Festive Beats of Afrika

Festive Beats of Afrika comes to The Cedar Cultural Center on Friday, November 20, a 120-minute live concert that brings together music, dance, and storytelling. It's presented by The Cedar as part of The Cedar Presents, and the whole night is built around African rhythms, unity, and cultural brilliance. The bill runs across three acts, each bringing a different part of the continent's sound and movement to the stage.

Carolyne Naomi opens the night. She's a Twin Cities artist and first-generation immigrant who weaves that personal history into an Afro-fusion that draws on soul, R&B, reggae, and gospel. She's played big stages before, having opened for Nigerian artists Burna Boy and Wizkid. Following her is Diatoti, a Congolese-American singer, songwriter, and dancer who moved to Minnesota from the DRC at age twelve; he blends Congolese rumba with R&B. The third act is Afrocontigbo, a Minnesota-based West African dance company founded by Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer, which mixes traditional and contemporary African dance styles backed by a full live band. Between the three, you get a range that goes from soul-inflected vocals to Congolese rumba and full-company dance.

It's a standing show, and it's open to all ages, so it works as a night out with friends or something to bring the whole family to. Doors open at 7 PM and the show starts at 8 PM, with the full concert running 120 minutes. The Cedar is at 416 Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis.