African wedding traditions take over Kannusali
The Afrikan Wedding Fair Finland is bringing together creative professionals for the second time to showcase Africa's magnificent wedding traditions. This year, the fair will take place on 30–31 May in Espoon keskus, and it will feature fashion, music, a sense of community and a colourful mock wedding.
Omolara Odediran, the founder of the African Wedding Fair and Artistic Director of F’Joy Creative Group Oy, says that the idea originated from a need to create a new, authentic African event in the cultural scene – something that had previously not existed in Finland. While weddings were the starting point, the event has always had a broader vision: to serve as a platform for culture, creativity and community.
-With the wedding fair, I am curating vision, partnerships and implementation to create an experience that simultaneously showcases African excellence and provides creative professionals and businesses with opportunities to succeed in Finland and beyond, Odediran says.
This year, the theme is “Love Beyond Borders”, with several African cultures represented through fashion, ceremonies and performances.
-Love beyond borders perfectly captures this vision. It reflects how love, in its broadest sense, unites people, cultures and industries across different nations. Africa’s traditions are incredibly rich, and every country – and often every ethnic group – has their own unique customs, symbolism and expressions of marriage. This allows us to celebrate diversity and provide the public with a meaningful cultural experience, Odediran describes.
Nigerian mock wedding as the highlight of the event
Visitors interested in weddings as well as visitors who simply enjoy diverse cultural offerings are welcome to attend the fair. Odediran also hopes that the event will reach as many visitors with an immigrant background as possible.
-Each year, we focus on one country, and this year, the event centers on a traditional Nigerian Yoruba wedding celebration. The programme has been expanded from last year, and the Maailma choir will perform at the event, Odediran adds.
The AWFF brings together African creative professionals, designers and cultural actors. There is also collaboration with businesses and – for example – media influencers. This year’s event is being organised in collaboration with the City of Espoo’s Cultural Venues and Services. Last year, the African Wedding Fair was held at Espoo’s Vermo Areena, and there were about 350 visitors.
Kannusali is an ideal place to participate in cultural events
This year, the venue is easy to reach – by train, for example – since the wedding fair is being held at the atmospheric, underground Kannusali in Espoon keskus, just a stone’s throw from the Espoo railway station.
-Kannusali's central location makes it easier for different audiences to attend. We also deliberately chose a location near the Helinä Rautavaara museum in Espoon keskus, because this is in line with our vision of placing the fair within a broader cultural context, Odediran explains the choice of venue for the African Wedding Fair.
Kannusali's Production Manager Eeva Vänskä is delighted to welcome the wedding festivities to Kannusali.
-The event will increase the diversity of Espoo’s cultural offerings, because it showcases African wedding traditions, entrepreneurship, fashion and music. The event gives visibility to both local African actors and international actors and strengthens the cultural vitality of the entire region, says Vänskä, Production Manager at Kannusali.
Schedule:
Sat 30 May 11.00–17.00: Cultural experiences & fashion (free entry)
Sun 31 May 12.00–17.00: Traditional Yoruba wedding celebration (staged mock wedding)
(tickets for the Sunday event at billetto.fi(external link, opens in a new window))
The entire programme will be updated on the Kannusali website.