African Beats Festival is an independent Polish music and travel festival exploring African culture. We invite you to concerts featuring the most important African musicians, as well as travel meetings, Afrykamera cinema, a DJ zone, and numerous workshops. African Beats is a festival of musical roots, a celebration of openness and tolerance, taking place just 30 km from Warsaw. Surrounded by nature, with a picturesque campsite and friendly people. Join us for one of the most beautiful ethnic music festivals. Let’s Groove Together!
Taking place in the picturesque surroundings of the Dworek Pod Wiechą in Kawęczyn, 30 km from Warsaw, we will hear the biggest musical stars of African world music and Afrobeat. In addition to concerts at African Beats, we will participate in numerous music and movement workshops, immerse ourselves in the world of African films at the outdoor film festival, and hear breathtaking stories at traveler meetings. Here we will find exhibitors with African fashion and crafts, taste the flavors of exceptional dishes, and after the concerts, we will sit by the bonfires to dance to the rhythm of drums and listen to desert songs. The African Beats Festival is a true cultural gem in this part of Europe that is worth experiencing. It is a family festival for both young and old, uniting people with positive energy and ethnic music at the highest, global level.
VENUE
The grounds of Dworek Pod Wiechą in Kawęczyn.
These are exceptionally charming places, inseparably linked to Polish folk culture. The manor is located in the village of Kawęczyn, 30 km from Warsaw to the south, occupying an area of 10 hectares. In the immediate vicinity of the Chojnów Landscape Park, among picturesque orchards of the Mazovian land, the Dworek Pod Wiechą building has been perfectly integrated into the fairy-tale landscape. In addition, the vast space, green area, perfect for the Music Festival!
Check on google maps https://goo.gl/maps/fNS2R6bawa6bREhdA
? CONCERTS ?
On our main stage, you will listen to the biggest stars of African ethnic music. You will experience the magical sounds of the kora, the Sahara blues, or the rhythmic sounds of African drums. We have prepared 10 musical concerts for you. Artists will be announced soon. The lineup will be updated on the website https://africanbeats.pl/line-up/
Artists Announced So Far:
- ????? ????? ????? (Mali) – A guitar virtuoso. His music blends traditional West African rhythms with elements of blues and rock. Toure inherited his musical talent from his father, the legendary musician Ali Farka Touré.
- Sona Jobarteh (Gambia) – Sona Jobarteh is the first female virtuoso of the kora from Africa, as well as a talented singer and composer, combining traditional music with blues and Afropop.
- ??????? (Niger) – A legend of Saharan blues. His music features hypnotic rhythms, intricate guitar parts, and moving lyrics, often addressing the culture of the Tuareg, struggle, and resilience.
- ?????? ?-???? (Morocco) – The group draws inspiration from the diverse heritage of the southeastern Anti-Atlas region, blending various styles from around the world, such as rock’n’roll, blues, pop, and desert rock.
- ???????? (Poland) – Their repertoire is inspired by traditional music from West Africa: Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast. The band presents these traditional melodies and rhythmic patterns in their own arrangements and compositions in the spirit of tradition.
- Sinaubi Zawose & Pamoja Zanzibar (Poland/Tanzania) – A result of the collaboration between Tanzanian artist Sinaubi Zawose and Polish musician Radek Bond Bednarz. Their album released last year builds bridges connecting past and present generations, delivering a unique blend of traditional and contemporary music of the Tanzanian Gogo tribe.
- Ablaye Badji Band (Senegal/Poland) – A band formed by Senegalese kora player Ablaye Badji. The artist has been living and creating in Poland for ten years, where he has built a unique musical identity through personal and collective experiences, balancing tradition and contemporary music experimentation.
- Madou Konte (Senegal) – A talented musician from Senegal, captivating with his voice and virtuoso kora playing. He hails from Ziguinchor in southern Senegal, where he grew up in a family of griots, surrounded by music.
Concert Schedule
09.08.2024 FRIDAY
18:30 Madou Konte
19:30 Ablayde Badji
20:30 Tasuta N-Imal
22:00 Vieux Farka Toure
10.08.2024 SATURDAY
18:30 Moribaya
19:30 Sinaubi Zawose & Pamoja Zanzibar
20:30 Bombino
22:00 Sona Jobarteh
? AFROBEATS ZONE?
The best DJs will serve you the latest Afrobeat sounds. Ahead of us is an all-night afterparty with DJs under the auspices of Afropolska! The zone will be located away from the camping area to ensure the comfortable rest of our participants.
? TRAVELER’s MEETING ?
We invite you to the Traveler’s Zone during the African Beats Festival. Travelers will perform, telling about their travels to the Black Land. They will show photos, films, excerpts of sound recordings. Get ready for amazing stories, full of twists and turns and beautiful pictures.
? CINEMA AFRICA ?
Join us for the African film festival, where you can admire the finest film productions from this continent on the big screen. Discover the richness of African cinematography and experience unforgettable stories that will take you to exotic worlds full of emotions and inspiration. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in African culture and film art during this unique festival.
