April festivals and events in Africa
April brings spring to northern Africa and fall to South Africa. Easter is celebrated by Coptic Christians in Ethiopia and Egypt; the Ethiopians will break a 55 day fast on Easter Monday. Runners have their pick of interesting marathons in the Sahara Desert and the African bush.
Find out more about all these festivals and events below; click the festival and events headings to get more information.
The Splashy Fen Music festival is one of South Africa's longest running festivals. Musicians and artists from all over South Africa gather for a long weekend of cultural fun. This outdoor festival is held in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains.
Where: Spashy Fen, South Africa
When: 2 - 6 April (2015)More »
The Sand Marathon covers 151 miles and is run over 6 days; it's a grueling race. Set in the Moroccan desert, around 600 competitors from 30 countries take part every year. Competitors carry all their equipment themselves and cook their own meals. Most competitors run for charity.
Where: Sahara Desert, Morocco
When: 3 - 13 April (2015)More »
"Sniffing the Breeze" is a lovely name for a spring festival and that's what Sham el Nessim literally means in Arabic. Egyptians celebrate Sham el Nessim by taking their families on picnics, and enjoying public parks and other green spaces. Salted fish, colored boiled eggs and green onions are the traditional foods eaten on this day. It is commonly believed that Egyptians have been celebrating this holiday for over 4000 years. It is traditionally held on the Monday following Coptic Easter.
Where:Egypt
When: 13 April (2015)More »
The Sufi Cultural Festival is an weekend celebration that takes place each April within the imperial city of Fes to honor Sufi music and spirituality. The Festival brings together religious leaders in Sufism and artists from around the world. Visitors come to enjoy ritual performances complemented by morning poetry readings, films and oriental art.
Where:Fez, Morocco
When: 18 - 25 April (2015)More »
"Jazz in Carthage" is one of North Africa's largest jazz festivals. It attracts musicians from Cuba, Spain, Portugal, UK, US as well as providing a showcase for local Tunisian talent.
Where:Tunis, Tunisia
When: April (2015)More »
The Ethiopian Easter festival is called Fasika. This festival celebrates the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead after being crucified. During lent, Ethiopians fast for 55 days. Easter Sunday mass is a serious affair, which lasts several hours accompanied by prayers and music. Priests are dressed in their finest and people wear white cotton outfits. The fast is broken by eating meat slaughtered the previous evening, and there's plenty of local brew (tella and tej) to keep things festive.
Where:Ethiopia
When: 10 April (Good Friday) - 12 April (Easter) (2014)More »
One of South Africa's premier gay events is this 4 day festival held in Knysna a town in the beautiful Garden Route. Music, art exhibits, cabaret shows, good food and a grand parade mark the exuberant festivities.
Where:Knysna, South Africa
When: 29 April - 3 May (2015)More »
One of Africa's best cultural festivals, Harare's International Festival of Arts, attracts performers from all over the globe. There's dance, music, plays, spoken word and more. Given the economic climate in Zimbabwe its not easy to pull off a successful festival, but they do it every year.
Where:Harare, Zimbabwe
When: 28 April - 3 May, (2015)More »
Find out more about all these festivals and events below; click the festival and events headings to get more information.
1. Splashy Fen Music Festival
The Splashy Fen Music festival is one of South Africa's longest running festivals. Musicians and artists from all over South Africa gather for a long weekend of cultural fun. This outdoor festival is held in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains.
Where: Spashy Fen, South Africa
When: 2 - 6 April (2015)More »
2. The Marathon Des Sables
The Sand Marathon covers 151 miles and is run over 6 days; it's a grueling race. Set in the Moroccan desert, around 600 competitors from 30 countries take part every year. Competitors carry all their equipment themselves and cook their own meals. Most competitors run for charity.
Where: Sahara Desert, Morocco
When: 3 - 13 April (2015)More »
3. Sham el Nessim
"Sniffing the Breeze" is a lovely name for a spring festival and that's what Sham el Nessim literally means in Arabic. Egyptians celebrate Sham el Nessim by taking their families on picnics, and enjoying public parks and other green spaces. Salted fish, colored boiled eggs and green onions are the traditional foods eaten on this day. It is commonly believed that Egyptians have been celebrating this holiday for over 4000 years. It is traditionally held on the Monday following Coptic Easter.
Where:Egypt
When: 13 April (2015)More »
4. Sufi Cultural Festival
The Sufi Cultural Festival is an weekend celebration that takes place each April within the imperial city of Fes to honor Sufi music and spirituality. The Festival brings together religious leaders in Sufism and artists from around the world. Visitors come to enjoy ritual performances complemented by morning poetry readings, films and oriental art.
Where:Fez, Morocco
When: 18 - 25 April (2015)More »
5. Jazz in Carthage
"Jazz in Carthage" is one of North Africa's largest jazz festivals. It attracts musicians from Cuba, Spain, Portugal, UK, US as well as providing a showcase for local Tunisian talent.
Where:Tunis, Tunisia
When: April (2015)More »
6. Fasika (Easter)
The Ethiopian Easter festival is called Fasika. This festival celebrates the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead after being crucified. During lent, Ethiopians fast for 55 days. Easter Sunday mass is a serious affair, which lasts several hours accompanied by prayers and music. Priests are dressed in their finest and people wear white cotton outfits. The fast is broken by eating meat slaughtered the previous evening, and there's plenty of local brew (tella and tej) to keep things festive.
Where:Ethiopia
When: 10 April (Good Friday) - 12 April (Easter) (2014)More »
7. Pink Loerie Mardi Gras
One of South Africa's premier gay events is this 4 day festival held in Knysna a town in the beautiful Garden Route. Music, art exhibits, cabaret shows, good food and a grand parade mark the exuberant festivities.
Where:Knysna, South Africa
When: 29 April - 3 May (2015)More »
8. Harare International Festival of Arts
One of Africa's best cultural festivals, Harare's International Festival of Arts, attracts performers from all over the globe. There's dance, music, plays, spoken word and more. Given the economic climate in Zimbabwe its not easy to pull off a successful festival, but they do it every year.
Where:Harare, Zimbabwe
When: 28 April - 3 May, (2015)More »