The living guide to Africa's celebrations
Africa's festivals, kept alive by the people who live them.
Discover when they happen, what to expect, and the music, food and meaning behind them—then turn a celebration into a trip.
#1
🎶
Madagascar
Festival Donia
Festival Donia is Nosy Be's flagship annual music and cultural festival, built around salegy and the...
📅 Late May to early June, ov...
⏳ 5 days
✅ Visitors welcome Needs a local's update
🏆 #1 Festival in Madagascar
#2
🥁
Mar
Madagascar
Alahamadi Be
Traditional Malagasy New Year
📅 Mar
⏳ 2 days
Needs a local's update
🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar
#3
🌾
Apr
Madagascar
Santabary Festival
Traditional first rice harvest celebration
📅 Apr
⏳ 1 day
Needs a local's update
🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar
#4
🎶
Oct
Madagascar
Madajazzcar
International jazz festival
📅 Oct
⏳ 14 days
Needs a local's update
🏆 Top 10 Music & arts Festival
#5
🥁
Jun
Madagascar
Feria Oramena
Lobster festival
📅 Jun
⏳ 1 day
Needs a local's update
🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar
#6
🥁
Jun
Madagascar
Fisemana
Traditional Antakarana purification ritual
📅 Jun
⏳ 1 day
Needs a local's update
🏆 Top 10 Religious & spiritual Festival
#7
🥁
Jun
Madagascar
Famadihana
Turning of the Bones ceremony
📅 Jun
⏳ 90 days
Needs a local's update
🏆 Top 10 Religious & spiritual Festival
#8
🎶
Jul
Madagascar
Hiragasy
Traditional performance competition
📅 Jul
⏳ 1 day
Needs a local's update
🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar
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.