Urban Africa - My future in 2020

The pop musicians of African metropolitan cities and townships are among the continent’s most celebrated stars. Be it Kwaito, Uptempo, Rap or HipHop, their music touches the masses and is an expression of everyday life in Africa. The artists address contemporary issues such as HIV, teen pregnancy and high crime rates, while their music videos highlight aspects of modern life, consumption and status. By combining local pop trends with global club sounds, they create uniquely original musical styles.

Despite their popularity and influence, these artists are frequently overlooked by festivals in Europe – in contrast to song writers of more traditionally oriented music, artists of the cosmopolitan middle class in Africa or members of the Diaspora, who have enjoyed recognition as the ambassadors of urban African music up until now.

The festival “Urban Africa – My Future in 2020” provided a venue for musicians in local “hot spots” in South Africa, Ghana and Zimbabwe. In addition to concerts and listening sessions, the festival also hosted dance workshops and panel discussions. The festival concluded with a large-scale performance, jointly developed by African and German artists.

Artistic director: Georg Milz