African
Music Festival founder Oko Drammeh with Miriam Makeba
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The
African Music Festival began in 1983 in Delft, Holland when Gambian
producer Oko Drammeh decided to create a taste of home for the Africans
living in Europe. It quickly became one of The Netherlands' biggest
tourist draws, eventually subsidized by the Dutch Ministry of Culture
and the City of Delft. Over the years, the Festival grew to become
one of the world's largest African music events. Over the years, the event has featured most of the major names in African music, including Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Manu Dibango, Osibisa, Franco & OK Jazz, Thomas Mapfumo, Stella Chiweshe, Angelique Kidjo, and a host of others. Musicians, singers, drummers and dancers from all over the African continent have graced the stages of the African Music Festival. The African Music Festival made its American debut in 1997 at the John Anson Ford Theater in Hollywood, CA and featured the legendary group Osibisa. The Festival is also making its way soon to China and other parts of Asia. |
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 Osibisa, Ghana The Flying Elephants, the Grammy nominated African top band with the smash hit "Sunshine Day |
 Manu Dibango wearing the African Music Festival t-shirt |
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 Hugh Masekela, South Africa First African musician with a #1 hit record in the U.S. "Grazin' in the Grass" |
 Miriam Makeba, South Africa, the First African Singing Diva |
 Franco & The O.K. Jazz, Congo Africa's #1 Guitarist. Inventor of Soukous music with over 100 albums |
 Mahmud Ahmed from Ethiopia |
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 Ghettoblaster from Nigeria |
The
crowd at the African Music Festival at John Anson Ford Theater in Hollywood,
CA 