Town hosts African Festival

The AfriKaba Festival gets underway this weekend with a free performance of raw Afro-Columbian roots music as part of the Stade Saturday events.
Afrika SUS-150930-110459001Afrika SUS-150930-110459001
Afrika SUS-150930-110459001

Sonpikkante will appear at the Stade Open Space, adjacent to the Jerwood Gallery, from 7.30pm on Saturday October 3.

Cllr Dawn Poole the council’s lead member for regeneration, said: “With deep Afro- Caribbean rhythms and salsa groove, Sonpikkante features members of Brighton’s legendary Pollito Boogaloo led by Rafael Berrio.

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“Born and raised in Columbia, Berrio is committed to playing the traditional music of his ancestors; the folk music that his father and grandfather would have known, music that is happy and sad and laced with hot Latin rhythms and passion.

“This very special free concert is part of AfriKaba, a festival of high quality African and Caribbean heritage, arts and culture which runs locally through October.

On Thursday October 8 the Electric Palace Cinema, in the Old Town, hosts the only screening in Hastings of ‘Dear White People’.

Winner of the 2014 “Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent”, Dear White People is a sharp, witty and not what you might expect satire about race relations in the age of Obama.

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Writer/director Justin Simien follows a group of African American students as they navigate campus life and racial politics at a predominantly white college. There will be a screening at 11am and another at 8pm. Tickets: £5/£6/£7.

The Festival continues on Friday October 9 when Kora Master Seckou Keita returns to Hastings supported by Welsh poet and folk singer Gwyneth Glyn.

Seckou, who comes from Southern Senegal, was born into the musical world of griots and kings.

A master of the 22 stringed Kora, Seckou explores the modern global citizen living with seven centuries of tradition and musical heritage.

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Welsh poet, storyteller and folk singer Gwyneth Glyn expresses her heritage in her own Welsh mother-tongue. Delicious Afro-Caribbean food served.

The event is being hosted by Hastings Museum. Tickets: £20/15 (with/without an Afro Caribbean meal).

For more details of the AfriKaba Festival, including a full line-up of events, visit: www.afrikaba.co.uk.