It was founded by Angélique Kidjo in 2007 and is now working in five African nations: Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mali, and Sierra Leone.
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Sieff has worked with many bands and artists including Wasted Youth, The Bad Plus, Herbie Hancock, Alexis Korner, Hugh Masekela, Big Country, Angelique Kidjo, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Denys Baptiste, Jazz Jamaica, Albert Collins, Keb' Mo', Spitting Image, Edoardo Bennato, Matumbi, Peter White and Clare Teal.
Notable artists who have performed at the festival include Mark Morris Dance Group, Philip Glass, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Maceo Parker, Leela James, Norah Jones, Savion Glover, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Group, Blue Man Group, They Might Be Giants, The Neville Brothers, Bob Dylan, Noche Flamenca, Philadanco, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and Angelique Kidjo.
The Orchestra also performed the world premiere of a PIFA commission, Hope: An Oratorio by Jonathan Leshnoff, with the Pennsylvania Girlchoir, the Mendelssohn Club Chorus of Philadelphia, and soloists Angelique Kidjo and David Linx, in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall.
In June 2007 he received the second prize for his remix of the song "SALALA" by Angelique Kidjo featuring Peter Gabriel.
As a dance artist, Diene has worked with some of West Africa's greatest artists, including Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Coumba Gawlo, Mory Kanté, Angélique Kidjo and Georges Momboye.
Over the years, the festival hosted famous artists as Billy Cobham, Angelique Kidjo, Incognito, Marlene Kuntz, Max Gazzè, Maurizio Nazzaro, Naïf, La Fame di Camilla, Sisters & Daughters of Praise, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pacifico, Lura, Rachelle Ferrell, Dobet Gnahorè, Oscar D'León.
Mendez's programming, arranging, and remixing credits include artists such as: Jimmy Page, David Byrne, Ricky Martin, Spice Girls, Chris de Burgh, Johnny Mathis, Will Smith, Kerli, Collective Soul, Tarkan, Jennifer Lopez, Jewel, Grace Jones, PM Dawn, Bee Gees, Pet Shop Boys, and Angélique Kidjo.
Konte and Africa Fete helped launch the careers of a number of well known, international artists, including Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour, Simon Mahlatini, Salif Keita, and Papa Wemba.
Her career is marked with big hits and collaborations with major African singers like Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Angélique Kidjo, Baba Maal, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Jimmy Dludlu, Gilberto Gil, among others.
Bell is best known as a drummer, working extensively with bassists Marcus Miller and as a sideman for other artists such as Erykah Badu, Victor Bailey, David Bowie, Stanley Clarke, Randy Crawford, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, John Scofield, Stanley Turrentine, Luther Vandross, Vanessa Williams and Victor Wooten.
He performed at the Houston International Festival, and twice in Texas in 1998/9 with other African artists such as Angellique Kidjo, Abdullah Ibrahim, Oumou Sangare and Hugh Masekela.
Active internationally, he has performed with artists such as Angélique Kidjo, Julius E. Green of The Platters, Pete York of Spencer Davis Group, Jon Lord (of Deep Purple), the late "Master" Henry Gibson, the late Malando Gassama, Bernard Purdie and Eric Bibb.
He's also featured on "Warm Heart of Africa" by The Very Best, "Pyromiltia" by Theophilus London, "I Could Be Wrong" by Chromeo, "Dynamo" by Abd al Malik and singing "I Think Ur a Contra" with Angelique Kidjo in her PBS special.