Djibouti beach festival concludes with local and diaspora artists
The three-day event featured international hits, traditional dances, and performances by artists from Djibouti and its diaspora.
Djibouti's first Beach Festival concluded after three nights of seaside music, drawing crowds who sang and danced to a mix of international hits and local creations. The singer Wafa and her band, along with Sharmarke and his dancers in traditional costumes, performed contemporary rhythms including songs by Beyoncé and Sharma Boy. Traditional Arabic, Afar, and Somali dances were also featured.
The festival welcomed back Djiboutian music figures Saad Coolio and Racine J, who performed 25 years after their initial success, earning recognition from younger audiences. Rapper Waydara Boy, a recent national discovery, shared the stage with established artists like Fafy, Yahya, Ikhran, Harbouy, Houssein Hayle, and Abayazid Ali. Artists from the Djiboutian diaspora, including Danka Boy and Arido, also performed, alongside Ethiopian guest Haymanot.
Arido paid tribute to Nasser Abdallah by performing his song "Yinti Yinti," a moment described as the festival's most emotional. Beyond the music, the site offered family activities, children's games, and stands for crafts and entrepreneurship. Organizers reported the event proceeded without incident, with technical teams quickly fixing minor power outages on the second night.
Why it mattersThe festival provided a space for cultural expression, entertainment, and economic activity for Djiboutian residents and artists.