Freyberg Square will move to the drumbeats of Africa on Friday 3 May when Ellen Melville Centre hosts An Afrikan Market between 4pm and 8pm, ushering in Africa Month and New Zealand Music Month side by side.
Celebrating African cultures in Tāmaki Makaurau and musicians of African descent who are making waves in our music scene here, the return of An Afrikan Market builds on the success of Africa Month in 2022 and 2023.
Auckland Council is providing this platform for the food, fashion, art, dance and music of Aucklanders whose roots are found in the richly colourful cultures of the African continent, with support from the city centre targeted rate.
Photo credit: Femi Matthews
Entry is free and everyone is welcome to ‘dance through the diaspora’ with various Auckland African cultural groups while also enjoying traditional foods from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, Burundi, Zambia and Nigeria. Learn more here.
Don’t miss a South African dancer performing to Amapiano style music, a very popular genre along with the South African dance styles that accompany it; Adowa - Ghanaian traditional dance - a rare opportunity to see this performed in Auckland; and Burundian drummers, aways popular with crowds.
Curator Adorate Mizero says music genres will include Afrobeat, Zouk, Hip Hop, R&B, Afro House, and Amapiano. These and many other genres can be traced back to traditional cultural rhythms, beats and dance styles on the continent of Africa.
“In honour of our past, present and future, we’re making contemporary connections with traditional performances from a range of ethnic community groups that are based in Tamaki Makaurau,” says Adorate.
“Not only will this be an opportunity to learn from these groups, but it will also highlight the importance of cultural preservation and connection.
“Join the beats, tastes and sounds of Africa created by our wonderful Afro-Kiwis coming together in their shared interest and love of Africa, and showcasing their talents,” she says.
Learn more here: about the community dinner, exhibition, vendor information and our full talent line-up.
And for further details on New Zealand Music Month visit OurAuckland.
Photo credit: Femi Matthews
