3.10.2025
Africa Afterwork Art
Kammio
Free entry
Seinäjoki African Community (SAC) is bringing a unique event to the Kalevan Navetta, where you’ll dive into the African culture!
Welcome to a special evening that will take you straight to the heart of Africa! Seinäjoki African Community (SAC) is bringing a unique event to the Kalevan Navetan Kammio, where you’ll dive into the colorful world of African culture in Seinäjoki. Here, music, dance, fashion, and crafts all come together in one joyful evening! Event timetable will be published soon, event is on from 4pm to 7 pm nonstop. All welcome!
The evening will be filled with vibrant music and dance performances that will lift your spirits and take you on a rhythmic journey. Menard Mponda will perform and you’ll get to know SAC’s community activities, admire beautiful Hey Beauty clothing, and found your own stunning MaxxyBeads and handicrafts jewelry available for sale. But that’s not all! Menard Mponda is a Tanzanian dancer, dance teacher, choreographer, musician and events organizer from Tampere. Menard is the first drum making teacher (Ngoma style) from Tanzania.
And why not give it a try yourself? You’ll also have the chance to experience drumming firsthand and feel the pulse of Africa’s powerful rhythms!
Free entry – don’t miss out on this amazing experience! Come enjoy an evening filled with culture, music, and joy.
Menard Mponda
Menard Mponda is a Tanzanian dancer, dance teacher, choreographer, musician and events organizer. Menard has graduated from Bagamoyo Art College as a dancer and a choreographer and has been studying at Sibelius Academy Music University in Helsinki, were he graduated in folk music as a Master Degree of Global Music. Menard is based in Tampere, he is the main founder of Fest Aftika festival in Tampere, he is the artistic director and producer of the festival. He is also a founder of Cheza Ngoma (an African dance and music ry) and a founder of The Mpondas family band.
Menard has long experiences in working with different people, age and abilities as a teacher. He has taught and performed around Finland for years, including working as assistant teacher for special needs youth at Aitoon vercational school and Vimmart school. “The Rise Of Queens” Is one of the most popular Dance and Music production by Menard Mponda, the production was done under Sibelius Music Academy, it was performed at Music House Helsinki, Kuopio University, Vuotalo in Helsinki, Sampola theater in Tampere, Hällä theatre in Tampere and Music House in Iceland.
Menard is the first drum making teacher (Ngoma style) from Tanzania. Last project was making drums for 100 people and performed together at Pakkahuone in Tampere.
Menard has conducted workshops and performances around the world along Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble. He has worked in countries such as Australia, South Korea, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Estonia, Hamburg, Germany, Italy, Benin, Togo and Ghana.
He has received several awards such: 2022 Outstanding achievement of top 10 men of African background in Finland by Diaspora GLITIZ Magazine, 2018 AAA – The AFroFinns Achievement Awards. 2012 Best regional cultural promoter of Tampere by EOAWO, 2008 Vuoden Mahdollistaja – Award by Local NGO`S to Individual or Agent that has Promoted Multiculturalism in positive spirit. Menard believes that music and dance are the greatest tools for communication between people and their cultures.
Heybeautycollections
Heybeautycollections is an Afro-Finnish fashion hub founded by a Nigerian creative Ojuolape Akinwunmi who has called Finland home for nine years. Specializing in ready-to-wear and custom handmade pieces for men, women, and children, the brand celebrates vibrant colors and cultural fusion. Beyond clothing, Heybeautycollections crafts unique accessories—handbags, makeup bags, socks, earrings, and more—using upcycled fabrics from its main production. Rooted in sustainability and artistry, every piece is a statement of style, culture, and conscious living.
Maxxyventures
Maxxyventures produces high quality beads, accessories, Footwear and Fabrics, that brings out the spark of beauty in you, we ensure your hidden beauty is brought to light. We says “distance is not a barrier” we’re just a call away or DM us on all our social media pages.
Maxwell Bobbie An entrepreneur based in Finland with the aim to enrich Finland with multicultural products. We started as a small business, but we gained followers and customers. We gained the interest to customise products for associations, organisations and beauty pageants such as: Next Century Finland, Good Hair Day Helsinki, Africa Fashion Week Helsinki, Ok Media House and Face of African Queen Finland. Through the growth and because of it, Maxxyventures now has representatives in the Netherlands, USA and Iceland as well as in Finland. You can order any of our products from our representatives in Finland, Netherlands, USA or Iceland.
The event is supported by Art Promotion Centre Finland.
