Creativity, Community, and Teachable Moments Take Center Stage at Beijing Africa Week, Beginning Jun 3

Kente & Silk is back with their fourth annual Beijing Africa Week, a series of cultural and entrepreneurial events that kicks off this Thursday, Jun 3, and runs through Sunday, Jun 13. This year’s theme is Family Values, which will facilitate conversations about the myriad ways that “family bonds and family differences help direct deeper cultural understanding, idea sharing, and business development on a ‘people to people’ level.” With everything from an art exhibition and fashion show to a jewelry-making workshop and networking opportunities for creatives and young business leaders, Beijing Africa Week is a chance to strengthen the relationship between China and Africa through cultural exchange, community, and teachable moments.

The Beijing Africa Week Launch Party will take place on Thursday, Jun 3 at Modernista with a night of music and live performances including a headline concert from Sierra Leonean singer-songwriter Maliya – aka the Black Pearl of China – who will be debuting her brand new single, “Look at Me.” Rounding out the bill will be Ghana-born artist and musician Kanala Music, fresh off the release of his new album, Oxygen. DJ Ennoe Alpha out of Zimbabwe will keep the party going with a signature mix of African tunes, plus an introduction to African dance led by Tendie.

This, however, is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and what follows is an impressive panoply of the past, present, and future of African culture. For instance, on Jun 6, Sanlitun-based café and community space Chez Soi will host China-Africa Cultural Salon, an afternoon of talks centered around comparing the family values of Chinese and African cultures. Then, on Jun 10, The Local will host another installment of Kente & Silk’s long-running series By the Fireside, a night of poetry, music, and storytelling across various African cultures. Additionally, folks can fully immerse themselves in the tastes and scents of Nigeria as Chef Omolade prepares a culinary odyssey at The Hutong on Jun 12.

And yet, it wouldn’t be a Beijing Africa Week without valuable insights from key players in the tech and entrepreneurial sectors. This year, those insights will be shared during Africa-China Tech for Social Impact With Get Funded America, taking place via Zoom on Jun 9. Lastly, the week closes out on Jun 13 with the African Short Video Competition – hosted by Flying Ostrich, a documentary and video production team from Ethiopia and China – at BonCafe+. Also, it’s worth noting that the events outlined above are just a few of the happenings for Beijing Africa Week 2021. There are, in fact, plenty more.

To find out more about Kente & Silk, and to get a full schedule of Beijing Africa Week 2021 events, follow them on WeChat (ID: KenteandSilk).

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Images courtesy of Kente & Silk