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10 Lesser-Known African Festivals Worth Checking Out

10 Lesser-Known African Festivals Worth Checking Out

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The incredible array of unique and diverse cultures across the African continent results in some seriously awesome African festivals throughout the year. But while some are well known and attended by millions, others fly under the radar and draw smaller crowds. Either way, these are all festivals worth checking out.

Sources: GoAfrica.About.com, Wikipedia.org

Wobebli.net
Wobebli.net

Fêtes des Masques – Ivory Coast

One of the better-known festivals out there, the Fêtes des Masques takes place in the Man region each November. Villages compete with one another for the best dancers, and intricate masks represent and pay respect to forest spirits and protect the young from evil.

TasteofSlow.com
TasteofSlow.com

Festival-au-Desert – Mali

The annual music festival held on the outskirts of Timbuktu in Mali is often referred to as the “most remote music festival in the world,” and being held smack in the middle of the Sahara Desert definitely gives it the right. Held by the traditional nomadic Tuareg, it combines Afropop music with more international sounds, and headliners have included stars from Paul Simon to Robert Plant.

HumanPlanet.com
HumanPlanet.com

Wodaabe Gerewol – Niger

To celebrate the unique culture of the Touareg and Fulani nomads, an annual week-long festival known as Cure Salee was held in the Sahara to highlight their music, traditional dress, and food. But as the festival became more commercialized, the Wodaabe decided to branch off with their own festival at the end of the rainy season in September. The Wodaabe Gerewol has similar activities to Cure Salee, but with fewer tourists, it can focus on the meaning of the celebration.

LindaDoke.Blogspot.com
LindaDoke.Blogspot.com

Addo Elephant Marathon – South Africa

The Addo Elephant Marathon takes extreme marathoning to a new level. Now heading into its 10th year, the marathon includes 50-mile and 100-mile races through trails in the African bush, hosted by a national park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. As runners run up switchbacks, trudge through rivers, and head down escarpments, there’s always the possibility of one of the bush’s favorite two-eared, big-trunked friends wandering by.

Blog.AfricaGeographic.com
Blog.AfricaGeographic.com

Harare International Festival of Arts

 – Zimbabwe

Taking place each April-May in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, is one of the largest arts festival on the continent with participants from all over the world. Combining dance, music, theater, spoken word, fine art, and countless cultures and language, the Harare International Festival of Arts has been a massive success each year since its inception in 1999.

TangerineTravel.com
TangerineTravel.com

Maralal International Camel Derby – Kenya

Meant to promote Samburu nomadic culture and bring attention to the small town of Maralal in Northern Kenya, the Camel Derby has grown enormously in recent years. It attracts contestants from all over the world, and activities include camping, cycling, horseback riding, and, of course, camel racing. It is also meant to promote conservation and knowledge about the camel and its habitat.

TheGuardian.com
TheGuardian.com

Lake of the Stars/City of Stars Festival – Malawi

Held on the shores of sparkling Lake Malawi, this music and art festival has become an international destination for its diverse and talented participants. With music ranging from Afropop to folk to electronic, the festival helps promote Malawi tourism and gives Malawian artists a platform to be exposed to the rest of the world.

Photos.MyJoyOnline.com
Photos.MyJoyOnline.com

Hogbetsotso Festival – Ghana

Celebrated in the Volta region of Ghana by the Anlo Ewe people, the Hogbetsotso Festival includes various ceremonies that highlight its unique culture. Activities include a peace-making period in which disputes are aired and solutions sought. Chiefs dress in their finest regalia, and there’s traditional music and dancing. Festivities also include a purification ceremony that includes both personal cleansing and the cleansing of homes and entire villages.

IBTimes.com
IBTimes.com

Thousand Stars Rift Valley Music Festival – Ethiopia

Celebrated in the Rift Valley in southern Ethiopia, the Thousand Stars Rift Valley Music Festival brings together over 50 tribes from around the region to celebrate their culture and unique traditions. With music and dancing, colorful decorations and outfits, and a blending of food from the diverse cultures, the Thousand Stars festival attracts outside visitors as well as the tribes that put it on.

MalawiLive.com
MalawiLive.com

Ncwala Festival – Swaziland

The Ncwala Festival, of the Festival of the First Fruits, celebrates the first harvest and honors the King of Swaziland in the country’s biggest festival. Each December, the Swazi people pays respect to the royal family, as well as their own ancestors, and to pray for fertility and good fortune in the coming year.