Africa Fest 2026 annual celebration joined family, friends, loved ones and community with two days of music, art, and highlighting cuisine from across the continent. Djam Vive, master drummer and founding member of Africa Fest Madison performed solo as well as with the two bands he is involved with, shared his memories of how it all began.
“Wooden voices on Williamson Street, two guys approached me about carving drums, and we started jamming, carving and selling drums near the Wisco,” Vive said. “We would buy wood and carve wood drums there. One day Ago came and talked to me. Ago and two daughters. We had a presentation, along with a friend from Ghana at the Monona Terrace we played drums and the children danced. Then after that every year, we had it, and it became big. People come here from all over, far away. Now, two days are better so they can relax and come back and participate again. Africa Fest is not funded by anyone, once the show is finished the grant writing for the next year begins. The festival is put together by volunteers.”
Djam Vive (Atimevu, Tani and the Afrofunkstars) drummed the finish line for the children’s Africa Fest 5k which in return raises funding for the children by welcoming runners across the line to generate support needs in areas other than Madison’s close-knit neighborhoods. “The money helps to build and provide the children of Africa with educational needs and other funding.”…