Providence World Music

Thank you so much for supporting us and celebrating five years of African Film and Art Festival with us.

Save the date for sixth edition on September 17-21, 2025.

Thank you.

CLOSING CEREMONY / NEW MILESTONE!
​
​​
The closing ceremonies for the 5th Annual Festival will take place on Sunday, September 22, 2024 at the Southside Cultural Center of Rhode Island, 393 Broad Street, Providence, RI 02907.

Time: 3:30

We will start with the screening of shorts films from our submission from 3:30 PM starting with We are Griots by Filmmaker Demba Konate. We will conclude the festival with Tanzanian award winning film The Empty Grave Directed by Cece Mlay and Agnes Lisa Wegner.

Steven Sogo will perform traditional Burundi Music and we have invited Burundian Refugees Community to join us. Come experience the spirit of Inanga music a core part of mission to enrich intangible heritages of African refugees and immigrants in Rhode Island.

Thank you.

Today Schedule Updates

Thank you for joining us and celebrating five years of African Film and Art Festival.

We were very fortunate to have Haile Gerima with us in Providence.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful support and the generous.

Glad to be learning for the source.

Let me know who I am missing in tagging here

DAY 3. CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF AFRICAN FILM AND ART

Today, September 20, 2024, our film festival will feature a diverse array of three events:
​
FIRST SCREENING at Providence Public Library
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St, Providence, RI 02903

We will kick off the day with a screening of Shimoni (Dir. Angela Wanjiku Wamai, Kenya 2022).

SECOND SCREENING: 5th Anniversary Celebration of 5 years of African Film and Art

Time: Door 5:00 PM Screening 6:15PM
Location: Churchill House, 155 Angell Street, Providence, RI 02906

Join us for a special celebration marking the 5th anniversary of the African Film and Art Festibal. We are honored to welcome distinguished filmmaker Haile Gerima, who will be in attendance for a screening of his acclaimed film Sankofa. A Q&A panel discussion with Haile Gerima and Professor Máyọ̀wá Ajíbádé will follow the screening.

This event is sponsored by the Brown University Department of Africana Studies Rites and Reasons and The Ruth Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice.

AFTER PARTY AT COURTLAND CLUB

Time: 10:00 PM
Location: Courtland Club, 51 Courtland Street, Providence, RI 02909

Friday celebration will conclude the evening with our annual After Party, featuring live music from Afronaut Transmission and a special DJ set by Umamaroon, a Rwandese DJ from New York City.

Reservations required.

Updates due to Rain!!

DAY 2 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

LOCATION: RISD MUSEUM METCALF AUDITORIUM
20 North Main Street, Providence, RI

Join us for the second day on Thursday, Sep 19, 2024 at RISD Metcalf Auditorium for the screening of three films.

We will be screening the award-winning OMEN, a film directed by Baloji (DR Congo/ Belgium).

Followed by two African Shorts Films starting with Eish w Malh: Egyptian Cuisine and Culture (Dir. Mariam Moawia, Egypt, 2024) and Dawn (Dir. Gary Telly JEANNOT).

Tickets: Free. Donations are highly encouraged.

Notes: Due to the rainy weather, evening screening is cancelled. Zikina Music band will join us on October 24th.

We are taking this moment to thank everyone who joined us yesterday at the opening night of African Film and Art Festival.

Thank you so much for joining us.

📸 (1&2)

Updates: Today is the opening night of a wonderful initiative born in the community and for the community in every sense.

DAY 1 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 OPENING NIGHT
LOCATION: Watson Institute; 280 Brook Street, Providence, RI

Join us for the opening day on Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024 at Brown University’s Watson Institute, Providence, RI 02907, from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM. We will begin with a welcome at 5:30 PM, followed by traditional music from Burkina Faso, performed by renowned local Kora musician, Yacouba Diabate at 6:00 PM. Our opening feature film Miraculous Weapon by distinguished Cameroonian filmmaker, Jean-Pierre Bekolo will premiere at 6:15 PM.

At 8:00 PM, we will close the day with a special Q&A session with director Jean-Pierre Bekolo moderated by Melaine Ferdinand-King.

Traditional African cuisine food will be served from the Village Restaurant.

