Established in 1986, the Africa In April Cultural Awareness Festival is an annual Memphis celebration that puts focus on various cultures and regions of Africa over a four-day period (during the third week in April ) along Beale Street and throughout downtown Memphis. Arts & crafts, culture, fashions, music, history, economics, education and cuisine all come together to keep visitors entertained and provide an in-depth look into the various areas of Africa. For more information visit Africa in April’s official website at www.africainapril.org.
This year’s festival will showcase the Republic of Mauritania, situated along the Atlantic coast of northwest African. The country is bordered by Morocco on the north, Algeria and Mali on the east, and Senegal on the south. It is home to the seventh holiest city of Islam, Chinguetti. With temperatures reaching as high as 135 degrees, much of the land is dry and inhospitable. Its immense and largely undeveloped coastline, however, is home to one of the best bird-watching spots in the world – Nouadhibou.