This year, as part of African Beats, we will see the following films:
?️ Mandabi (The Money Order) – Senegal, France, 1968, directed by Ousmane Sembene, drama.
?️ Rafiki – Kenya, 2018, directed by Wanuri Kahiu, drama, romance.
?️ Tug of War – Tanzania, 2021, directed by Amil Shivji, historical drama.
?️ Le Spectre de Boko Haram – France, 2018, directed by Cyrielle Raingou, documentary.
?️ À nous deux, France! – France, 2019, directed by Med Hondo, comedy.
?️ The Gravedigger’s Wife – Finland, Germany, France, 2021, directed by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed, drama.
?️ Banel & Adama – France, Senegal, Mali, 2023, directed by Ramata-Toulaye Sy, drama.
?️ La Noire de… (Black Girl) – France, Senegal, 1966, directed by Ousmane Sembene, drama.
?️ Madame Tyson – Nigeria, 2013, directed by Obi Emelonye, drama.
?️ La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun) – Senegal, 1999, directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty, drama.
? DRUM WORKSHOPS?
? DRUM WORKSHOPS?Join us for djembe drumming workshops at two levels, beginner and intermediate. During the classes, you will learn djembe drumming techniques. We will focus on developing playing techniques, learning traditional African rhythms, and building arrangements. We will also take care of solo improvisation elements, and we will enrich the whole with good fun.
Host Sana Camara “Petit Seny” – Djembefola (djembe soloist) from Guinea. Sana embodies and represents the contemporary Conakry style of djembe playing. Born and raised in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, at the very heart of the djembe music world, he honed his musical skills performing with Guinean ballets Soleil d’Afrique, Sourakhata, and the national Les Ballets Africains, as well as playing with bands Toure Kunda and Percussion Sabujuma. He collaborates with the world-renowned Babarara Bangoura, the heir of Mamady Keita, with whom he recorded the album “La Guinédénou.Harmonogram:
Workshop Schedule:
Friday 09.08.2023 at 17:30 – Drum Workshops for Beginners
Saturday 10.08.2023 at 11:30 – Drum Workshops for Intermediate
Saturday 10.08.2023 at 16:00 – Drum Workshops for Beginners
Sunday 11.08.2023 at 11:30 – Drum Workshops for Intermediate
Sign up at: workshops@africanbeats.pl
?? AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOPS ??
We warmly invite you to a workshop on traditional West African dance accompanied by live drumming! Experience an energetic dance full of expression and joy. The workshop will be led by Anika Kamińska – dancer, percussionist, and founder of the band Moribaya. Musicians from Moribaya will be playing the drums. The workshop is open to everyone, regardless of skill level. African dance is a communal celebration of life and an exchange of energy that unites the community.
Many of the dance steps are inspired by daily activities and highlight the dancers’ characteristics such as strength, agility, speed, and elegance. This dance is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, teaching African folklore and rhythms. Bring comfortable clothes and water. We dance barefoot.
?? AFRICAN SONG VOCAL WORKSHOPS ??
During these workshops, we will explore the beauty and richness of polyphonic songs from various corners of Africa. The program will include traditional songs from West Africa, including those from Congo, Benin, Senegal, and Mali, as well as from South Africa in the Zulu and Xhosa languages. The workshops are open to everyone, regardless of age or musical skill level. The course content and methodology are flexible and adapted to the needs of the participants, ensuring everyone the opportunity for full engagement and development.
The workshops will be led by Lydie Kotlinski, a specialist in African a cappella music.
?? AFRICAN ECSTATIC DANCE ??
Ecstatic Dance is a movement-dance practice in which we surrender to joyful, authentic, spontaneous movement. You invite your body to move, relax, stretch, play, improvise, or freely express yourself. Building a special relationship with your body. Releasing your wildness. This practice supports free self-expression and expression of emotions.
Host: Sławomir Gęściak – Dancer. Practitioner and Teacher of Conscious Body Work. He completed Process-Oriented Psychology and Dance and Movement Therapy at the Polish DMT Institute. Certified Therapist in Silent Spiritual Family Constellations. Master NLP, Certified Coach, and Trainer.
? AFRICAN MARKET ?
Exhibitors with African handicrafts. African gastronomic zone, drinks, various goods. Cosmetics, clothes, jewelry. A unique and unparalleled assortment will be provided by 20 carefully selected exhibitors, whose full list will be announced soon. The African Market will be a great attraction of our Festival.
Exhibitor applications are accepted at ? market@africanbeats.pl
? market@africanbeats.pl ?
?♀️ MEDITAION & JOGA ?♂️
Yoga and Meditation classes on Saturday and Sunday mornings will be led by one of the event organizers – Beata Latos from B-less-ed yoga in Bieszczady. A space to meet in motion, which leads to breath. Yoga is a massage of love that you give to yourself, as a result of which your body is relaxed and blissful, and your mind is fresh and calm. In Beata’s yoga practice, you will find space both to follow intuition, lightness, and gentleness, as well as strength, grounding, and determination. The yoga practice will be concluded with a meditation session.
