Tenerife is getting a rare chance to see one of Africa’s best-known musical groups live, with Senegalese legends Orchestra Baobab performing a free concert in Santa Cruz this Saturday, 17 October.
The concert takes place at 8.30pm at the Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA), as part of the fifth edition of the Africamía Festival.
Formed in Dakar in the early 1970s, Orchestra Baobab has spent decades building a reputation for blending traditional West African rhythms with Afro-Cuban and Latin influences. The result is a distinctive sound shaped by the musical connections between Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
A First Visit to the Canary Islands
This will be Orchestra Baobab’s first performance in the Canary Islands, making it one of the main highlights of this year’s festival.
The group’s music reflects generations of cultural exchange, bringing together different traditions and influences. For audiences in Tenerife, it’s a chance to experience a legendary band whose sound has travelled well beyond Senegal.
The Tenerife Cabildo is helping organise the concert through its Department of External Relations and Institutional Affairs. The aim is to strengthen cultural ties between the Canary Islands, West Africa and Latin America, using music as a way to bring communities together.
More Than Just Music
Africamía celebrates African and Afro-descendant cultures through music, film, photography, dance and activities for families and young people.
The festival is organised by the cultural association La FET, with support from the Tenerife Cabildo and other cultural institutions. This year’s programme also includes Casa África in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as a venue for some activities.
The festival’s artistic director, Sara Maurin Kane, described Orchestra Baobab’s arrival as one of the most anticipated moments of this edition, highlighting the historic musical and cultural links between West Africa and Latin America.
Event Details
- Event: Orchestra Baobab at Africamía Festival
- Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
- Time: 8.30pm
- Venue: Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA)
- Town: Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Area: North-east Tenerife
- Admission: Free
If you enjoy live music with a bit of history behind it, this is one to consider. Orchestra Baobab has been doing its thing since the 1970s, and seeing the group make its Canary Islands debut is a pretty good reason to spend Saturday evening in Santa Cruz.