By Bereket Alemayehu A poster for Seoul Africa Festival, opening this weekend / Courtesy of Africa Insight The annual Seoul Africa Festival is preparing for its 7th run this Saturday at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. The festival will kick off at noon, with a parade and opening ceremony, followed by various performances and the highly anticipated Asia Africa Talent Award competition, the first and largest talent competition of its kind in Asia. According to a press release, this event is poised to shine a spotlight on the diverse talents of the African diaspora living here and the local artists passionate about African culture.
The festival is set to be a platform for visitors to see and experience different African cultures, through booths, family-friendly activities and cultural exhibitions arranged by various African embassies, NGOs, educational institutions and social enterprises. Organized by Africa Insight, a nonprofit organization, the event fosters dialogue and cooperation between Africa and Asia, creating an unforgettable cultural experience that strengthens ties through the arts. Since 2016, the Seoul Africa Festival has been the first and the largest in the history of Korea that celebrates Africa and promotes the various African communities here.
The festival has consistently drawn more than 50,000 attendees each year for the past six years. The Asia Africa Talent Award, first launched in 2019 under the name "Africa's Got Talent," is getting an upgrade this year. Thi.