“How do we communicate across languages forgotten, forced or adopted? Connecting the dust here to the concrete there.”

Bakanal de Afrique (BdA) is a multidisciplinary Afro Urban festival that celebrates the odyssey of our people through art and culture. From its birth in 2009, Bakanal de Afrique intended to be a phenomenon that stretched the length and breadth of the world, and united Urban Africans in a unique way. 

BDA 2020: 'MI SOON COME'

Transportation x Urbanity x Sociopolitical Context x Art

Our theme 'Mi Soon Come' invites artists and creatives of diverse African descent to submit artwork proposals (either existing, or in idea form) that explores modes of transport in urban cultures and how it intersects with culture, class and citizenship. Invited artists will be presented as part of our Bakanal de Afrique Festival online throughout the month of November 2020.

We are interested in creative work that speaks to the theme and explores questions as it shows up in regional Urban African/Black communities and culture. For example:

• How do vehicles act as a medium for artistic and cultural expression?

• What memorable personal or historical occurrences took place in a vehicle?

• What are the unique experiences and expressions of transportation as it relates to specific localities?

• How is transportation a factor in how we experience class, gender, and time?

• What is transportation’s kinship to global economics, underground currency, and geo-politics?

• What are the environmental and social impacts of the vehicle production industry? 

• What are issues related to transportation justice in cities and local municipalities?

Who it’s For

Bakanal de Afrique is open to people of African descent anywhere in the world; Our definition includes multiethnic and multiracial artists with African heritage (applicants identify as Black, of African descent (Afro-Latinx, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Asian, etc.) , and if of mixed ancestry, Afro-ancestry must be prominent. 

We will accept submissions across varied disciplines including: Social/Popular/Urban Dance, Music, DJ, Literary, Spoken Word, Fashion, Set Design, Installation Art, Multimedia, Food/Culinary, Creative Direction, Event Design/Production, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Video/Film, Vlogging, Hair, Makeup, Set Building/Carpentry, Textile, & More.

Thank you for interest. Our Artist call is currently closed. Please look out for Festival Event details coming soon. And donate to support our BdA Artist fellowship