01 January 2004: AROUND THE GLOBE - ONE DAY
One Day of Peace, and Sharing, every January 1st, for Everyone on Earth. OneDay is a holiday designed to decrease violence, hunger and hate through the establishment of a shared annual tradition for the entire human family. It belongs to no government or religion, and knows no national boundaries.
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01 January 2004: GHANA/ELMINA - EDINA BURONYA
1st Thursday of the New Year. Elmina, Central Region 157 km West of Accra. This is the native version of Christmas, which is exclusively celebrated by the People of Elmina (Edina). The Festival was influenced by the Portuguese settlers who celebrated a similar event every January. For the people of Edina, it is a period of purification, sacrifices to the gods, remembrance of the dead and the welcoming of a New Year. Families pour libation and invite friends to participate in dining and merry-making throughout the town.
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January 2004: ADIS ABEBA/ETHIOPIA: TIMKET/EPIPHANY
Timket, or the Feast of the Epiphany, is celebrated in the January, 2004. The 3-day event commemorates the baptism of Christ and is one of the most colourful Ethiopian festivals. The night before the Timket, priests take the Tabot (which symbolises the Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments) from each church to a tent at a consecrated pool or stream. There is frenetic activity, including the ringing of bells, blowing of trumpets and the burning of incense. In Addis Ababa, tents are pitched at Jan Meda, to the northeast of the city centre. At 02h00, mass is celebrated, attended by crowds of people carrying lighted oil lamps. At dawn, the priest uses a ceremonial cross to extinguish a candle burning on a pole in a nearby river. Inevitably, some of the congregation leap into the river. The Tabots are then taken back to the churches in procession, accompanied by horsemen, while the festivities continue.
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06 January - 05 April 2004: TANZANIA - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK: TRACK OF THE WILDEBEEST

Follow the awesome Wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and you'll never feel the same again. Serengeti means 'endless plains' and at 14,763 square kilometres in size this National Park has certainly been given a suitable name. It has the fortune of being touched by the annual wildebeest migration - which is one of the world's rare undisturbed migrations and hugely important to the area's fragile ecosystem - including the preservation of the region's food chain.
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09 January - 11 January 2004: USA/NEW YORK - ADVENTURES IN TRAVEL EXPO
Adventures in Travel Expo transforms the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City into the world’s biggest base camp. Aside from the 500+ exhibitors providing information on adventurous destinations around the world, there will be lots of celebrity adventure enthusiasts, gear demonstrations, a travelogue of thrilling adventures and hot destinations, and contests to win trips, giveaways and gear. Diving and scuba pools, rock climbing walls, adventure racing courses (for both families and racers), zip lines, luxury spa massages, National Geographic Adventure editors and photographers conducting seminars and photo workshops, outdoor techniques, inspiring seminars, music from around the world and a film festival will round out an exciting roster of events. For more information please contact Jim Cohen on 203-878-2577 or visit their website on http://www.adventureexpo.com
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15 January: BIRTHDAY MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
February 2004: NIGERIA - DUNBAR FESTIVAL
The Durbar festival is celebrated at the culmination of the two great Muslim festivals Id el Fitri and Id el Kabir. The festival gives a good idea of the past glories of the emirate before the influence of western culture. On the big day, in Katsina and Kano, in the north of Nigeria, the day is marked with a gaudy parade of ornately dressed horsemen, Emirs dressed in ceremonial robes, muscle-bound wrestlers and lute players in headdresses.
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17 - 19 February 2004: JOBURG/SOUTH AFRICA - SATCOM AFRICA 2004
Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Africa's premier satellite communications summit. About 80% of Africa’s population lives in rural areas. Little wonder, therefore that nearly all of Africa’s international bandwidth is provided by satellite. Satellite presents the best means for carrying international traffic other than terrestrial or microwave links that may only exist between bordering countries. It is the only conference in Africa which addresses all the strategic issues of connecting businesses and profiting via satellite. Satcom Africa 2004 is where senior management from Africa’s major corporations meet to evaluate and learn best practice. It is a great place to position your world-class solutions to a very select group of senior managers.