Tickets: Donations are highly encouraged.

CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF AFRICAN FILM AND ART

On Friday, September 20, 2024, our film festival will feature a diverse array of three events:
FIRST SCREENING at Providence Public Library

Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St, Providence, RI 02903
We will kick off the day with a screening of Shimoni (Dir. Angela Wanjiku Wamai, Kenya 2022).

SECOND SCREENING:
5th Anniversary Celebration of 5 years of African Film and Art

Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Church Hill House, 155 Angell Street, Providence, RI 02906

Join us for a special celebration marking the 5th anniversary of the African Film and Art Festibal. We are honored to welcome distinguished filmmaker Haile Gerima, who will be in attendance for a screening of his acclaimed film Sankofa. A Q&A panel discussion with Haile Gerima and Professor Máyọ̀wá Ajíbádé will follow the screening.
This event is sponsored by the Brown University Department of Africana Studies Rites and Reasons and The Ruth Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice.

After Party at Courland Club

Location: Courland Club, 123 Your Street, Providence, RI 02903

Friday celebration will conclude the evening with our annual After Party, featuring live music from Afronaut Transmission and a special DJ set by Umamaroon, a Rwandese DJ from New York City.
Tickets: Free Donations are highly encouraged. Registration required.

OPEN AIR CINEMA

On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the African Film Festival will continue with two exciting events:  

FIRST Screening at RISD Museum Metcalf Auditorium 
Time: 12:00 PM 
Location: RISD Museum Metcalf Auditorium, 20 North Main St, Providence, RI 02903 We will be screening the award winning OMEN, a film directed by Baloji ( DR Congo/ Belgium).  

SECOND SCREENING: Open Air Outdoor Movie Experience at 195 District Park 
Time: 6:00 PM Location: 195 District Park, 120 Peck St, Providence, RI 02903 

Begin the evening with an Ancestral Music tribute featuring the Zikina Music Band.

At sunset, we will screen African Shorts Films at 7:15 PM starting with Eish w Malh: Egyptian Cuisine and Culture (Dir. Mariam Moawia, Egypt, 2024) and Dawn (Dir. Gary Telly JEANNOT).   

Join our email list to learn about more short films selections.

Tickets: Free Donations are highly encouraged.

Join us for the opening night ceremony at the Africa Initiative at Watson Institute.

The Africa Initiative at the Watson Institute is proud to support and cordially invites you to the Opening Night of the 5th Annual African Film and Arts Festival on the evening of September 18. The five-day festival is organized by PVD World Music and further information about the full schedule of events can be found here (link in Bio) The Opening Night kicks off at 5:30 pm in The Agora, Stephen Robert ’62 Hall, 280 Brook Street and will include live music and African cuisine. The evening will culminate with the screening of renowned Cameroonian filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bekolo’s “Miraculous Weapons.” Bekolo will be present and join us for a Q&A session after the film. PLEASE JOIN US!

TIME:

Door Opening/ African Food 5:30 PM

Film Screening 6:15PM

QA follow after screening

Learn more about our distinguished filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bekolo (Link in bio)

Join us next week starting Wednesday September 18 to Sunday September 22 to Celebrate five years of African Film and Art. Free screening of African films. Link in bio.

Back for its fifth year, PVD World Music’s Annual African Film and Arts Festival returns to Providence for five days from September 18 to 22, 2024, shining a spotlight on contemporary films and filmmakers from Africa and the African Diaspora.

As with every year, the festival will showcase rarely-seen films and highlight important indigenous music histories and traditions in locations around Providence in partnership with local champion organizations. It will also include traditional African music and dance performances and offer opportunities to learn more about the vibrant arts of the African continent.

The African film and Art Festival seeks to celebrate, educate and promote cross-cultural dialogue and understanding between the diverse communities that call Providence home. We hope you can join us to celebrate, promote, and enrich traditional music, arts and films from Africa and around the world so that they may be enjoyed and cherished for generations to come!

For more details visit our website pvdworldmusicdotcom

5th Anniversary of African Film and Art September 18-22, 2024

Join us next week as we celebrate our biggest milestone. Announcement tomorrow.

