“Santrofi from Ghana, Vitali Maembe from Tanzania, and Gonder Fasiledes from Ethiopia headlined the Africa Day concert, which took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa on May 25. The concert marked a significant part of the launch festivities for Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA), a new pan-African initiative.
The Africa Day concert was organized by Selam, in collaboration with the African Union’s Division of Culture and Sports. This annual celebration of Africa Day serves as a platform to reflect on the progress made by African nations, commemorate their shared history, and reaffirm their commitment to a brighter future for the continent and its people.
Teshome Wondimu, the founder and executive director of Selam, emphasised the importance of this day for the Culture and Creative Industries (CCIs). He stated, “On this day, we have an opportunity to draw attention to both the successes and challenges of the CCIs. We will be hosting a wide range of stakeholders from across the continent to underscore the value of cooperation and collaboration, creating a network for advocating and promoting various interventions in the cultural sector. Therefore, Africa Day should be among the continent’s key celebrations.”
Santrofi, the headlining performers, spoke ahead of their performance, highlighting the significance of Africa Day in promoting and raising awareness about African music and various forms of creative expression. This day allows artists and creatives to showcase their work, share their stories, and gain recognition both within Africa and on the international stage.
“Africa Day celebrates the unity and diversity of the African continent,” Santrofi remarked. “As musicians from Ghana, we see it as a meaningful day to celebrate our African heritage and culture. We were thrilled to perform for the first time in Ethiopia, especially on Africa Day. We hope our performance illuminated the beauty of highlife music as an integral part of African culture, alongside other talented acts that showcased Africa’s diverse and dynamic contributions to music, art, and culture.”
Santrofi expressed a vision for a creative sector that supports and promotes local talent, encourages innovation and experimentation, and fosters collaboration and networking. Their aspiration is for a financially sustainable creative sector that equips artists with the resources and support they need to thrive.”