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07 March 2004: DURBAN/SOUTH AFRICA - Standard Bank Awesome Africa Festival
On the above date, a standard 42.2 km marathon and a 21.1 km half marathon will be run from the town of Moshi, Tanzania. Please note that the half marathon route is still to be finalised. This race has been set up to promote the sport in Tanzania, and has the official backing of the Tanzania Tourist Board, the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association, the IAAF, and is registered with AIMS.
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22 March 2004: AROUND THE GLOBE - WORLD DAY FOR WATER
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26 - 28 March 2004: USA/AUSTIN TX - PERSPECTIVES ON YORUBA HISTORY AND CULTURE University of Texas at Austin.
This is an announcement for a three-day conference centered on the Yoruba to review the state of knowledge, the various advances already made, the connections with comparative and diaspora history, the critique of old and new sources, and the identification of new areas worthy of investigation. We welcome papers that raise historical, cultural, methodological, and theoretical questions that address the strengths and voids by focusing on relevant issues and empty spaces in Yoruba history and culture. The conference will encompass a wide range of disciplines and perspectives. Participants will be drawn from the United States, Canada, and elsewhere, including European and African countries. Graduate students are encouraged to attend and present papers. Selected papers from the conference will be published in book form. The deadline for submitting paper proposals is October 1, 2003. Proposals should include a 250-word abstract along with the author's name, address, telephone, email, and institutional affiliation. Please address all inquiries and submissions via e-mail to Ms Ann Genova annabell@mail.utexas.edu or visit website http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa.
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Last week March towards April 2004: BOUAKE/IVORY COAST - BOAKE CARNIVAL
A week long carnival in Bouaké each March, a festivity attracting thousands of visitors.
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April 2004: ACCRA/GHANA - AFRICA4AFRICA FESTIVAL
In collaboration with well respected charitable organizations, the African/African -American Music Entertainment and Cait Entertainment would be organizing a festival. This project consists of a music festival to be held in Accra, Ghana, during a 4 day event in May 2004. Artists and guest artists from the entire African continent and from around the world will perform during these four (4) days of tribute to the children victims of AIDS and HIV on the continent and throughout the world.
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April 2004: GOMON/IVORY COAST - BOAKE CARNIVAL
Held in Gomon, near Abidjan, this festival starts around midnight, when women and children sneak out of their huts and, naked, carry out nocturnal rites to exorcise the village of evil spells. Before sunrise the chief appears, drums pound and villagers go into trances. The frenzy continues until late afternoon of the next day.
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April 2004: MALI - Fête des Masques
The Dogons are famous for their masks and during the five-day event many of them are used in ritual ceremonies that go back more than 1000 years . At each Sigui festival, a new ceremonial mask is carved especially for the occasion, then placed in the Tellem caves. Remnants of these masks going back hundreds of years have been found in the caves.
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Mid of April 2004: MAURITANIA/NOUAKSCHOTT - WANDERING MUSIC FESTIVAL
International festival Wandering Music of Mauritania cultural event of international size in Mauritania, the Wandering Musics of Nouakchott. An annual crossroads of meetings and musical creations. The festival will develop the artists Mauritanians, but will also invite "musician-travellers" of the whole world, "track of salt" to the "road of silk", to present and develop their arts and know-how with the public of Nouakchott.
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23 April - 24 September 2004: BARCELONA/SPAIN - UNIVERSAL FORUM OF CULTURES
The First Universal Forum of Cultures will be held in Barcelona in the year 2004. It is to be a new type of world event, of spirit and scale similar to the Olympic Games and International Expositions, but based on the cultures of the world.
