Sanaa Africa Festival celebrates the spirit of Africa

With May being the month in which the continent celebrates Africa Day, the festival provides a platform to be part of the celebrations by hosting an entertaining, fun-filled experience in Africa and showcasing Africa's creative industries. Countries that are taking part in this year's Festival include Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Mozambique and Kenya, among others.

The Sanaa Africa Festival is the brainchild of Nonhlanhla Matshazi, who was inspired by Santa Fe International Folk Art Market. The Santa Fe festival was founded by Native Americans in their quest for economic freedom. By selling something that was uniquely theirs - their arts and culture, they have developed themselves and the festival is now the biggest economic driver for the community.

Matshazi felt Africa could replicate the success of that festival by using its own culture and heritage for economic growth. "Sanaa means to create from your heritage in Swahili. We are creating a new avenue of growth by using our diverse cultures and heritages," she says. "And by sharing and collaborating with other cultures, we are not only promoting unity on the continent, we are also building each other. The festival promises to be a melting pot of the various unique talents from each country that is taking part," she says.

What to expect

Over the course of the four days, festival goers will be exposed to a collaboration of some of the biggest talents on the continent. The genres that will be featured include fashion, fine art, music and film and theatre.

Some of the big names who will be featured at the festival include Tanzanian couturier, Mustafa Hassanali, who founded Swahili Fashion week, a big annual fashion event in East and Central Africa. On the music front artists such as HHP, Mozambican musician Neyma and Ethiopian-born Nhatty Man. In the performing arts space, festival goers will see South African dancer Thoriso Magongwa perform.

In an endorsement of the importance of the festival as a promoter of African arts and culture, MTN Foundation has returned as the main sponsor for the show.

Tickets for the festival start from R100. For more, go to the Facebook page, or engage on Twitter (@Sanaa_Africa).