stage), with a mix of live music, dance and cultural performances, provide a variety of entertainment across the day. Over the years, Africultures has been a platform for young and emerging African Australian artists to showcase their talents and launch their careers. The much-anticipated closing act on the main stage which marks the end of the festival, attracts a huge crowd each year.

Food: The iconic Nile Food Court is a foodies’ paradise. There will be 17 providers selling food from countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Kenya and Sudan. You can explore cuisine from across the continent and taste the diversity of flavours and dishes, many of which can only be experienced at the festival. Our famous stalls have gained a reputation as the ‘must try in African food’ by major Sydney food publications such as the Sydney Morning Herald and Broadsheet.

Shop in the African Marketplace: For a ‘take home’ festival experience, memento or gift. The thriving marketplace represents over 30 stalls featuring the best in African arts, fashion and homewares from beautiful drums and baskets, to vibrant wax print in modern designs to traditional handmade tribal jewellery and haircare and beauty products.

Tell us about the social impact of the festival?

Africultures has always been more than a festival. Our aim is to bridge the cultural gap and awareness of Africans in Australia. Since 2009, we have seen the impact of our work. We partnered with researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to assess and evaluate the festival’s impact on promoting cultural exchange and integration, as well as enhancing the capacity and social capital of stallholders and performers. The evaluation was based on surveys administered to attendees, stallholders, and performers at the 2023 festival, forming the core of this analysis.

Key findings from the assessment highlight the festival’s significant social impact on attendees. The festival fosters a sense of community among attendees from diverse backgrounds. African attendees reported enhanced connections within their own communities and with the broader Australian community. Non-African attendees experienced a deepened appreciation for African cultures, promoting cross-cultural understanding and integration. A strong sense of community among festival attendees was linked to their improved social well-being. Participants who felt connected to specific communities, even those outside their own cultural background, showed a greater openness to positively changing their views on societal functioning and expressed greater optimism about society as a whole.

In terms of capacity building for stallholders and performers, the festival offers an opportunity for stallholders to directly promote and sell their goods and services, thereby increasing sales and visibility within and beyond the African community. Similarly, performers are given a stage to showcase their talents, contributing to cultural exchange and celebration. The festival’s capacity building initiatives included necessary preparations and training sessions, such as food safety training and marketing and promotion workshops. These initiatives not only help enhance the skills of stallholders and performers but also improve their business operations, enabling them to thrive in their respective fields.

How can people get involved?

They say it’s easier and cheaper coming to Africultures than going to Africa, and yes, we mean any of the 54 countries. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, come to the festival on 28 September 2024. If you can't attend, donate a ticket and support this volunteer run festival.

Event details

Africultures Festival

What sets this year's Africultures Festival apart from previous years?

What are the top three things to see and do at this year's festival?

Tell us about the social impact of the festival?

How can people get involved?

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