09/23/2026
The HMA team is proud to announce this year’s Harlem MEET Africa line-up — bringing together an incredible mix of music, rhythm, dance and culture from Harlem, Africa and beyond.
We’re thrilled to welcome Sista Zock, a Harlem-born-and-raised Renaissance Woman, artist and storyteller whose work blends spoken word, Afro Jazz, Hip-Hop and an Afro-Futuristic spirit. A proud daughter of Harlem, she brings her deep cultural heritage and community connection to everything she creates.
DJ Gale Scott (Jamaica/NYC) will keep the energy moving throughout the day, bringing her unique blend of sounds and her deep connection to the music and culture of the African diaspora.
Lorry François & Youth Harlem bring a youth-centred Drum & Dance Performance, introducing younger members of the community to rhythm, movement, performance and cultural expression.
Lindsey Wilson is a singer-songwriter with a flair for nostalgia, blending ’70s-style urban folk rock with conscious lyrics. Influenced by artists including Odetta, Richie Havens, Joni Mitchell and Joan Armatrading, her original music explores love, protest and empowerment.
Maputi brings the soulful traditions of Zimbabwean Shona mbira into a contemporary musical landscape. Trained by mbira masters in Zimbabwe, the New York-based ensemble blends hypnotic mbira melodies with West African flute, violin, percussion and rich vocal harmonies.
Fulani Jazz Blues, led by Ali Kamiya and Sory Koité, is a new Harlem–West African collective bringing together West and North African rhythms, melodies and jazz-blues influences. Their music is a meeting point between cultures, generations and traditions.
Mandingo Ambassadors, led by legendary Guinean guitarist Mamady Kouyate, bring decades of Guinean musical history to the stage. A former member of the legendary Bembeya Jazz, Kouyate later founded the Mandingo Ambassadors. His musical partnership with fellow guitarist Mamady Kourouma draws deeply from the griot tradition while retaining a powerful, modern guitar-driven energy. Their almost telepathic communication is pure magic.
Casa Mantequilla is a Harlem-born multicultural collective bringing together African, Caribbean, Latin and American musical traditions. Afrobeat, West African grooves, soukous, reggae, cumbia, blues and jazz come together in an energetic celebration of the African diaspora and Harlem’s wonderfully diverse spirit.
And closing the festival: Natu Camara
Harlem-based Guinean-American singer, songwriter, guitarist, humanitarian, entrepreneur and cultural ambassador, Natu Camara is the founder of Harlem MEET Africa and the driving force behind this celebration of music, community and African culture.
Natu’s music brings together the spirit and traditions of West Africa with the energy, emotion and freedom of contemporary Afro-rock. Her powerful live performances have taken her from Harlem to stages around the world, building a reputation for connecting with audiences through music that is joyful, deeply rooted and impossible to sit still to.
This year, Natu will close Harlem MEET Africa with a full stage performance and some very special guests, bringing the festival home with the energy, heart and sheer joy that she brings to every performance.
If you’ve never seen Natu live, this is a chance to experience her on her home turf — Harlem.
Come for the music. Stay for the joy. Be part of HMA.
Join us Sunday, October 18th, 2–7 PM at Marcus Garvey Park for a FREE afternoon of music, community and celebration.
Harlem MEET Africa — Meet Great Music. Meet Community. Meet Joy.
Bring your friends. Bring your family. Come meet Africa in the heart of Harlem!
