SOUNDS OF AFRICA FESTIVAL

The Washington West African Center presents:

Sounds of Africa Festival

Date of Event: Friday and Saturday: August 4th & 5th 2023

INVITATION TO THE FIRST SOUNDS OF AFRICA FESTIVAL

We are delighted to extend our heartfelt invitation to you for the inaugural "Sounds of Africa Festival" organized by the Washington West African Center. This vibrant event is scheduled to take place on Friday August 4th and Saturday August 5th from 11 am to 8 pm at the Everett Community College. The festival aims to create a harmonious gathering where people from various communities can come together to immerse themselves in the rich and authentic culture and traditions of Africa presented by Africans themselves. We firmly believe that this event will foster diversity promote peaceful coexistence and facilitate meaningful business exchanges between the African community in Washington and other communities. Attendees will have the invaluable opportunity to explore traditional African cuisines fashion languages and music.

Over the course of these two days the festival will showcase the diverse facets of African culture offering Washington state creative enjoyable and distinctive experience.

On Friday August 4th from 11 am to 7 pm we will be hosting a series of free workshops on traditional African musical instruments including the Kora Balafon Djembe Sabarr and African Dance. These workshops will be facilitated by seasoned and professional West African instrumentalists musicians and dancers from around the world. We are honored to have distinguished artists such as Kora player Pa Bobo Jobarteh from The Gambia the Gansango West African Drumming and Dance Group as well as the talented Kouyate Twins from Atlanta and California among others. Each workshop will be conducted in one of our three rooms with a capacity to accommodate 75 to 100 participants. For more information or to register for the workshops please refer to the program schedule.

Saturday August 5th promises a day filled with fun and various edutainment activities such as a Fashion show to showcase African clothing a dance competition and captivating performances by various artists including the renowned international singer and songwriter Pa Omar Jack from The Gambia the energetic Gansango West African Dance Group the Kouyate Twins The Selassie I Soldiers Band and Pa Bobo Jobarteh.

In light of the significance of the occasion we cordially invite you to grace the first annual Sounds of Africa Festival on Friday August 4th and Saturday August 5th 2023. Your presence would be an honor and a testament to your commitment to promoting cultural understanding diversity and inclusion. Please kindly share with your network.

To obtain additional information or confirm your attendance please do not hesitate to contact 253-235-2132 or via email at [email protected]. Alternatively you can visit our website at www.wawac.org.

We eagerly anticipate your favorable response and sincerely hope that you will join us in celebrating the rich tapestry of African⁷ culture at the Sounds of Africa Festival.

EVENT SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

FRIDAY AUGUST 4TH: 11:00am-7:00pm

"DOUDOU NDIAYE COUMBA" ROOM 1

11:00am-1:00pm | Balafon workshop > Register Here first 75 only! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyyxh4qjBX-lLYrfh25SHSG3I7ojbYQqlN8CQ0HpypubzcZA/viewform?usp=sf_link 

4:00pm-6:00pm | African Drumming Workshop: Djembe/Sabarr/Tama workshop > Register Here!

https://docs.google.com/form/d/e/1FAIpQLScTb9yjwlcEjgjOm0O3ml8T3Xs1iG0NQreQ1dt01J9eg0fa5g/viewform  

5:00pm-6:00pm | Gansango West African Dance and Drumming Group > Register Here!

https://docs.google.com/form/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4p_YX52uZehVJtqJXiSKRocCOLRdT2wzlJNVmBTUY7EMi4A/viewform?usp=sf_link

"SOUNDIATA KEITA" ROOM 2

11:00am-1:00pm | Kora workshop with Master Kora Musician Pa Bobo Jobarteh> Register Here!

https://docs.google.com/form/d/e/1FAIpQLScSHR8DPVBWyeVIBIjG4VZwA9aXQf7hKMCzzYeGipxynNofA/viewform?usp=sf_link 

4:00pm-6:00pm | African Dance Workshop by the Kouyate Twins Ousseynou & Lassana from California and Atlanta> Register Here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSV6k7Acaalim_SOiv-NoTACKFmRm0SPTE4h3IV7TEuFfL_g/viewform?usp=sf_link 

SATURDAY AUGUST 5TH: 11:00am-7:00pm

The second and final day of the festival will take place in the Fitness Center at Everett Community College. We are inviting a renowned traditional African band (yet to be determined) to entertain the public fused with a “Fashion Show” to display traditional African clothing as well as traditional African food served to highlight different cuisines from across the motherland.

"ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF" EVCC FITNESS CENTER (ALL DAY VENUE)

11:00am-11:05am | MC Introductory Remarks

11:05am-11:10am | Statement by WAWAC ED Pa Ousman Joof 

11:10am-11:25am | Opening performance by Pa Omar Jack and Pa Bobo Jobarteh

11:25am-11:55am | BIDEWW CHOIR AFTER-SCHOOL “HEAR US OUT” Performance 

11:50am-11:55am | Welcoming Remarks by Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers

11:55am-12:00pm | Introduction of Governor Inslee by WAWAC board chair Gloria Walton

12:00pm-12:15pm | Keynote Speech by Governor Jay Inslee

12:15pm-12:50pm | Sounds of Africa Fashion show #1 > Register Here!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0gp9-35BVy1jnx9ihKzHKJgslsGZAUNKS_5i3Twl_uZs3HQ/viewform 

12:50pm-1:00pm | Performance by Starboi Ebrima from Alaska

1:00pm-2:15pm | Performance by Selassie I Soldier 

2:15pm-3:15pm | Performance by the Kouyate Twins from Atlanta and California >Register Here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSV6k7Acaalim_SOiv

NoTACKFmRm0SPTE4h3IV7TEuFfL_g/viewform?usp=sf_link 

3:15pm-4:15pm | Performance by Master Kora player Pa Bobo Jobarteh and son >Register Here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSHR8DPVBWyeVIBIjG-4VZwA9aXQf7hKMCzzYeGipxynNofA/viewform?usp=sf_link 

4:30pm-5:50pm | Performance by Pa Omar Jack >Register Here!

https://docs.google.com/form/d/e/1FAIpQLSekG0Sdsv2_rG5r00PmPx6qQSWLLLYjUzoO4E1Eb4qdygx8rA/viewform 

6:00pm-7:00pm | Gansango West African Dance and Drumming Group >Register Here!

https://docs.google.com/form/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4p_YX52uZehVJtqJXiSKRocCOLRdT2wzlJNVmBTUY7EMi4A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Event Venue

Everett Community College, 2000 Tower St, Everett, WA 98201, USA, United States