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27 - 29 April: THE NETHERLANDS/AMSTERDAM - WORLD DANCE DAY
"An educational event dedicated to the universal family of dancers". Symposium / Exhibition Imagine IC, Bijlmerplein 1006-1008. Workshops and Master Class, Tha Spot Jongeren Plaza, Develstein 100F, Amsterdam ZO. Pre-dance day gathering April 27th Onivo Restaurant/Grand Café-Het Vervolg Near Arena Coridor 2, Amsterdam Zuidoost, Time: 20.00hrs-24.00hrs, Amsterdam Zuidoost, The Netherlands. Dance Party Performances and Presentation: Mapoka, Dombolo/Makosa dancers, Salsadance feest,Brotherhood samba dancers, African Heritage Dance Theatre, Breakdance, Streetdance, R&B, Hiplife, Bellydance feest, special surprise acts and lots of atractrions.
For further information CLICK HERE and tell them you located the information in the US-Africa.org Calendar of Africa related events. For direct information visit http://members.lycos.nl/africanight

01 May 2004: GHANA/KROBO ODUMASE - DIPO
1st Saturday of May. Krobo Odumase, Eastern Region. 80 km. east of Accra. A Puberty Festival by the Krobos (of Somanya, Odumase) when girls at adolescent age are initiated into womanhood with a parade. The attire of the girls is close to nudity.
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03 May 2004: AROUND THE GLOBE - WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
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26 May 2004: AFRICA - AFRICAN UNION DAY
Third Celebration of the African Union, legally came into effect on 26 May 2001.
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Early June 2004: MADAGASCAR/ANTANANARIVO - 11th DONIA MUSIC FESTIVAL
The only Madagascan music festival which is now popular throughout the Indian Ocean thanks to its 5 day duration.
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Early June 2004: SENEGAL/DAKAR - KAAY FECC 3rd EDITION
The KAAY FECC Festival is one of the few cultural events dedicated to dance in Western Africa. It focuses on African traditional and contemporary dances, but also invites foreign companies coming from Europe and beyond. The Festival will stay true to its inital committment, with a focus on the following: to create a festive environment, with many shows, to offer diversity, to prodice a documentary film.
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June 2004: SANDTON/SOUTH AFRICA - CNN AFRICAN JOURNALIST AWARDS
The CNN African Journalist of the Year competition, now in its nineth year, has a simple mission to reinforce the importance of the role of journalism throughout the continent and to recognise and nuture journalistic talent.
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03 - 05 June 2004: FRANCE/TOULON - 13TH INT SYMPOSIUM ON HIV
Venue: International Congress Centre "Neptune": 13th International Symposium on HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases. The Symposium is an independent scientific meeting financed by registration fees and industrial sponsoring. The scientific program is defined entirely by the Steering & Scientific Committees, without any interference from the industry. Most participants are medical doctors, virologists, and researchers. However, a growing number of nurses, psychologists and activists are also present.
Website: http://www.avps.org/2003/hiv.htm
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04 - 12 June 2004: MOROCCO/FEZ - World Festival of Sacred Music
A joyful celebration of the divine, B'ismillah, in the name of God, brings together Pakistani qawwali chants, Egyptian madhi odes, flamenco-style Christian saeta, ancient gwalior chants from northern India, Sufi music of the whirling dervishes and more, performed by internationally renowned artists from the US, France, Spain, South Africa, Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Senegal, Poland, Greece and India.
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07 - 11 June 2004: SOUTH AFRICA/CAPETOWN - INT CONFERENCE (RHETORIC AND DEMOCRACY ABOUT AN AFRICAN ATHENS)
The conference will take place in different historical and cultural venues in and around Cape Town. In 2004 South Africa will celebrate ten years of democracy. From 7 to 11 June 2004, an international colloquium, RHETORIC AND DEMOCRACY. ABOUT AN AFRICAN ATHENS will be held in Cape Town, South Africa. The event is partnered or facilitated by Collège international de Philosophie (Paris), the CNRS (France), the American Association for the History of Rhetoric, the Association for Rhetoric and Communication in Southern Africa, FILLM/UNESCO, the International Society for the History of Rhetoric, the National Communication Association and the Rhetoric Society of America (to date). Website: http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/rhetoricafrika/.
