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The living guide to Africa's celebrations

Africa's festivals, kept alive by the people who live them.

When each one happens, what to expect, and the music, food and meaning behind it. One place to discover a celebration, and plan to be there.

98festivals
40countries
Kept current by the community
In the spotlight

Rusinga Cultural Festival

🇰🇪 Kenya

Annual celebration of the Abasuba people's culture

Next: 19 Dec 2026 🍲 Traditional Suba delicacies including specially prepared meats and vegetables
Explore this festival →

All festivals

#25 F Dec
Mauritius

Festival International Kreol

International Creole Festival

▲ 0
#26 C Feb
Guinea-Bissau

Carnival of Bissau

Annual carnival celebration

▲ 0
#27 F Feb
Guinea

Festival des Arts de Conakry

Major arts and culture festival in the capital

▲ 0
#28 F Apr
Guinea

Festival National des Arts et de la Culture

National Festival of Arts and Culture

▲ 0
#29 F May
Guinea

Fête de la Mare

Festival of the Sacred Pond

▲ 0
#30 F May
Gabon

Fete des Cultures

Festival of Cultures

▲ 0
#31 B Mar
Eswatini

Buganu Festival

Traditional marula beer festival

▲ 0
#32 M Feb
Eswatini

Marula Festival

Traditional harvest festival

▲ 0
#33 A Apr
Cape Verde

Atlantic Music Expo

International music festival and trade fair

▲ 0
#34 B Aug
Cape Verde

Baía das Gatas Festival

Annual music festival

▲ 0
#35 F Jul
Congo

Feux de Brazza

Festival of Lights in Brazzaville

▲ 0
#36 F Jul
Congo

FESPAM

Pan-African Music Festival

▲ 0
#37 G Sep
Chad

Gerewol Festival

Traditional Wodaabe cultural festival

▲ 0
#38 N Mar
Chad

N'Djamena Music Festival

Annual music and cultural festival

▲ 0
#39 F Oct
Chad

Festival International de la Culture Tchadienne

International festival of Chadian culture

▲ 0
#40 G Apr
Benin

Gelede Festival

Traditional masquerade festival

▲ 0
#41 W Aug
Benin

Wémèxwé Festival

Traditional cultural festival

▲ 0
#42 D Dec
Djibouti

Djibouti International Fair

Annual trade and cultural fair

▲ 0
#43 G Dec
Togo

Gbagba Festival

Traditional harvest festival of the Kabye people

▲ 0
#44 E Jul
Togo

Evala Festival

Traditional initiation ritual and wrestling festival

▲ 0
#45 G Aug
Togo

Gadao Festival

Traditional festival of the Ewe people

▲ 0
#46 A Sep
Togo

Agbogbo-Za Festival

Historical and cultural festival of the Ewe people

▲ 0
#47 F Aug
Angola

Festa de Nossa Senhora do Monte

Festival of Our Lady of the Mountain

▲ 0
#48 L Sep
Angola

Luanda Jazz Festival

Annual jazz music festival

▲ 0
Kept current, not frozen. Members confirm dates and flag changes as festivals move year to year.
Reviewed, not scraped. Every addition and edit is checked before it goes live.
From the people who live them. Detail comes from the communities that celebrate.

Know a festival better than we do?

This guide is only as alive as the people keeping it current. If a celebration from your community is missing, or its details have moved on, help the continent find it, and get credited for it.

Add or improve a festival Free · Reviewed before publishing · You're credited

Frequently asked questions

What is Lughayangu Festivals?
A living guide to festivals across Africa: when each one happens, what to expect, and the music, food, dress and meaning behind it. Every festival is kept current by a community that includes the people who celebrate them.
How current is the information?
Festivals shift year to year, so members confirm dates, flag changes and add detail continuously, and every change is reviewed before it goes live. That's what keeps this more accurate than a static list.
Can I plan a trip around a festival?
Yes. Each festival page shows its next date, how long it runs, where it's held and what happens, with an add-to-calendar option so you can plan around it.
Are these the same as public holidays?
No. Festivals are cultural celebrations, kept separate from statutory public holidays. Many aren't days off, and many move each year. You can explore official holidays in our Holidays section.
Is it free?
Yes, browsing African festivals on Lughayangu is completely free, and contributing is open to any registered member.
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