Africa Day

Held at Malmitalo for the first time, Africa Day showcases Senegalese, Kenyan and Cameroonian culture through music, food and dance.

Come and celebrate African culture! During the day, participants get to enjoy the Afro-pop of Tossy Mboup & Gaal-Gui, as well as Es-Ow and The Ridial Band, try their hand at sabari – a fusion of dance and drumming – and judge a cooking competition in which the culinary traditions of different countries go head to head.

Tossy Mboup & Gaal Gui is an eight-piece Afro group. The band, led by Senegalese singer-percussionist Tossy Mboup, who has lived in Finland since 2013, combines numerous styles ranging from Afro-pop to funk, salsa and mbalax in its music. Tossy Mboup released his debut album Aduna in 2020.

Senegalese Afro-pop artist Es-Ow founded The Ridial Band after moving to Finland in 2012. Es-Ow’s music is an energetic blend of diverse rhythms, sounds and melodies drawing on African roots. Es-Ow and The Ridial Band have performed at numerous music events in Finland, such as the World Village, Funky Elefant and Afro Jazz festivals.

Set off on a journey to Senegal led by Malick Ndiaye! Sabar is not just a dance, but an entire tradition in which movement and music are inseparable. It is known for its sophisticated rhythms, its large and lively movements, and its expressive storytelling. In this lesson, we learn the basic steps of Sabar and delve into its rich world of rhythms under Malick’s expert guidance. Come and see how tradition is transformed into modern energy!

Schedule:
17.00–18.00: Tossy Mboup & Gaal-Gui
18.00–19.00: Cooking competition! Tasting the dishes and choosing the winner in the gallery
19.00–20.00: Sabar lesson in the hall, led by Malick Ndiaye
20.00–21.00: Es-Ow and The Ridial Band