Unit 53, Cariocca Business Park, 2 Hellidan Close, Manchester M12 4AH t: 01612732567 f: 01612240601

Pedro Da Silva Vicente - Founder and Chairperson

Pedro originally from Angola, came to Manchester in 1994. He began work within the community as an interpreter for Refugee Action, an organisation supporting asylum seekers and refugees in Manchester. Fluent in 4 languages Pedro became a main figurehead in supporting refugees and asylum seekers from all over the world but mainly those who hailed from Africa and the Diaspora. Many of the refugees Pedro worked with came from Angola and by 1997 there was quite a large Angolan community who had settled in Manchester. It was in this year that Pedro became President of the Angolan community, a role which he stayed in for 6 years.

Before arriving in England Pedro's background was in Music and Media. He worked as a DJ on several radio stations including one of Africa's most renowned stations Africa no. 1. He was also a Sports and Fashion journalist for the Portuguese communities.

During his work in the Manchester community Pedro noticed that there was a lot lacking for the African communities particularly with regards to promoting their music, history and culture. He also felt that positive aspects of Africa were seldom highlighted within the media and the broader communities in general. Hence the birth of African Festival UK!

Nowadays when he isn't focusing on the organisation Pedro comes to life at night as DJ Hot Pepper specialising in world music, a genre that is still very much underexposed. You can catch him at various clubs and bars across Manchester and the north including the last Saturday of the month at the A Fe We Pub and restaurant in Hulme.