Leap into Africa

If you won’t be at the 2010 World Cup kickoff in South Africa this coming weekend, then 'Leap Into Africa' (the festival's theme) at the African Festa 2010, at Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse. The two-day cultural cornucopia expects upwards of 20,000 guests for its 12th annual showing. With scenic views of Tokyo Bay and its architectural fortitude, the Red Brick Warehouse (aka Akarenga) is the go-to venue to experience the Motherland and learn more about her growing bond with Japan.

From the raucous Oktoberfest that just closed its run to the traditional matsuri, food and music are big attractions at summer events in Tokyo and African Festa 2010 tries to bring it home. With the African Diplomatic Corps representing over 30 embassies, and 120 vendors and organisations participating, the celebration also serves as an expo for students and business people to explore trade and investment opportunities, or learn more about international development in Africa. The strengthening of ties between Japan and Africa not only promotes ‘friendship’, but also show Japanese that the distant continent is more than wars, disease and poverty: it’s one of the most vibrant, thriving, resource-rich places on earth.

Feel the spirit and get hands-on

One of the highlights of the festival will be the performances and special appearances, which include both Japanese and international guests.

Japan, with its die-hard supporters and football fans, is poised to participate in the World Cup, and to bring some of the footie fun is former pro-soccer player Yasuhiko Okudera – the first Asian footballer to score in the European Cup (and the chairman of the board of directors and general manager for the Yokohama Frieze Sports Club) – will be giving a workshop on Africa and soccer.

If you’re of a more musical bent, out of all the Japanese and African performers slated to grace the stage, our pick is the must-see performances by Burkina-Faso’s Victor Démé – easily the male equivalent to Cape Verde’s inimitable Ceseria Evora. Démé has been writing songs for 30 years and released an eponymous album in 2009 in France, sings in several languages. His music, according to a festival press officer, ‘is really powerful and earthy but with gentle melodies and lyrics.’ Démé’s song, ‘Cherie’, evokes the emotional landscapes of the continent.

If you’ve never hung out with Rastafarians in Ethiopia or swam in Lake Malawi, don’t worry: Yokohama’s expansive charm is the ideal backdrop to experience Africa firsthand. The exhibitions include Traditional Cultural Drumming and Dancing, an African photo exhibition, a roster of lectures on a slew of Africa related topics, an African Games Corner, and the popular dance and traditional musical instrument workshop. For those hoping to feed their brain, a game-show-like quiz about Africa as well as edu-taining kids activities are on hand.

Africa has long been known to be a sartorially inspiring hot-spot. If you’re looking to upgrade your style with an African flavour, get thee to the festival’s fashion show and witness the inspiration for designers as wide ranging as Junya Watanabe of Comme des Garçons, and Moroccan-born Alber Elbaz of Lanvin – but executed in more affordable yet equally stylish ways.

Fair-trade focussed

Unlike many of the other summer cultural festivals which feature authentic food by the dozens, African Festa 2010 is more about the bazaar atmosphere. Come here expecting pepper soup or boewoers and you might be disappointed; mostly it will be North African fare such as couscous and kebab that have been lightened up for Japanese tastes.

However, if you’re a fair trade supporter then this is the place for you. Most of the vendors present have some aspect of fair-trade that they are emphasizing. You’ll be able to find everything from textiles and coffee to handicrafts and gourmet-worthy South African wines. One vendor to check out is Third World Shop, partner and neighbour to Asantesana Cafe in Meguro. This vendor was the first fair-trade concern in Japan and still represents a huge force in fair-trade commerce here.

African focus, global reach

Akarenga, constructed in the early 20th century by Japanese architect Yorinaka Tsumaki, withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the aftermath of the second World War and like Fort Jesus in Port Mombassa, Kenya, an architectural testament to Africa’s own mercantile history (including battles and slavery), and where over 60 NGOs and organizations like UNHCR, FAO, WFP and UNFPA will be at the festival ready to inform visitors about the ways Africa is changing and growing.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – the development agency that partners Japanese youth and senior volunteers with a cross-section of Africans on projects like teaching judo in Egypt, cultivating new rice in Uganda, working on fair trade products with HIV-positive women in Zambia – will be hosting an exhibition on Africa along with an informal panel.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with ‘Tokyo International Conference on African Development’, TICAD, will lead a discussion with Agnes Chan on Saturday, June 12 at 3pm. On its website, TICAD is identified as ‘a major global framework for Asia and Africa to collaborate on promoting Africa’s development’. It aims to also promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and their partners and to also mobilize support for African development initiatives.

Whether Japan wins the World Cup or not, this weekend’s African Festival in Yokohama scores big with promoting global partnerships and African ownership – a perfect showcase for one of the world’s fastest growing and high-potential regions.

African Festa 2010
Date: Sat June 12-Sun June 13
Time: Sat June 12noon-5pm, Sun June 13 11am-5pm
Location: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Event Plaza and Building 1
Address: 1-1 Shinko, Naka, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Telephone: (03)5433 0782
Admission: Free
Website: www.africanfesta2010.com/