African Festival Melbourne returned to Queen Victoria Market

Melbourne came alive for African Festival Melbourne 2025, which lit up Queen Victoria Market with an electrifying celebration of African music, food, dance and community.

Now in its sixth year, the festival was held under the roof-lines of the iconic C and D Sheds and drew large crowds eager to experience the vibrant sights, sounds and flavours of Africa on June 22.

Event programmer Himanshi Munshaw Luhar described the day as a powerful reflection of Melbourne’s multicultural spirit, calling it a “great day out”.

“It allowed people from different backgrounds to sing and dance together and enjoy delicious food from around the world,” she said.

The festival stage showcased a rich tapestry of live performances, with standout acts including Super Mande Percussion, led by Malian master drummer Mady Keita, and the energetic Ghanaian drum and dance group WALA.

Roving entertainers, face painting, henna art and other all-ages activities kept families entertained throughout the day.

Following this year’s success, Himanshi Munshaw Luhar said she was excited to see how the festival would continue to grow in the years to come. •