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11 - 24 June 2004: MOROCCO/SEFROU - CHERRY FEAST
Sefrou's Cherry Feast is a celebration of the cherry harvest as opposed to a cherry feast, though you can be sure there will be no shortage of the little red balls to sample. It takes place in an ancient walled town, one of the oldest in the area, pre-dating even Fez's 8th-century structures. Sefrou lies 30km south of Fez on the rising slopes of the Middle Atlas, the ideal ground for the thousands of cherry trees which lend the town its fruity renown, and accessed most easily by Grand Taxi from the city, The harvest is celebrated over three days in June with music, dance and the mandatory colourful souk (market). There are numerous sporting competitions, a torch-light procession, a fairground, and finally the election of Miss Cherry with a parade by her admiring followers.
Website: http://www.tourism-in-morocco.com. Phone +212 (0) 37 681 531/532/533
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16 June 2004: SOUTH AFRICA/DURBAN - COMRADES MARATHON
Durban/Pietermaritzburg: Kwazulu-Natal. The Comrades Marathon is a world renowned race that meanders through the rolling valley of a thousand hills in Natal, South Africa. It is a gruelling 89km (56 mile) marathon - alternately run between Durban to Pietermaritzburg (PMB) - with challenging climbs and never-ending descents as the road winds through the hills. In 2004 it is an "up run" from Durban to Pietermaritzburg: 20,000 runners starting at 5.30am and ending the race around 12 hours later.
Website: http://www.comrades.com. Phone +27 (0) 33 8978650
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24 - 27 June 2004: MOROCCO/ESSAOUIRA - WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
The annual Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival is a celebration of the mysterious music of the Gnaouas and takes place in the beautiful town of Essaouira. A picturesque port painted in blue and white, the town is the ideal resort that most travellers dream of when they think of North Africa: laid-back and yet vibrant, atmospheric and relaxing.
Website: http://www.tourism-in-morocco.com. Phone +212 (0) 22 36 34 05/17
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24 - 27 June 2004 : SWITZERLAND/MONTANA - CRANS MONTANA FORUM
The Crans Montana Forum (15th Yearly Session) aims to gather Government Officials and International Organisations with Presidents and C.E.O. of financial, banking, trade and industrial companies. It aims to facilitate in the most informal ways, private encounters between Official and Private Sector's Representatives, in depth discussions about global topics, reciprocal understanding facilitating the closing of deals and the investment process. Ever since 1989, the Crans Montana Forum has been a must for Officials and Business Persons.
Internet: http://www.cmf.ch
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25 June - 4 July 2004: ZANZIBAR: The Festival of the Dhow Countries
The Festival of the Dhow Countries, East Africa’s largest cultural event, will take place in Zanzibar in magnificent, historical venues along the waterfront of Stone Town. The festival celebrates the unique cultural heritage of the "Dhow" countries: the African continent and the Indian Ocean region and their global Diaspora. The Festival of the Dhow Countries now promotes an extensive programme of Films, Music & Performing Arts, Women's events, Children's Panorama, Workshops & Seminars, Exhibitions and Mini-Festivals in villages throughout the Zanzibar islands of Unguja & Pemba. The festival is the inspiration of the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF).
For further information + 255 22 211 0908 or click here

End of June 2004: DR CONGO/LUMUMBASHI & KINSHASA - The FIA (International Actor festival)
FIA’s 8th edition will take place in four towns and two of them are from the Democratic Republic of Congo : Lumumbashi and Kinshasa and two Congolese towns : Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
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Early July 2004: CAMEROON/YAOUNDÉ - FESCARHY
The 6th edition of the Week devoted to books. The FESCARY will comprise several activities : exhibits, workshops, professional meetings, animations. The event will take place at François Villon Cultural Centre, at the National Museum, IRONDEL club, and at Cabaret 'terre battue'.
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01 July 2004: GHANA/ELMINA - BAKATUE REGATTA
1st Thursday of July. Elmina, 157 km West of Accra, in the Central Region. It is celebrated by the people Elmina, traditional area, this colourful festival attracts tourists from far and near. There is a Royal procession of Chiefs and Queenmothers, most of them riding in well-decorated palanquins through the principal streets to a sacred shrine where the Chief's Linguist pours libation and sprinkles sacred food. There is Regatta on the Benya Lagoon.
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03 - 04 July 2004: NETHERLANDS/BORNE - 16th AFRICA FESTIVAL

03 - 10 July 2004: MOROCCO/MARRAKESH - MARAKESH POPULAR ART FESTIVAL
For ten days, the bustling city of Marrakesh manages to cram in even more popular sights and sounds than it boasts already during the Marrakesh Popular Arts Festival. If Morocco is a nation in love with music and performance, the Place Djemaa El Fna in Marrakesh is the centre of the show, with its daily bill of storytellers, acrobats and troupes of hypnotic Gnaoua musicians. During this annual festival, the Place and surrounding locations become the al-fresco venues for an even wider variety of traditional folk performances from throughout Morocco.
For further information PHONE: +212 (0) 37 681 531/532/533 OR CLICK HERE and please tell them you located the information in the US-Africa.org Calendar of Africa related events.
08 - 11 July 2004: KENYA - FIA SAFARI RALLY
No other rally in the sporting world evokes such a magical fascination as the Safari Rally. Each year the eighth round of the World Rally Championship takes drivers through the dust, heat and wildlife of the open roads of Kenya. The drivers all agree that the Safari Rally is the closest to "real" rallying that the World Rally championship gets. Drivers have to watch out for wandering herds of cattle and zebra, negotiate cavernous potholes and steer their cars through slicks of red mud, making it a fantastic event for competitors and spectators.
For further information PHONE: +254 (0) 2 604245 or 604246 or 600804 OR CLICK HERE and please tell them you located the information in the US-Africa.org Calendar of Africa related events.

10 July 2004: ENGLAND/LONDON-AMERSHAM - AFRICAN BANQUET
In aid of the children of Gondar, Ethiopia. Venue: Dr. Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham, (For London-based friends, Amersham is at the end of the Metropolitan line). Guests are welcome from 7.30pm to see Ethiopian musicians and dancers performing out on the lawn. Then, at 8.00pm, our hostess for the evening, Tutu Melaku, will invite everyone in to the Banqueting Hall to enjoy more Ethiopian music plus a six-course banquet with recipes chosen from the whole exotic continent of Africa accompanied by African wines and beers. And one of the courses will be the national dish of Ethiopia, doro wat (spicy chicken stew) served with injera. All this will be topped off with an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, sweetmeats, and music from our second band for the evening, West African style. For further information click here and tell them you located this event in our Pan African Calendar.

16 July - 01 August 2004: SOUTH AFRICA/CAPE TOWN - ENCOUNTERS DOCUMENTARIES FILM FESTIVAL
South Africa's only film festival devoted exclusively to documentaries, Encounters: South African International Documentary Film Festival was first held in 1999, and now runs in both Cape Town and, subsequently, Johannesburg. It features screenings, panel discussions and workshops at various venues for aspiring film-makers. As well a screening a broad range of local and international documentary work, it also puts on a "film laboratory" in which first-time film-makers are given the opportunity to learn from working with experienced directors. Most of the makers of the films being screened also attend and take part in discussions with community representatives, the subjects of their films, local critics, academics and, of course, the audience. In 2003 the programme was whittled down from over 350 submissions to an official list of 54 documentaries.

Website: http://www.encounters.co.za
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18 July 2004: AFRICA: BIRTHDAY OF NELSON MANDELA
Birthday of Father Africa, dr Nelson "MadiBa" Mandela. WHAT MORE CAN WE SAY?
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23 July 2004: ETHIOPIA: BIRTHDAY OF HAILE SELASSIE
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, known to his devotees as the King of Kings and the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, is revered as the incarnation of God by Rastafarians throughout the world. His birthday is celebrated widely by all his followers.
