African Festival Elstal

Africa in Wustermark — An Unusual Constellation

The African Festival in Elstal is a rare occurrence on Brandenburg's event calendar: a biennial cultural festival that brings African music, culture, and traditions to the small municipality of Wustermark in the Havelland district. The organizer is the municipality of Wustermark, which uses the festival to build a cultural bridge between Germany and Africa while also putting its district of Elstal in the spotlight.

What You'll Experience at the Festival

The festival runs on May 30, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM — a concentrated afternoon designed for families and culture enthusiasts:

• Live music with Djang Kolins, a composer and guitarist who blends African rhythms with European influences
• Drumming and dance workshops for children and adults
• Stalls with African specialties — dishes from West Africa, Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco
• Sales booths with African handicrafts: fabrics, jewelry, wood carvings
• Dance demonstrations of various African styles
• Opportunities for encounter with the African community in Berlin-Brandenburg

3rd Edition — A Growing Tradition

The 2026 festival marks the 3rd edition. The premiere took place in 2022, followed by subsequent editions — the Wustermark municipal leadership has established the format as an important contribution to intercultural exchange. In the predominantly rural western Havelland region, this is an unusual and ambitious initiative that many Brandenburg residents appreciate.

Elstal — From Military Airfield to Residential Area

Elstal is a district of the municipality of Wustermark in the Havelland district. Elstal is primarily known for the 1936 Olympic Village — the historic accommodations for the Berlin Summer Olympics. These are now partly renovated and converted for residential use. In addition, Elstal is home to the Designer Outlet Berlin, a large shopping center. The African Festival utilizes another aspect of the location: the open, diverse community that has emerged from Wustermark's growth as a commuter town for Berlin.

Getting There and Brandenburg Context

Wustermark is located on the western outskirts of Berlin, reachable in 25 minutes by regional train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof. It is a growing commuter community where families from Berlin build homes and cherish village life. The African Festival is an example of how Wustermark culturally accompanies this change — with openness, an international perspective, and very commendable commitment.