3. Afro Light Festival 2026 — Oberhausen

Afro Culture in the Ruhr Area

The Afro Light Festival in Oberhausen is one of the newest and most vibrant stages for African and Afro-diasporic art in the Ruhr area. The 3rd edition will take place from Friday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 5th, 2026 — supported by the Urban Arts department of Theater Oberhausen, which has already shown with programs like PottClash that the city is more than just industrial culture. The festival aims to “invite people of all ages to discover and actively shape the diversity of Afro culture — right in the city and at the theatre".

Artistic Direction: Kwame Osei and Kama Frankl-Groß

The festival is curated by Kwame Osei (choreographer, dancer, and activist with Ghanaian-German roots) and Kama Frankl-Groß (Theater Oberhausen, Urban Arts). Together, they bring together a program featuring local and international artists — from Ghanaian drumming to Senegalese Sabar dances and hip-hop performances from the Afro-German diaspora.

Three Days of Programming in the City and at the Theatre

Concerts and Live Performances

Afro music acts will perform on the main stage and in theatre spaces — Afrobeats, Highlife, Soul-Afro-Fusion. International guests will be complemented by acts from the Ruhr area with an Afro-German identity.

Dance Battles and Performances

Like many of Theater Oberhausen's Urban Arts programs, the Afro Light Festival thrives on battles: dance competitions between crews, solo performances, and improvisation formats. Expected styles include Afrohouse, Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, and traditional West African dances.

Ankos Street Parade

The Ankos-Umzug is a central program of the festival — a grand street parade through Oberhausen's city centre, featuring drummers, dancers, flags, and an interactive crowd. This is how the festival moves from the theatre into the city, making it visible to everyone.

Workshops

Free and paid workshops offer insights: Afrobeats dance, Sabar drumming, Capoeira basics, culinary workshops on West African cuisine, and workshops for children.

Family Day

A dedicated Family Day with a children's program, face painting, interactive dance sessions, and simple performances — ideal for families from Oberhausen and the Ruhr area who want to immerse their children in Afro culture.

City Festival Atmosphere

Unlike purely theatre festivals, the Afro Light Festival brings its programming into Oberhausen's city centre: a city festival atmosphere, open stages in public squares, food trucks serving West African cuisine (Jollof Rice, Akara, Suya, Bissap juice, Bouillon), and cafés and bars with Afro DJ sets. Theater Oberhausen serves as the festival hub: ticket service, main concerts, and workshops take place here.

Theater Oberhausen — Urban Arts as a Trademark

For years, Theater Oberhausen, located at Will-Quadflieg-Platz, has been a pioneer in the field of Urban Arts within the city and state theatre context. With PottClash (dance festival), Afro Light Festival, and several other formats, the venue has established a nationally recognized program line that brings Hip-Hop, Krump, dance battles, Afro performance, and urban theatre into the traditional theatre space — and simultaneously into the city.