With Wellington at the Red | Whero setting, this event can go ahead but with reduced capacity. Registration is required for attendance and names and vaccine passes will be checked at the door. Please follow these guidelines before registering for this event.

Deeply woven into the social fabric of Africa, rhythm, dance and song is the very essence and expression of its people, a force and collective consciousness that binds people, community and tribe together – creating connection, belonging and unity. Language syncopates like a drum bringing melodies together in soulful harmony.

Join us at Te Papa Tongarewa for a showcase of world class community artists featuring, Pan African 12 piece Jazz/folk Band; Ras Judah and the Culture Embassy, Afrobeat King of the Congo; Sam Manzanza, West African Drum and Dance Master Koffie Fugah of Ghana, and the Luo Dance Troupe, a unique community hailing from parts of Southern Sudan, Uganda and Kenya.

Live event runs from 7.30pm - 10.30pm, Te Marae, Level 4

Part of Mother Tongue Language 2022 – register on Eventbrite for a West African Drum and Dance workshop leading up to the main event - led by world class Djembefola (Indigenous Drum and Dance Master) Koffie Fugah, from Ghana. Discover West African drum rhythms, dances and songs in a supportive environment for all abilities taught in a fun and engaging style.

Workshop runs from 6.30pm - 8.00pm, Wellington Foyer, Level 2

International Mother Language Day is observed on February 21 every year, to promote linguistic cultural diversity and multilingualism. It recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion and empower communities to a stronger sense of identity and belonging within society. The ability to speak multiple languages is defined as multilingualism, on average, people from the communities of the African diaspora can speak up to 4.5 languages alone within their own country and/or region, with estimates putting the number of languages spoken at as many as 3,000. For this reason, Africa is considered to be the most linguistically diverse continent on the planet.