Afrovibes Festival at Contact

As you might guess from the title, Afrovibes is a celebration of contemporary and traditional music, theatre, spoken word and dance from South Africa and beyond. A biennial event that came to the UK for the first time in 2010, the festival, which takes place at the Contact Theatre, is a rare chance to embrace Southern African culture through a range of performances. Highlights include Thirst (pictured, Thu 18 Oct, 8pm, £10), a theatrical production that uses song, dance and storytelling to depict the strange adventures of three water carriers from a thirst-stricken village, and the Sibikwa African Indigenous Orchestra (Sat 20 Oct, 8pm, £10), serving up an energetic collage of African beats, styles and sounds using traditional instruments. To satiate your alimentary needs, the Township Café (throughout the festival) offers authentic food and beverages from the region.

Mon 15 – Sun 20 Oct, Contact, Oxford Road, M15 6JA, Tel: 0161 274 0600, times and prices vary, www.afrovibes2012.co.uk