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25 - 27 July 2004: BOTSWANA/SELEBI-PHIKWE - NATIONAL MUSIC EISTEDDFOD
The National Music Eisteddfod is a great opportunity to hear traditional Botswanan music. Schools, colleges, and choirs travel from all over the country to perform in Selebi-Phikwe, between Gaborone and Francistown. Expect to see traditional dances and music from all regions of Botswana. There are hunting dances and dances for particular celebrations such as weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies and births. Selebi-Phikwe lies in the middle of Botswana's most populated area. It is a purpose-built mining town, not very attractive in itself but a good base from which to explore the fascinating surrounding villages, or to visit the private game parks in the area. Botswana's highlights include the Okavango Delta, famous for its wildlife and scenery, and the Kalahari Desert - the little-visited homeland of the San Bushmen.
Phone: +267 35 3024 or + 267 31 3314
For further information CLICK HERE and please tell them you located the information in the US-Africa.org Calendar of Africa related events.

28 - 29 July 2004: NIGERIA/LAGOS - SHANGO FESTIVAL
The Shango festival is celebrated every year in Yoruba land. It reaches its climax after 20 days of preparation and involves sacrifices made at the shrine of the god in the compound of the hereditary priest in Lagos, who becomes possessed by the god, gains magical powers, eats fire and swallows gunpowder. A procession then follows the priest to the Oba's palace, where there is a feast. The Shango is a powerful god in the Yoruba culture and represents thunder. His name is generally feared and revered, and he is invited to administer justice when a person swears by his name.
For further information PHONE:+234 (0) 9 523 0418, and please tell them you located the information in the US-Africa.org Calendar of Africa related events.

29 July - 02 August 2004: GHANA/ADA - ASAFOTUFIAM
Last Thursday in July to the first weekend of August. Ada. Greater Accra Region. -71km east of Accra. Asafotufiam is an annual festival celebrated by the people of Ada to commemorates the victories of their warriors in battle and mourn those who lost their lives. The historic events are re-enacted. There are also purification ceremonies and a durbar of Chiefs.
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End of July 2004: BELGIUM/BOECHOUT (Antwerp) - SFINKS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Various stages, bars and a children's village, and plenty of space to wander, to talk or to enjoy a healthy bite in the trees' shadows. At the Open Air Stage Sfinksgoers discovered artists like Youssou N'Dour, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Farka Touré - long before they shot up the charts.

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August 2004: KENYA/MURALAL - International Camel Derby & Festival
The Derby takes place at Maralal, Samburu District, centred at Yare Club & Camp, just four kilometres south of Maralal town on the Nyahururu road. . It is also a spectacular festival packed with a variety of events that draws visitors from all over the world. The Derby has been on the go since 1990, with entries from Australia, America, New Zealand, Canada, England, France, Spain, Japan, South Africa and beyond competing against the reigning Kenya champions in both the amateur and professional races. The route runs through semi-desert regions with varying levels of difficulty and camels (with or without handlers) are available to hire for those wishing to compete.
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End of August 2004: TOGO/LOMÉ - FESTHEF
The 8th edition of Festhef (festival de Théâtre de la Fraternité) will be held in Assahoun (50 Km from Lome, Togo). The best drama companies from various African countries will perform.
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04 - 07 August 2004: ZAMBIA/LUSAKA - AGRICULTURE SHOW
The Zambia Agricultural Show brings together farmers and manufacturers from around the country to advertise their goods. But it also has a music festival, and that is why it's worth a visit. Zambia has a flourishing music industry with bands playing all types of music. Most popular is kalinduka, which developed in Zambia during the 1980s. It is based on local music styles from the different tribes of the country, but has replaced traditional instruments with a thumping bassline and electric guitar. R&B, reggae and rap are also popular, and there might also be performances of tribal folk dances.
PHONE: +260 1 222771
For further information CLICK HERE and please tell them you located the information in the US-Africa.org Calendar of Africa related events.