The 8th Edition of the Kenako Afrika Festival is held in Berlin – Alexanderplatz from July 03 to 14. The 2019 Edition was placed under the theme “Africa in a Global Context” and covers various programmes, including exhibitions and sales of African products and crafts, activities for children, concerts by artists from the Continent including the Malagasy Abdou Day Group, series of conferences and panel discussions on current themes including the African diaspora as actors in Germany, cooperation at the level of Communes, the role of China in Africa, migration, not to mention the KENAKO Afrika Festival 2019 award ceremony.
The opening ceremony, on July 5, better organized this time in a marquee near “the World Clock”, thanks to all the sponsors, was attended by the Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Madagascar, Mrs. Rafaramalala Florence Isabelle, ép. Ratsimba, Ambassadors and Representatives of African missions in Berlin. In his speech, Mr Tcheumeleu, from the “Afrika Medien Zentrum e.V.”, the main organiser, underlined the active presence of African actors in the world. He made a point of mentioning that Africa has enormous challenges, like all other continents, but this does not hide the opportunities and potential that the young continent abounds in.
Mrs. Krauss, the Head of the Africa Office of the Federal Chancellery, and Special Representative of the Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel, who also represented Dr. Gerd Müller, Federal Minister for economic cooperation and development, highlighted, among other points, that Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area, whose headquarters are located in Accra Ghana, presents a large market and immense opportunities. She added that Kenako Afrika Festival is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and cooperation, and to build a bridge between Africa and Europe. She recalled that she herself had lived in two African countries and had visited about thirty of them, enough opportunities to appreciate African culture, cuisine and traditions.
At 7pm on this official opening day, the Reggae Group from Madagascar, Abdou Day, assisted by a Congolese drummer, gave vibrant live shows to an enchanted audience. Needless to say, culture and music know no borders; above all, they promote mutual understanding, tolerance and a better knowledge of “the Other” and thus constitute a precious tool for promoting peace.
More to be found on : www.kenako-festival.de