It could be argued that Africa is the most recognizable—when it comes to shape—of the continents. Without a name on a map, even a grade-school kid could call it out by its peculiar, sweet potato-like shape. Known as the earliest inhabited continent in the world, Africa is the beginning of the book on world history. Africa is the land of the Ancient Egyptians, the home of the late Nelson Mandela and the sandy Sahara Desert. And when you get a unique batch of cultural traditions and histories, you get a unique batch of festivals. From the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in South Africa, to Festival Mawazine in Rabat, Morocco, festivals in Africa are brimming with history and heritage—just like the ancient continent itself.