Omah Lay and Gims are headed to Abu Dhabi’s All Africa Festival

The fun-filled festival runs from 2 to 4 February.

This time for Africa. All Africa Festival is coming to Abu Dhabi, and runs from 2 to 4 February. Taking place in Etihad Park, it will bring together entertainment from international musicians and local DJs, which celebrates African culture. The star-studded lineup for this year includes Omah Lay, Gims, Nora Fatehi and Emirati rapper Freek.

All Africa Festival first started in 2018 in the UAE. The festival first took place in Dubai’s Creek Park, and it has also been held in Burj Park in the shafow of the Burj Khalifa. The event aims to represent all of the regions of Africa, and is open to residents as well as tourists. 

Stanley Omah Didia, known professionally as Omah Lay, will headline the event on Friday, 2 February. The Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer has taken the Afrobeats scene by storm. His debut single Bad Influence became a viral sensation, garnering millions of views on YouTube. He followed up this success with a string of hit singles, including Holy Ghost, I’m A Mess and Attention, a collaboration with Justin Bieber. His debut album, Boy Alone, was released in 2022. He will be joined on the night by Majoos, Stonebwoy, Vegedream and Emirati rapper, Freek.

French-Congolese singer, songwriter, and rapper Gims will headline on Saturday, 3 February. Gims is a French rapper, singer, and songwriter whose music transcends borders and genres. Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gims exploded onto the solo scene with his 2013 album Subliminal. With its catchy hooks and introspective lyrics, this genre-bending masterpiece topped the French charts and sold over a million copies. The rapper effortlessly flips between singing and soulful melodies, weaving together elements of Afrobeats, contemporary R&B and hip-hop. Tracks like J’me tire and Sapés comme jamais showcased his ability to craft infectious anthems, while deeper cuts like Bella and Oulala displayed his vulnerability and songwriting prowess. Gims will be supported by Diamond Platnumz, El Grande Toto, Hleem Taj Alser, Lij Mic Faf, Sha Sha and Skales.

All African Festival showcases a variety of music genres from Amapiano to Afrobeats, and on Sunday 4 February, Nora Fatehi will take to the stage alongside Berita, Kamo and Kofi Olomide. Nina Olatoke, CEO and Co-Founder of the All Africa Festival, explained: “We couldn’t be more excited to bring back the All Africa Festival this year, with Yas Island in Abu Dhabi providing the perfect backdrop to take this event to new heights in driving our mandate to showcase and celebrate Africa’s vibrant entertainment, food and cultural experiences to residents and visitors to the UAE and the GCC region at large.”

“Our history spans more than five years of curating and successfully producing a festival that welcomes all nationalities to come and experience the heartbeat of Africa through sound and displays of art, fashion and cuisine. We bring to life the electric, vibrant energy for which Africa is known through music performances, fashion and art installations across the three days.”

Tickets to the All Africa Festival are available from AED 150 via Platinumlist. 

GO: Visit https://abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net for more information.