About Us
Afrofest Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation formed by a group of music professionals in the Cape Town to promote African music, of all genres, in South Africa through an annual AfrofestSA Music Festival and other events. Afrofest SA was initiated by Jai Reddy and Michael Stohr with Board members George Werner, Bongani Sotshononda, Noel Solomons and Pooven Murugan.
Jai Reddy has presented top African acts in schools, his clubs, in concert halls and festivals internationally, for almost 40 years, and Michael Stohr, born in Cape Town, was a founding member of Afrofest in Toronto Canada and led the organisation for much of it’s 35 year history.
Through its activities and events Afrofest Foundation is committed to enhancing appreciation and awareness of African music, through music workshops and other community development initiatives planned, as part of the festival program.
Afrofest Foundation is guided by a Constitution with the following stated goals:
- To promote African music in South Africa through festivals and occasional events, including Afrofest as the premier event.
- To increase awareness and the appreciation of African arts and culture to all South Africans through access audiences to performances.
- To support and give exposure to local South African and international performers and groups who perform African music and dance.
- To cooperate with and provide liaison for South African cultural and ethnic organisations and international organisations, in the staging of cultural events.
- To engage local communities by conducting skills and social development programs.
Afrofest SA will include a collaboration with Afrofest in Toronto that will see performers representing Canada’s vibrant African music scene.
About Afrofest in Canada
Afrofest is the largest free annual African music festival in the world held outside Africa. Started in 1989 the first free concert was attended by about 2,000 people. The 2022 edition was attended by 150,000 over a weekend. Afrofest brings the spirit of African culture in the heart of Toronto, one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. The festival brings African communities together to share the rich and diverse expressions of African music and culture in an inclusive, vibrant and positive community festival setting. www.afrofest.ca