Tune in tomorrow our selections line up!! 5 years of African Film and Art in Providence RI

We are thrilled to announce will join us at for a live concert as part of our Providence World Music Series now in its 7th years and going strong.

The Lost Tribe is a drum-centered Afro-funk fusion ensemble, led by percussionist Jocelyn Pleasant. As a traditional percussionist and drum kit player, Pleasant wanted to create a group that showcased the drum as a lead instrument and melodic voice. Her goal was also to provide a platform for musicians of different but overlapping communities to come together. She started the group in 2016, with the goal of infusing the djembe ensemble into African Diasporic music like jazz, rock, blues, and reggae.

Please join us to celebrate musical traditions as diverse as the people of the world.

Music and sounds engineering

Drink provided by

Please join us this Saturday August 28th, 2024 at Roger Williams Park boathouse Lawn for amazing with Marcus Grant trio.

Please join us.

Thank you for joining us yesterday at

Special thank you to for wonderful and eclectic afternoon of Jazz music.

Stay tuned for more concert updates or check out our website link in bio.

Thank you

We are trilled to announce our concert at the 195 Distict park with feature

Drummer, Zach Malian is an emerging young musician on the New York City jazz scene today. Growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, Zach was immersed in the rich musical culture of the Boston and New York areas from a young age, sparking his passion for jazz.
His musical journey took him to the New England Conservatory Preparatory School in Boston, where he studied under the guidance of drummer Brooke Sofferman. During his high school years, Zach’s dedication was recognized with awards such as the Judge’s Choice Award at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. He also had the honor of performing at the renowned Newport Jazz Festival with the RIMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble.
Currently enrolled as a student at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, Zach has had the privilege of learning from world-renowned musicians including Kenny Washington, Joe Farnsworth, Matt Wilson, and Jon Faddis, among many others. During his time at Purchase College, Zach was selected as one of only 15 musicians to participate in the esteemed 2023 Ravinia Jazz Grandstand program in Highland Park, IL. At Ravinia, Zach had the opportunity to work with such legends as Rufus Reid, Steve Wilson, and Billy Childs, debuting his original composition, “Roadwork”.
Zach remains a vibrant presence in the jazz scene, engaging in collaborations with a diverse array of artists such as The Octet, Pete Malinverni, Leonid Morozov Trio, and the Andrew Wagner Quartet. In addition to his collaborations, Zach takes pride in highlighting some of Rhode Island’s top musicians through his own ensemble, the Zach Malian Trio.
Joining us to welcome Zach Malian at PVD World Music along with his group featuring Luke Seto on Tenor, and Johnny Santini on Bass.
Join us.

Join us for our final concert of July, happening this Thursday July 25th, 2024 7:00 PM at .

Due to the recent passing of , will not be able to join us as he has returned home to Mali to be with his family during this difficult time.

In honor of Toumani Diabate’s life and legacy, we will continue the performance with special guests and Yacouba Diabate on Kora, celebrating the instrument that played a significant role in their lives.

Proceeds from ticket sales will support Madou and the Diabate family during this challenging period.

In addition to a once in life time Kora music virtuosity night, we are thrilled to feature special guest artists and for a live performances.

To cap off the night, will host a DJ set for dancing.

Join us to listen, sing, and dance to musical rhythms as diverse as the global community. Let us come together to honor the memory of our hero, Toumani Diabate.

Thank you,

Last night was magical! It was great to be back at the park! Thank you again for supporting us.

Really great photos from our friend

We are very thankful for all you who chose to spend time with us at at

It was wonderful meeting new folks and celebrating reggae music.

Thank you for supporting us.

Join us now at Boat house Lawn to celebrate reggae music. Pure joy. Also finessing this sounds engineer game. Swipe for proof.

We are thrilled to be back to Boathouse Lawn for a fantastic music experience. We have invited a friends Classic Vibe reggae band to celebrate music as diverse as the people of the world.

Classic Vibe is a reggae band with years of experience performing reggae music throughout New England and at

Date: July 20th 6:00 PM
Location: Roger Williams Park Boat house Lawn ( near swan pond or carousel)

Many thanks to for believing in us and working with us to celebrate music.