The Fête du Vodoun is Benin’s National Voodoo Festival, dedicated to honoring the nation’s history and the West African Vodoun religion. Its most famous attraction is the sacred, spectacular performances, which include masked dancers (like the ancestral Egungun and guardian Zangbeto) and public ceremonies led by Vodoun priests, featuring drumming, chants, and offerings. 

The Abu Simbel Sun-Alignment Festival is a 3,000-year-old event celebrating an incredible feat of ancient engineering at the Temple of Ramses II. Its main attraction is witnessing the sun perfectly align to illuminate the statues of Ra and Amun in the dark sanctuary, leaving only Ptah, the god of darkness, untouched by the light. This phenomenon occurs annually on or around February 22nd and October 22nd, dates believed to mark the pharaoh’s coronation and birthday.

The Festima Mask Festival is the largest cultural event in West Africa dedicated to preserving and celebrating the culture of the traditional African mask. Its most famous attraction is the performance of hundreds of diverse traditional masks (made of materials like leaves, wood, and textile) from various ethnic groups across West African nations. During the festival, mask wearers perform energetic, ritualistic dances set to traditional music, which symbolizes the communication with ancestors and spirits.

The Fichee Chambalala (Sidama New Year) is a vibrant, UNESCO-inscribed festival centered on a legend of a woman who visited her relatives annually to share a special communal meal, symbolizing unity. Visitors are welcomed to immerse themselves in this tribal event, which showcases diverse and inclusive activities, including traditional songs, dances, and Qexala poetry performances, alongside the symbolic sharing of the traditional dish, buurisame.

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is Morocco’s premier spiritual and cultural event, famous for its world-class concert series held annually in the historic city of Fez. Recognized by the UN, the festival promotes peace and cross-cultural dialogue through music featuring diverse faith traditions. Key attractions include performances in the stunning Bab Makina courtyard, traditional Sufi Nights, and free daily concerts held in the beautiful public squares of the Medina.

The Gerewol is an annual, week-long courtship ritual and beauty contest held by the nomadic Wodaabe people of Niger and Chad. Its most famous attraction is the Yaake dance, where elaborately costumed men use makeup to highlight the whites of their eyes and teeth, competing for the attention of female judges.