2025 Performing Artists
August 3rd   12 PM to 9 PM
Parade: 12 PM - 1 PM

We are honored to welcome a group that represents the heartbeat of community, culture, and creativity.

Traditional Mexica-Nahua (Aztec) dance and song group led by the Quiroz family. Preserving and sharing Nahua culture and philosophy through generations.

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Sheronda Orridge: A Voice for Community and Consciousness, Writer, Rapper, and Spoken Word Artist Empowering Change.Sheronda Orridge stands as a remarkable figure in contemporary creative and community spaces, blending her talents as a writer, rapper, and spoken word artist with a passionate commitment to social activism. Born and raised on the resilient South Side of Chicago, Orridge's journey has been marked by her unwavering dedication to using the power of words as a catalyst for empowerment, healing, and transformation. Through her artistry, advocacy, and community organizing, she continues to make an indelible impact on those around her, shaping conversations and inspiring change in areas such as education, poverty, and foreclosure.

Akossiwa Medowokpo, also known as Sabine Medowokpo, is a talented artist originally from Lomé, Togo. She began her artistic journey with a passion for comic strips before transitioning to painting in 1993. Sabine is largely self-taught and has participated in numerous exhibitions across Africa and Europe. Her work spans various themes, including portraits, abstract scenes, and everyday life. Sabine has also been recognized for her contributions to eco-painting, receiving an international award at the 2016 International Environmental Film Festival in Togo. She continues to engage with the community by organizing practical workshops for children and serving as a jury member for eco-painting festivals.

The Afar people are an ethnic group native to the Horn of Africa, primarily found in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea. Known for their rich nomadic traditions, the Afar have a vibrant cultural heritage rooted in resilience, oral storytelling, and expressive dance. Afar music and dance are deeply connected to daily life, often reflecting themes of pride, strength, and community.

At the Little Africa Festival, we’re proud to showcase a special performance by the Afar Community, who are keeping their ancestral traditions alive through powerful cultural dance. Join us in honoring this beautiful heritage and the new generation bringing it to life in the diaspora.

Innocent Galinoma, a Tanzanian-born reggae artist, blends traditional African sounds with powerful messages of liberation and unity in both Kiswahili and English. Now based in Minnesota, he’s known for his Marley-like vocals, captivating performances, and songs that celebrate Africa while confronting injustice.

Twin Cities African Music Legend returns to perform with his electrifying Band having been a musical icon for more than 40 years in the Twin Cities.

The Somali Museum Dance Troupe perform professionally at various events and bookings. Established in 2015, the troupe is led by Somali Museum’s Artistic Director Mohamoud Osman Mohamed. The dancers, are recognized both nationally and internationally for their talent and dedication. Their mission is to empower Somali-American youth to dig deeply into studying their culture and embrace their potential to use art as a tool for building community as they grow into the next generation’s leaders.

Titambe West African Dance Ensemble is one of the best twin cities African dance companies founded by Christian Yao Adeti from Ghana West Africa. Its  mission is to preserve traditional African drumming and dance heritage as well as promote cultural understanding. This is done by educating audiences of all ages about different African countries through language, music and movement for a better appreciation of diversity and also to unlock ancestral vibration that has been kept for centuries.

Afrocontigbo promotes cultural awareness, unity, and wellness through captivating dance performances, transformative workshops, and community engagement.

Drummer & Composer Abinnet Berhanu’s Ahndenet አንድነት (meaning: Unity) pays respect to the long legacy of Ethiopian folk, pop, and instrumental music, exploring the North, South, East and West. Ahndenet works to highlight the different cultures and generations that make up what we know as Ethiopian music and aims to further build on that legacy in the diaspora. Ahndenet features Ethiopian vocalist Genet Abate who has been active in the Ethiopian American music community performing regularly across the country at Ethiopian clubs and festivals.

Denden is representing Eritrean culture! Their mission is to empower East African-American youth by helping them build academic and career skills, promote physical and mental health, and support families in creating stable environments for children’s growth. Denden is making a difference in the community—let’s give them a warm welcome!

Hawwisoo Minnesota is an organization with the purpose of showcasing and educating all parts of Oromo culture and history to the Minnesota diaspora and beyond.

I am Madida, a passionate singer and entertainer who blends African rhythms with heartfelt lyrics to connect with my audience. With a background in cybersecurity and education, I use my platform to inspire young people, especially those navigating struggles like unemployment and emotional hardship. My music reflects my journey, and I am dedicated to uplifting others through my sound, sharing messages of hope, resilience, and empowerment. Always aiming to expand my reach, I am committed to making an impact both locally and internationally.

Dred I Dread is a Minneapolis-based authenthic and original reggae band known as the "Minneapolis Reggae Legends" by local media. Blending roots reggae with global influences, the band delivers uplifting messages of love, unity, and social justice. Featuring talented musicians from Jamaica, New Orleans, Minnesota, and Turkiye, Dred I Dread has released seven albums and performed at major festivals and venues across the U.S., captivating audiences with their high-energy performances and conscious lyrics.