Oslo Afro Arts festival

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Refugee|ni|us Exhibition: Celebrating Artists from Refugee communities

For the past decade, the word ‘refugee’ conjures negative connotations of being a threat or victim of war. However, refugees are human beings just like anyone else who dream to thrive in life. A two-part Refugee|ni|us exhibition that was set at two locations under Oslo Afro Arts Festival in August played an important role in platforming music and art from refugee and former refugee artists that Oslo residents had gotten to enjoy. The Refugee|ni|us exhibition is an international collaboration between Oslo-based curator Khalid Shatta; exhibit producer and cultural psychologist Mona Frank; Oslo Afro Arts Festival, and Octopizzo Foundation. The initiator of the exhibition, Mona Frank is originally from Germany and have lived in Norway for the past three years studying social anthropology. She found music videos produced by Octopizzo for the Refugeenius project and thought that they were amazing, [...]

- words by Ka Man Mak

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Kenyan Hip-Hop Artist Octopizzo on the Power of Music and Entrepreneurship

From his home in Nairobi, the rapper, entrepreneur, philanthropist and head of the Octopizzo Foundation that bears his name reflects on his journey, his foundation and the Refugeenius project. His internationally acclaimed music album, ‘Refugeenius’ produced with refugee artists were played at Grønland Kirke during the Oslo Afro Arts Festival, alongside audiovisual materials from refugee musicians and paintings from Khalid Shatta. Native of Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya, Henry Ohanga goes by his stage name, Octopizzo describes his first steps in music as having been an act of rebellion against the world, “Music is like speaking alone but then everyone listens. This freedom that comes with the artist was everything … it was a rebellious act against people representing you in ways that it’s not you.” [...]

- words by Sawsen Khechab

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Let’s Dance! Meet OAAF Dancers Nasser Mhende, Thulani Maluleka, and Jomo Masai

The Oslo Desk sat down with three dancers during the Oslo Afro Arts Festival to discuss briefly what dance they were teaching and what it meant to them. African or Africana dance is a spiritual practice to communicate with the universe and for finding one’s own identity, as we have learned from the lecture by Thomas Talawa Prestø. Hear what these dancers have to say. Nasser Mhende, Afro House dance instructor Zimbabwe professional dancer and singer songwriter, Nasser Mhende came to Norway in 2007 to study modern dance at Kunsthøgskolen in Oslo. He is currently running an artistic organisation called, ‘One Mic’, a collective of dancers and actors to create music events. During the Oslo Afro Arts Festival, Nasser and his co-instructor, [...]

- words by Ka Man Mak

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Sudanese Khalid Shatta on His “Migration of the Soul” Paintings

From Sudan to Oslo, Khalid Shatta’s recent paintings “Migration of the Soul” were shown at Kunsthall Oslo and Grønland Kirke under the Oslo Afro Arts Festival for a two-part exhibition to showcase the work of refugee artists. Kunsthall Oslo, a non-profit art space located at the heart of Bjørvika which explores the social and historical context of contemporary art production, had featured Shatta’s large canvas masterpieces and sketches in their gallery. Painting has always been living inside Khalid Shatta and he professed that it is the only language he has known. He believes that painting was a way for him to understand his childhood and also perhaps as a healing tool [...]

- words by Ka Man Mak

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Thomas Talawa Prestø Sets the Stage on Africana Dance

At the Oslo Afro Arts Festival, choreographer, lecturer, founder and artistic director of Tabanka African and Caribbean Peoples Dance Ensemble, Thomas Talawa Prestø sets the stage. Imbued in his lecture was a conscious effort to educate embedded colonial concepts in academia, philosophy and dance. “Because this is complex. Extremely complex,” started Thomas Talawa Prestø charismatically, hopping between Norwegian and English. “And I acknowledge that.” His slides were deliberately text heavy so that the audience could take photos and revisit the topic again. “For me, it has started to become an everyday [sic]. I realised how complex this was, especially for the Norwegian institutions and when I was applying for the doctorates [...]

- words by Ka Man Mak

AUGUST 9, 2021

The 7th Oslo Afro Arts Festival in 2021 Launches – Hear from The Founder and Get Your Tickets

OSLO (August 9, 2021) – The 7th edition of the Oslo Afro Arts Festival (OAAF) will be held from 26-29 August 2021 in different venues in Grønland, Oslo, where more than 20 nationalities will be represented in up to 15 events over four days. The expected audience is 1200 at this year’s events, where various performances will be aimed towards children and youth. Oslo Afro Arts Festival (OAAF) was founded in 2014 by Cecilie Giskemo, a Norwegian jazz vocalist and composer. The festival runs annually to celebrate contributions from African tradition and culture in Norway through art, music, food, discussions and seminars. “When I left Africa in 2012, [...]

- words by Ka Man Mak & Sawsen Khechab.

AUGUST 9, 2021

Oslo Afro Arts Festival 2021

COVID-19 has brought the world to an almost standstill with a lot of uncertainty. A lot of people have lost their jobs and source of income, artists being one of the groups largely affected as they could no longer perform for their audiences. Social distance has had to be maintained. OAAF 2021 wants to offer a place for musicians once again to meet with each other and the audience. In the program this year, we will include a concert by African artist refugees, artists of African descendants living in Norway and putting on stage the older and younger generation of Artists to showcase their passion of African arts. This is a journey of hope, for those who have had to flee their homes [...]