AFIA is a non profit organisation that produce culture events and performing art to celebrate, acknowledge and strengthen African traditions/cultures and Streetdances from the African Diaspora, and to broaden the culture range of expressions. AFIAs aim is to create plattforms where people can meet, exchange, educate, learn and celebrate.

AFIA was founded 2016 by Joanna Holewa Chrona and Theresa Gustavsson, both born and raised in Sweden. Afia grew from ongoing exchanges with South African dancers and this resulted in the NGO expanding and not only operating on Swedish soil but also in South Africa. Afia, today consist of board members and artistic ambassadors from both Sweden, South Africa and more countries. Sibusiso Mthembu, Patricia Mofokeng, David Mokale and Thandi Draai being four of the South African artistic ambassadors.

AFIA FESTIVAL
Afia organises both smaller and bigger events throughout the year, their biggest achievement is their annual event “Afia Festival”

An explosion of vibes and South African culture! Plus guest appearances of other African cultures. Normally situated in Stockholm, Sweden but since 2024 also in Johannesburg, South Africa. The festival contains workshops, panel talks, battles, clubs, lectures, movie screening, theatre night and more to come!

“YEBO YES!” full length dance performance. Produced by Afia

“Singing more than one part, telling more than one story, at the same time,
No voice surrenders its individual identity, nor does any one voice steal the show,
There is no front person, no soloist, no leader.”
“When I soften my hearing, something happens.
The many songs coalesce to make one song that doesn’t exist in any of the one voices alone.
It is an emergent song that I can’t find by unravelling the music into its separate strand!” – “Entangled Life” by Merlin Sheldrake

Fast-paced sequences, rhythmic movements, and precise group choreographies characterise the South African dance isiPantsula, which is simultaneously marked by virtuosity and a spirit of
resistance. The subculture Pantsula emerged in the Sophiatown district of Johannesburg during the violent expulsion of Blacks during Apartheid. It became a shared expression and identity that unified the 11 ethnic groups of the country. The dance style isiPantsula evolved from traditional dances and theatrical gestures of daily life and was used as a means of communication during demonstrations.

YEBO YES! is a full lenght dance performance starring artistic leaders Joanna Holewa Chrona and Theresa Gustavsson from Sweden together with co-creating dancers and pantsula choreographers Sibusiso Mthembu, Patricia Gugu Mofokeng and David Mokale from South Africa.

The dancers blend isiPantsula with freestyle and club culture emphasizing character, individual
expression, playfulness, unity and drive in an homage to the expressive power of this dance – an electrifying group dynamic and a strong community that never seems to end.

Tour resumé
Premiere Dansens Hus, Sweden 2021
Dance net tour, Sweden 7 cities, 2021
Urban Moves, Norway, 2022
Kucheza Festival, South Africa, 2023
Dance net tour, Sweden 8 cities, 2023
Africamia festival, Teneriffe, 2023
Vitabergsparken parkteatern, Sweden, 2023
Ice Hot Nordic, Norway, 2024
Potsdamer Tanztage, Germany, 2024
Pildammsparken Malmö sommarscen, Sweden, 2024

Duration: 60 min
Credits:
Artistic leaders: Joanna Holewa Chrona and Theresa Gustavsson
IsiPantsula choreographer: Sibusiso Mthembu
Co-creating Dancers: Sibusiso Mthembu, Patricia Gugu Mofokeng, David Mokale, Joanna Holewa Chrona, Theresa Gustavsson
Music: Yared Tilahun Cederlund
Vocals: Ntsika Fana Ngxanga
Costume: Victoria Denise Tcha
Light: Erik Wiedersheim-Paul
Producer: AFIA
Co-producer: Norrlandsoperan, Dansnät Sverige, Dansens Hus
Distribution: Nordberg Movement
With support from: Konstnärsnämnden, Vusi Art project, Riksteatern, Kulturrådet