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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.

Build my festival trip Browse every festival

👑 Royal & traditional festivals

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All kinds 🙏 Religious & spiritual 👑 Royal & traditional 🎭 Masquerade 🎶 Music & arts 🌾 Harvest & nature 🥁 Cultural & heritage
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#1 Jun
Uganda

Empango (Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom)

Banyoro (Nyoro) of Bunyoro-Kitara, with the Batooro of Tooro as a parallel

📅 Jun ⏳ 4 days 👀 Partly open Needs a local's update
👑 Royal & traditional ▲ 0
#2
Malawi

uMhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni Cultural Festival

Annual cultural festival of the Maseko Ngoni

📅 Held annually in early Sep... ⏳ 3 days ✅ Visitors welcome Needs a local's update
👑 Royal & traditional ▲ 0
#3 👑 Sep
Uganda

Empango (Tooro Kingdom)

Empango is the Tooro Kingdom's coronation anniversary festival, held to mark the enthronement of the...

📅 Sep ⏳ 4 days 👀 Partly open Needs a local's update
👑 Royal & traditional ▲ 0
#4 👑 Feb
Eswatini

Marula Festival (Buganu Ceremony)

Eswatini's royal first-fruits ceremony, known locally as Buganu, in which the Lutsango women's regim...

📅 Feb ⏳ 3 days Needs a local's update
👑 Royal & traditional ▲ 0
#5 👑 Apr
Nigeria

Durbar Festival

Traditional horsemanship festival of Northern Nigeria

📅 Apr ⏳ 1 day Needs a local's update
🏆 #1 Festival in Nigeria
👑 Royal & traditional ▲ 0
#6 👑 Dec
Nigeria

Igue Festival

Annual royal festival of the Benin Kingdom

📅 Dec ⏳ 7 days Needs a local's update
🏆 Top 10 Festival in Nigeria
👑 Royal & traditional ▲ 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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