? FIRE ZONE ? 
It is a zone that will envelop us throughout the festival with a relaxing-therapeutic aura, where you can not only rest solidly but also delve deep into yourself. During the day, with the sounds of instruments at a natural frequency, you can spend a nice time with your loved ones, comfortably settle in silence or in conversation still enjoying the wealth of the entire festival as the zone is located in the center of African Beats. However, the magic of this place will be most visible in the evenings, when the glow of fire will unite us in a circle, where everyone will find their space of creation to discover their inner wealth. Experienced musicians and vocalists will accompany us, who with their skills will introduce us to the world of sound, in which we can stay throughout the duration of the African Beats festival.
? CHILDREN’s ZONE ?
At the African Beats Festival, we invite families. We will prepare a special zone for children, where instructors will conduct animations, games, and physical activities. The program includes drumming workshops for the youngest and fairy-tale theater workshops.
⚽ SPORT ZONE ⚽
For our festival attendees, we have prepared a sports zone where you can play football, volleyball, and table tennis. We also plan to organize a mini football tournament, which will take place on Saturday morning and last until the afternoon.
⛺️ CAMPSITE ⛺️
A special area designated for pitching tents and camper entry. We provide a beautiful, picturesque location, access to the gastronomic zone, and all festival attractions, fully equipped with sanitary facilities, showers, and security. Cars and campers can enter the camping area. The cost for one tent or camper space is an additional 45 PLN.
TICKETS
? www.interticket.pl/africanbeats ?
? www.biletomat.pl/bilety/african-beats-32011 ?
? https://biletyna.pl/African-Beats ?
? “3 DAY PASS” 09-11.08.2024 ?
This ticket allows entry to the festival grounds on Friday from 15:00. It allows participation in all activities planned for the entire 3 days of the festival and staying until Sunday at 15:00.
TICKET POOL FOR “3 DAY PASS”
Early Birds First Day of Sale 05.04.2024 – 360 PLN
I phase until 01.05.2024 r. – 385 PLN
II phase until 01.06.2024 r. – 410 PLN
III phase until 01.07.2024 r. – 430 PLN
IV phase until 10.08.2024 r. – 445 PLN
- Two-day Camping – 45 PLN / tent
- Children up to 6 years old – FREE
- Children up to 14 years old – 250 PLN / reduced
- Disabled individuals and their guardians – 250 PLN / reduced
- Parking included in the ticket price
? “FRIDAY PASS” 09.08.2024 ?
? “FRIDAY PASS” This ticket allows entry to the festival grounds on Friday, 09.08.2024 from 15:00. Holders of such tickets will be able to participate in all activities planned for FRIDAY and also use the camping area from Friday night to Saturday (camping ticket is paid separately). The ticket entitles you to stay at the festival until 12:00 on Saturday.
TICKET POOL FOR “FRIDAY PASS”
Early Birds First Day of Sale 05.04.2024 – 220 PLN
I phase until 01.05.2024 – 250 PLN
II phase until 01.06.2024 – 270 PLN
III phase until 01.07.2024 – 290 PLN
IV phase until 10.08.2024 – 300 PLN
- One-day Camping – 45 PLN / tent
- Children up to 6 years old – FREE
- Children up to 14 years old – 200 PLN / reduced
- Disabled individuals and their guardians – 200 PLN / reduced
- Parking included in the ticket price
? “SATURDAY – SUNDAY” TICKETS 10-11.08.2024 ?
? “This ticket allows entry to the festival grounds on Saturday at any time and staying until the end, until Sunday at 15:00. Holders of such tickets will be able to participate in all activities planned for Saturday and Sunday and also use the camping area (camping ticket is paid separately).
TICKET POOL FOR “SATURDAY – SUNDAY”
Early Birds First Day of Sale 05.04.2024 – 270 PLN
I phase until 01.05.2024 – 290 PLN
II phase until 01.06.2024 – 310 PLN
III phase until 01.07.2024 – 330 PLN
IV phase until 10.08.2024 – 350 PLN
One-day Camping – 45 PLN / tent
Children up to 6 years old – FREE
Children up to 14 years old – 220 PLN / reduced
Disabled individuals and their guardians – 220 PLN / reduced
Parking included in the ticket price
Facebook Event-> www.facebook.com/events/3116616141801599
MORE INFO -> https://www.africanbeats.pl
The event is organized by the Agencja Perspektywy -> www.agencjaperspektywy.pl
CONTACT
- General Inquries -> africanbeatsfestival@gmail.com
- General Inquries -> biuro@africanbeats.pl
- Exhibitors & Gastronomy-> market@africanbeats.pl
- Workshops -> workshops@africanbeats.pl
- Volunteers-> wolontariat@africanbeats.pl
Event regulations available at: https://agencjaperspektywy.pl/regulamin
- Facebook African Beats: www.facebook.com/africanbeatsmusic
- Instagram African Beats: www.instagram.com/africanbeatsfestival
