FESTIVAL BAOBAB

Celebrating and showcasing the wealth of artistic talent in BC’s fast-growing African community

All events at the WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac (off Victoria Drive)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2
African Cabaret doors open 8 pm, show 9 pm

Entertainment by animated Congolese storyteller, actor, musician, dancer Jean Pierre Makosso; multi-talented Guinean percussionist and kora (harp-lute) player Kocassalé Dioubaté; the high energy Kokoma dance and drum performance ensemble, led by Maobong Oku from Nigeria; and a rare solo performance by Guinean master-musician and multiple Juno Award-winning artist Alpha Yaya Diallo of the African Guitar Summit supergroup

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Heart of the Baobab dinner 7 pm, show 8 pm

Dinner (optional), prepared by the Nyala African restaurant, followed by a performance on kora from master-musician Daniel Janke; African dances from the young women of the Miyanda troupe; and two full sets of
West African music, masks, storytelling, and dance from Masabo, helmed by athletic balafon (marimba)-player Fana Soro


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16
A Night in the Sahara doors open 8 pm, show 9 pm

Sudanese music from five-piece band Sudan'da led by oud (lute)-player Aladeen Abdalla; trance-inducing North African rhythms and bellydancing with Egyptian drum-master Adel Awad and Sahara; and the contemporary grooves of DJ Nils from the Beats without Borders collective to take us dancing into the wee hours

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17
African Carnival dinner 7 pm, show 8 pm

Chef Hinda from Djibouti will serve tasty African tapas. Storytelling from Nigerian actress, playwright, and yarnspinner Comfort Ero; the irresistible rhythms of young Afro-Cuban drum and Zimbabwean marimba ensemble Kutapira; and two full sets of dance music from Guinean groover Aboubacar Camara, his band Doundounba, plus special guests

An African/Caribbean Jam or DJ will play out each night
The WISE will have an all-ages licence for these events

Tickets $18 each show ($15 concessions) *
Pass for all 4 shows $55 (or $45)
Available at Highlife Records - 1317 Commercial Drive
Sofia Books. - 450 West Hastings
Banyen Books - 3608 West 4th Ave, and by phone at (604) 737 8858 More info

Festival Baobab is co-produced by Alliance Française de Vancouver, the WISE Hall, Zula Productions, & Bluehouse