WHAT IS AFRICA WITH THE MASTERS?

Coinciding with Culture Days, the 5th AWM Festival is a month-long daily celebration of African arts and cultures. The festival honors the “Spirit of the Village”, promotes friendship and respect, and welcomes people of all backgrounds through music, dance, traditional kids games and storytelling, performed and facilitated by African Elders, knowledge keepers, and professional African artists.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to postpone the in-person event from
September 24-26 to November 12-14. We thank you for your patience and your support,
and are very much looking forward to seeing you again soon!

The theme for the 2021 AWM is “Healing”, and we will celebrate our friendships with the broader community while sharing who we are, through our artistic forms, as per many African traditions. Like all our events, AWM nurtures unity, feelings of joy and celebration, interconnectedness, and mind-body alignment.

The fifth annual AWM Festival will consist of a 3-day series of activities and performances, followed by daily online engagements and performances through October (Sept 27-October 24). It will feature presentations and culturally relevant arts engagements by Elders, knowledge keepers and professional African artists living in Canada and/or Africa, representing up to 20 of Africa’s 54 countries.

***AWM is a bilingual event (French and English). Certaines activités se feront en Français, comme les contes.

Volunteers Needed!
Please consider volunteering to help make the festival safe and fun for everyone.

AGENDA

Africa with the Masters in-person Festival is an immersive and invaluable experience taking place on the Ancestral and unceded land of the Coast Salish peoples –Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, over three action-packed days. It is an inclusive and welcoming experience for all, in a mobility accessible venue.

1. Friday, November 12, 2021 - Village Night, a concert presenting professional artists of African descent and a take-home dinner of Afro Vegan food by Kula Foods Inc. (to comply with Covid-19 safety protocols we won't have dinner together, you will take it home instead).

2. Saturday, November 13, 2021 - Africa Play Day for families and the child in each of us, with free workshops and activities for children, facilitated by renowned professional artists and knowledge keepers of African descent.

3. Sunday, November 14, 2021 - Workshops open to the public and artists to study rhythm and drum traditions from Africa, with master artists of African descent. No dance workshop this year.

New this year, AWM will feature a daily online engagement (cultural activities, workshops, roundtable discussions, performance events, etc.) September 27- October 24 by professional African artists to celebrate our African heritage in British Columbia and contribute to the rich diversity of Canada Culture Days.