Click on the headings for more information about each festival and event.
•Cape Town Minstrel Carnival
It's summer in Cape Town and the New Year is celebrated in great raucous style in the form of a carnival. The parades are huge flamboyant affairs with grand costumes, wonderful marching bands, singing, dancing and more. Needless to say, few Capetonians make it to work on the 2nd of January.
Where:Cape Town, South Africa
When: 31 December - 2 January (2012/13)More »
•Festival-au-Desert
Three days of traditional Touareg art, music and dance traditionally takes place in Essakane, 2 hours from Timbuktu, Mali. International acts from Europe and West Africa round out the festivities. Everyone camps in the desert with their camels close at hand. A truly unique cultural event that is well worth the trek. In 2013, due to unrest in Timbuktu, the show is going on the road in true nomad style. The "Western Caravan" will start in February 2013, check the official web site for final dates and locations. Taking a tour is highly recommended because of the somewhat volatile situation in Mali.
Where: Segou, Bamako, and , Mali
When: February - March (2013)More »
•Amazigh New Year, North Africa
In the Maghreb region, New Year's eve is actually celebrated on the 12th January. The Amazigh people of North Africa will celebrate their own New Year for the 2,960th time in accordance with the Julian calendar. Families come together to enjoy steaming plates of chicken and couscous and welcome the New Year. For some Amazigh, it is essential not to eat spicy or bitter food so those will not be the flavours for the year ahead.
Where: Maghreb Region, North Africa
When: 12 January (annual)More »
•Timket Festival, Feast of Epiphany
Music food and processions mark Ethiopia's biggest festival. The origin of the Feast of Epiphany dates back over 1000 years and once the ceremonials are over it's time to shake your hips and join in the vigorous dancing. The best places to enjoy the festival are Gondar, Lalibela and Addis Ababa.
Where:Ethiopia
When: 20 January (2013)More »
•Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations is one of the continent's biggest sporting events. The soccer tournament is held every two years. Sixteen national teams made it through the preliminary stages. If you're traveling in Africa during the Cup, you'll know when the matches are being played because countries literally come to a standstill to watch or listen to the games. The 29th Cup of Nations will be held in 2013, hosted by South Africa. In 2013 the tournament made a switch to even years (so it doesn't clash with the World Cup.
Where:South Africa
When: 19 January - 2 February (2013)More »
•Cavadee, Mauritus
Cavadee is a colorful religious festival celebrated by the Tamil Hindu population in Mauritius. Devotees fast for ten days before the festival and then carry large replicas of temples and deities to the rivers to be cleansed and blessed by priests. An eye catching feature of the celebration is the piercings that many devotees undergo to show their devotion to the son of Shiva. Ears, nipples, tongues and cheeks are pierced with all kinds of sharp objects; here are some pictures from 2009
Where:Mauritius
When: 27 January (2013) - (annual)More »