We are delighted to extend our heartfelt invitation to you for the inaugural “Sounds of Africa Festival,” organized by the Washington West African Center. This vibrant event is scheduled to take place on Friday, August 4th, and Saturday, August 5th, from 11 am to 8 pm at Everett Community College.
The festival aims to create a harmonious gathering where people from various communities can come together to immerse themselves in the rich and authentic culture and traditions of Africa, presented by Africans themselves. We firmly believe that this event will foster diversity, promote peaceful coexistence and facilitate meaningful business exchanges between the African community in Washington and other communities. Attendees will have the invaluable opportunity to explore traditional African cuisines, fashion, languages, and music.
Over the course of these two days, the festival will showcase the diverse facets of African culture, offering Washington State a creative, enjoyable, and distinctive experience. On Friday, August 4th, from 11 am to 7 pm, we will be hosting a series of free workshops on traditional African musical instruments, including the Kora, Balafon, Djembe, Sabarr, and African Dance. These workshops will be facilitated by seasoned and professional West African instrumentalists, musicians, and dancers from around the world. We are honored to have distinguished artists such as Kora player Pa Bobo Jobarteh from The Gambia, the Gansango West African Drumming and Dance Group as well as the talented Kouyate Twins from Atlanta and California, among others.
Each workshop will be conducted in one of our three rooms with a capacity to accommodate 75 to 100 participants. For more information, please refer to the attached schedule.
Saturday, August 5th, promises a day filled with fun and various edutainment activities such as a Fashion show to showcase African clothing, a dance competition, and captivating performances by various artists, including the renowned international singer and songwriter Pa Omar Jack from The Gambia, the energetic Gansango West African Dance Group, the Kouyate Twins, The Selasi I Soldiers Band and Pa Bobo Jobarteh.
In light of the significance of the occasion, we cordially invite you to grace the first annual Sounds of Africa Festival on Friday, August 4th, and Saturday, August 5th, 2023. Your presence would be an honor and a testament to your commitment to promoting cultural understanding, diversity, and inclusion. Please kindly share with your network.
To obtain additional information or confirm your attendance, please do not hesitate to contact 253-235-2132 or via email at pajoof@wawac.org. Alternatively, you can visit our website at www.wawac.org.
