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Home / Festivals

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.

99festivals

41countries

Kept current by the community

In the spotlight 🥁 Cultural & heritage

Lamu Cultural Festival

🇰🇪 Kenya

Swahili culture celebration that focuses on preserving endangered maritime technologies, vernacular architecture, and regional performing arts.

🎶 Live music includes taarab, a Sw... · 🍲 biryani

Explore this festival →

Lamu Cultural Festival

Happening soon

The next celebrations on the continent's calendar.

Isese Day 🇳🇬 Nigeria · Cultural & heritage

Twin Festival 🇺🇬 Uganda · Cultural & heritage

Gadao Festival 🇹🇬 Togo · Cultural & heritage

Ashenda 🇪🇹 Ethiopia · Cultural & heritage

Mbarara Cultural Festival 🇺🇬 Uganda · Cultural & heritage

Camel Derby Festival 🇰🇪 Kenya · Cultural & heritage

All festivals

All kinds 🥁 Cultural & heritage

Festival International de Carthage

International cultural festival

📅 Jul ⏳ 30 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Windhoek Cultural Festival

Annual cultural celebration in the capital

📅 Sep ⏳ 5 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

TAMBO International Art Camp

International arts and culture festival

📅 Jul ⏳ 7 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Feria Oramena

Lobster festival

📅 Jun ⏳ 1 day Needs a local's update

🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Fisemana

Traditional Antakarana purification ritual

📅 Jun ⏳ 1 day Needs a local's update

🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Famadihana

Turning of the Bones ceremony

📅 Jun ⏳ 90 days Needs a local's update

🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Hiragasy

Traditional performance competition

📅 Jul ⏳ 1 day Needs a local's update

🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Donia Music Festival

Week-long music and cultural festival

📅 Sep ⏳ 7 days Needs a local's update

🏆 Top 10 Festival in Madagascar

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Festival International Kreol

International Creole Festival

📅 Dec ⏳ 9 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Fete des Cultures

Festival of Cultures

📅 May ⏳ 3 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Baía das Gatas Festival

Annual music festival

📅 Aug ⏳ 3 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Feux de Brazza

Festival of Lights in Brazzaville

📅 Jul ⏳ 3 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

FESPAM

Pan-African Music Festival

📅 Jul ⏳ 7 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Wémèxwé Festival

Traditional cultural festival

📅 Aug ⏳ 3 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Djibouti International Fair

Annual trade and cultural fair

📅 Dec ⏳ 7 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Festa de Nossa Senhora do Monte

Festival of Our Lady of the Mountain

📅 Aug ⏳ 3 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Harare International Festival of the Arts

Major arts and culture festival

📅 Apr ⏳ 6 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Roots Homecoming Festival

Cultural heritage celebration

📅 May ⏳ 7 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Kanilai International Cultural Festival

Traditional arts and culture festival

📅 Jun ⏳ 5 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Bagamoyo Arts Festival

Cultural arts festival

📅 Sep ⏳ 7 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Zanzibar International Film Festival

East Africa's largest film and arts festival

📅 Jul ⏳ 9 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Grand Magal of Touba

Major Mouride religious festival

📅 Aug ⏳ 1 day Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Wafaa El-Nil

Ancient Egyptian celebration of the Nile flood

📅 Aug ⏳ 14 days Needs a local's update

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 0

Cherry Festival

Annual celebration of cherry harvest in Sefrou

📅 Jun ⏳ 3 days Needs a local's update

🏆 Top 10 Festival in Morocco

🥁 Cultural & heritage ▲ 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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