Festival celebrates all facets of African artistic culture Winnipeg Free Press [Video]

Nosa Guobadia saw something missing in Winnipeg’s vibrant arts scene — an absence that struck him deeply.

“As an artist myself, I saw a huge gap and felt there should be a space for African artists in Winnipeg,” says the Nigerian-born Guobadia, who performs as Cozymannos.

The realization dawned on him at last year’s Soca Reggae Festival when he noticed that the audience was predominantly African, despite the event’s Caribbean focus.

“It hit me then. It made me think that we need a festival that truly celebrates African artists — not just as performers, but as the heartbeat of the event,” he says.

This spark of inspiration led Guobadia to create the Afro Fall Festival, a celebration born from his determination to fill that void.

“Last year was about testing the waters, but this year, we’re going all out — a proper celebration of our culture and our artists,” says …