AFIA FESTIVAL
Afia Festival is our biggest event of the year! A celebration of South African culture, and guest appearances of other african/african diaspora cultures! We started the festival in Sweden 2016 but as of 2024 we are both hosting the festival in Sweden and in South Africa! Be on the lookout when we are where to make your choice of where to join us!
Afia Festival in Sweden
During 7 days in the beginning of summer in Stockholm city we gather from different cities, countries and continents to dance, talk, experience, battle, jam and club together. As the sun doesn’t set in June in Sweden, our vibe doesn’t either, we continue celebrating unity and love for South African music and dance throughout the whole week. The main subject of the Festival is isiPantsula* and South african house music.
Afia Festival in South Africa
Celebrating South African culture on homeground is special! The vibe is immediately there and together we dive deeper, share, enjoy and ask questions! It’s important to keep supporting local art and culture for it to be able to continue to thrive. So focusing on the festival in South Africa is a game changer, also with Johannesburg being a melting pot of people, the subjects of the festival (pantsula, amapiano, house music, deejaying) have not been available for everyone depending on where and when you grew up. With our festival we are striving to make it available for more people!
At Afia festival we aim to make everyone feel welcome and find a good way to participate and learn. Therefore we have so many different activities: Workshops, lectures, panel discussions, movie screenings, parties and mingle and probably more to come! We wish for people to dig deeper and understand different perspectives of life, hear each other and accept each other. At Afia Festival we go deep, we go beyond the surface of trends and waves, we want to know why, how and when. Join us on this journey of learning, celebrating, enjoying, connecting and opening up!
For us, it’s important to keep it authentic, intimate and respectful so every activity at our program has been thought through and discussed before being brought to reality. Afia Festival is a platform for African cultures and African artists, meaning our artist-line up consists solely of artists with African heritage. However, everyone is welcome to join the festival as participants and audience, the more the merrier and unity is the key to moving forward!
What is Pantsula?
The subculture Pantsula developed in Sophiatown, South Africa during the forced displacement of black people during Apartheid. Pantsula became a common expression and identity of the merging of the 11 tribes that existed in the country. The dance style (isiPantsula) developed from both traditional dances and theatrical gestures from daily life. During apartheid the regime would send out spies to the townships to keep demonstrations under control, but with isiPantsula the people could send messages without the regime knowing and together keep the spirit! Pantsula has saved many lives of young South Africans that devoted their life to the dance instead of streetlife. The dance could give a fellowship, a safety and something to do. Pantsula was a political movement to give black people a voice when they had lost all human rights. Today Pantsula is a know South African characteristic dance style.
Click buttons below to see more detailed info about previous festivals and upcoming ones!
What is Pantsula?
The subculture Pantsula developed in Sophiatown, South Africa during the forced displacement of black people during Apartheid. Pantsula became a common expression and identity of the merging of the 11 tribes that existed in the country. The dance style (isiPantsula) developed from both traditional dances and theatrical gestures from daily life. During apartheid the regime would send out spies to the townships to keep demonstrations under control, but with isiPantsula the people could send messages without the regime knowing and together keep the spirit! Pantsula has saved many lives of young South Africans that devoted their life to the dance instead of streetlife. The dance could give a fellowship, a safety and something to do. Pantsula was a political movement to give black people a voice when they had lost all human rights. Today Pantsula is a know South African characteristic dance style.
YEBO YES!
Stage performance (dance) with a Swedish/South African ensemble
No voice surrenders its individual identity, nor does any one voice steal the show, There is no front person, no soloist, no leader.”
“When I soften my hearing, something happens. The many songs coalesce to make one song that doesn’t exist in any of the one voices alone. It is an emergent song that I can’t find by unravelling the music into its separate strand!”
– “Entangled Life” by Merlin Sheldrake
Fast-paced sequences, rhythmic movements, and precise group choreographies characterise the South African dance isiPantsula, which is simultaneously marked by virtuosity and a spirit of resistance. The subculture Pantsula emerged in the Sophiatown district of Johannesburg during the violent expulsion of Blacks during Apartheid. It became a shared expression and identity that unified the 11 ethnic groups of the country. The dance style isiPantsula evolved from traditional dances and theatrical gestures of daily life and was used as a means of communication during demonstrations.
YEBO YES! is a full lenght dance performance starring artistic leaders Joanna Holewa Chrona and Theresa Gustavsson from Sweden together with co-creating dancers and pantsula choreographers Sibusiso Mthembu, Patricia Gugu Mofokeng and David Mokale from South Africa. The dancers blend isiPantsula with freestyle and club culture emphasizing character, individual expression, playfulness, unity and drive in an homage to the expressive power of this dance – an electrifying group dynamic and a strong community that never seems to end.
- Lenght: 60 min
- Stage: Indoor theatre with white backdrop. Can adapt to an outdoor stage.
- No props
- Rider sent upon request
- Full dossier under menu tab “presskit”
IsiPantsula choreographer: Sibusiso Mthembu
Co-creating Dancers: Sibusiso Mthembu, Patricia Gugu Mofokeng, David Mokale,
Joanna Holewa Chrona, Theresa Gustavsson
Music: Yared Tilahun Cederlund
Vocals: Ntsika Fana Xganga
Costume: Victoria Denise Tcha
Light: Erik Wiedersheim-Paul
Producer: AFIA
Co-producer: Norrlandsoperan, Dansnät Sverige, Dansens Hus, Nordberg Movement
With support from: Konstnärsnämnden, Vusi Art project, Riksteatern, Kulturrådet
12.10.21 – 13.10.21 Premiere at Dansens Hus, Stockholm Sweden
15.10.21 Palladium, Malmö,Sweden
17.10.21 Vara konserthus, Vara,Sweden
23.10.21 – 24.10.21 Ersboda folkets hus, Umeå,Sweden
26.10.21 Dalateatern, Falun Sweden
30.10.21 Kulturhuset Spira, Jönköping Sweden
18.04.23 – 20.04.23 Kucheza Festival, South Africa
25.04.23 Hjalmar bergmansteatern, Örebro Sweden
27.04.23 Palladium, Alingsås Sweden
29.04.23 Huvudnässkolans aula, Vänersborg Sweden
02.05.23 Lokstallarna, Karlshamn Sweden
05.05.23 Regionteatern, Växsjö Sweden
08.05.23 Gävle teater, Gävle Sweden
10.05.23 Sagateatern, LinköpingSweden
12.05.23 Sthlm Dance festival, Sweden
27.05.23 Africamia festival, Teneriffe
15.08.23 – 16.08.23 Parkteatern, Sweden
16.02.24 ICE HOT Nordics, Norway
24-25.05.24 Potsdam Fabrik, Germany
26.06.24 Malmö Sommarscen, Sweden
YEBO YES! TOUR SCHEDULE & TICKET INFO
BOOK US
This piece is done for an indoor theater but can under certain circumstances be performed on other types of stages/venues. We need a minimum 2 months notice for a gig due to visa applications and travels. If you are interested in booking us, contact us via afiapresents@gmail.com
AFIA WEEKEND SPECIAL
Afia Weekend Special is a new concept (est 2024), and its created to be able to expand our work and not only give you Afia Festival once a year but to be able to offer some special weekends here and there! Expect pop ups in your city, country with dance workshops, clubs, panel talks, performances, movie screening etc!
Are you interested in a Afia Weekend Special collaboration?
Dont hesitate to reach out, its a mobile concept and we move with the wind! – Taking our concept, our artists and our vision with us of course!
