FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Re: African Cultural Week and AfriCa Fest
VICTORIA, BC — May 20th, 22-25th,
27-28th, 2017
VANCOUVER, BC – May 21st, 2017
SIDNEY, BC – May 27th, 2017
NANAIMO, BC – May 26th, 2017
On behalf of the Victoria African and Caribbean
Cultural Society (VACCS) Pulchérie Mboussi is pleased to announce the fifth
annual African Cultural Week Celebration and AfriCa Fest. This year, African
Cultural Week will run from May 20th through to the culminating show, AfriCa Fest
on May 27th. This weeklong
celebration is the ultimate experience of African roots and will introduce
first-rate, international African born artists to the art communities of
Victoria, Vancouver and Nanaimo.
For the first time, directly from Paris, we are
pleased to present world renowned choreographer and dancer Merlin “The
Enchanter” Nyakam. Born in Cameroon, Merlin has reached an international status
for his interpretations and teachings of African and Afro-Contemporary dance.
Merlin has and continues to enchant audiences around the world.
Special guests will include the Montreal-based African
flutist Salif Sanou, Toronto-based master percussionist Amara Kanté, and Ottawa-based
dundunfola player Akra Soumah, Jacky Essombé & Yoro Noukoussi from
Vancouver and definitively our local artists and drummers which include Jordan
Hanson (Hand Drum Victoria), Bernard Henin (Kizomba/Salsa Victoria, and our
Victoria famous Zumba instructor Isabel Santos.
Complimentary
media passes are still available for the events below. Please contact vaccsociety@gmail.com to RSVP.
EVENT DETAILS:
May 20th,
2017
African Village Spirit Experience with Jacky Essombé!
Archie Browning Sport Center
1151 Esquimalt Road
6:30 – 10:30 pm
Afternoon workshops:
1:30 pm - Discover African Contemporary Dance with Merlin Nyakam
3:00 pm - West African Drumming with world-renowned
Master percussionist Amara Kanté
May 21th,
2017
An Unforgettable Evening with Jacky Essombé
and our AfriCa Fest special guests
The WISE Hall & Lounge
1882 Adanac St, Vancouver, BC
8:00pm - 12:30 am
Afternoon workshops:
4:00 pm - Discover African Contemporary Dance with
Merlin Nyakam
5:45 pm - West African Drumming with world-renowned
Master percussionist Amara
Kanté
May 22th, 2017
Beginner and Intermediate Drum and Dance Workshops
Oaklands Community Center
2827 Belmont Avenue
1:00 – 2:30 (Beginner dance workshop)
3:00 – 4:30 (Beginner drum workshop)
5:00 – 6:30 (Intermediate dance workshop)
7:30 – 9:00 (Intermediate drum workshop)
9:30 – 10:30 Open jam & dance
May 23th,
2017 | The Dave Dunnet Community Theater
| 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd
7 - 9:30 pm
An Unforgettable Evening of African Traditional and Contemporary Dance
Performance with Merlin
Nyakam
May 24th,
2017 | Mary Winspear Centre | 2243 Beacon Avenue Sidney, BC
6:30 pm
Workshop: Discover African
Contemporary Dance with Merlin Nyakam
8:30 pm
Workshop: West African Drumming with Amara Kanté
May 25th,
2017 | Cook Village Community Center | 380 Cook St #1, Victoria, BC
8:30-11pm African
Spirit Night
May 26th,
2017 | Beban Park Recreation Centre | 2300 Bowen RD, Nanaimo, BC
2:00 pm
Discover African Contemporary Dance with Merlin Nyakam.
4:00 pm
West African Drumming with world-renowned Master percussionist Amara Kanté.
6:30 –
11:00 pm An Unforgettable Evening of African Rooted Food,
Rhythms & Dance Performance.
May 27th,
2017 | Archie Browning Sport Center | 1151 Esquimalt RD, Victoria, BC
12 am – 9
pm AfriCa Fest: A full day of activities for the whole family
including drumming workshops and featuring live music ensembles.
May 28th,
2017 | Dance Victoria | 2750 Quadra St, Victoria, BC
2:30 - 9
pm La Matinée Dansante: A great way to introduce friends and
family to African dancing and drumming.
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