On 23, 24 and 25 May 2015, the African community will be celebrating the "Africa Day 2015" on Wandsbeker Marktplatz with a colorful stage program, hospitable pagoda tents and African market stalls.
Under the auspices of District Director Thomas Ritzenhoff and prominent guests such as Queens Nana Akua Kwayowaa and Nana Adwoa Afaribea I from Ghana, Minister of State to the President, Hon. Rashid Pelpuo (Ghana), Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Employment and Labor Relations (Ghana) and Chief Imam Sheikh Hussein Imam-Halid is celebrated on the three Pentecost days a festival of African cultures - with music, dance and prayers and culinary dishes. Each year, the "Africa Day" commemorates the founding of the African Union by the heads of state and government of thirty independent African states on May 25, 1963. In Hamburg, some 37,000 Africans and Afro-Germans celebrate this day.
The program includes well-known African artists and bands such as Nana Acheapong, Renevision (Lion King), Thendiva Band (The Lion King), Daasebre, Mark Kofi Asamoah, Ariba War Dancers (Nigeria), Florence, Adowa Traditional Dance Ghana, Perfect Music Group (Togo), Massai Group and Saliou Cissaokho.
They are accompanied by an information program from stage interviews and discussions. Among the invited guests is Hamburg's Second Mayor Senator Katharina Fegebank. Organizer of the "Africa Day" is IMIC e.V. (Intercultural Migrant Integration Center e.V.), whose president Sylvaina Gerlich and her team have been inviting to the festival since 2012.
The "Africa Day" is part of the cultural and inclusive offer of the immigrant center IMIC eV Sylvaina Gerlich: "With the 'Africa Day 2015', we are celebrating an African festival of diversity and unity for three days - to which we invite all citizens in the rhythm of Africa join in and get to know each other better.
"The non-profit association IMIC eV advises and supports migrants and refugees in almost all social areas and accompanies them in contact with authorities and institutions. For integration wear e.g. Children's camps, tuition offers, PC courses, senior citizen meetings and information events. With its integration work, especially in the African communities, IMIC is established in the group of social NGOs in Hamburg and is experiencing an ever increasing demand.