Ard'Afrique

Les Vans in the colors of Africa

Created in 2000 by the association AMACS (Association pour le Métissage des Arts et la Création de Spectacles), the Ard'Afrique festival transformed the town of Les Vans into a crossroads of African and Ardèche cultures for fifteen editions. This unique event combined music, street arts, cinema, and gastronomy in a festive and supportive atmosphere.

A colorful program

The festival spanned four days with a varied program:

• Concerts of African music: traditional music, rap, reggae, groove, and afrobeat
• Street performances in the heart of the town center of Les Vans
• Outdoor African cinema
• Night markets offering artisanal products and African gastronomy
• Convivial Senegalese meals on Sundays
• African dances to end the evenings with music

A strong commitment to solidarity

Beyond its cultural dimension, Ard'Afrique carried a concrete humanitarian commitment. The festival's profits were donated to the association PPVS (Partenariat Pays des Vans Sénégal), which carries out development actions in Senegal. The festival thus embodied the values of cultural mixing and international solidarity dear to its organizers.

Fifteen editions of sharing

From 2000 to 2014, the festival succeeded in creating an anticipated event every summer in the south of Ardèche. The 15th edition was announced as the last, marking the end of an exceptional human and cultural adventure that helped make Les Vans a meeting place between cultures. The festival left a lasting mark on the collective memory of the region.