Tucked away in a western Sydney park, a pan-African bazaar of fabrics, food and art teemed with life and colour this weekend.

The Africultures Festival — marking its tenth year — laid out the diverse culture of nations east, west, north and south of the giant continent.

Forty of the 54 African nations were represented on Saturday at Wyatt Park in Lidcombe, founder and organiser Fatma Isir said.

The Kenyan-born Somali-Australian said the festival, which featured music and dance performances, and a fashion parade, was born out of need 10 years ago.

A young African-Australian woman at the Africultures Festival. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

Kween G (L) and her friend founded fabric and jewellery shop Alkebulan Goods. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

"The African communities were new to western Sydney [ten years ago]. They didn't know anything about each other," Ms Isir said.

"You have people from west Africa, east Africa, from all across the continent, and we met in western Sydney so the idea [was] we need to get together."

Fatma Isir is the director of the Africultures Festival, which is in its 10th year of running. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

A small pocket of Lidcombe, off Olympic Drive, bustled with immigrants and their children from Zimbabwe to Sierra Leone to Egypt to Somalia.

The aroma of samosas, camel stew, jollaf rice and Ethiopian coffee filled the joint, and festival-goers explored trinkets, fashion items imported from the region, and watched live performances.

A plate of Ethiopian food at the Africultures Festival.

Women serving up traditional Somali food at the Africultures Festival. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

Imported goods from Africa. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

Cooking West African jollof rice at Africultures Festival. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

"It's cheaper coming to Wyatt Park than going all the way to Africa," Ms Isir laughed.

According to the 2015 census, 380,000 people said they were born in Africa.

Ms Isir said the festival was also an important way to dispel myths and stereotypes about African immigrants.

African-Australian man at clothing stall at Africultures Festival. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

Three generations enjoying the day of celebrating African culture. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

Drumming at the Africultures Festival. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

"The majority of the Africans who came here are getting on with life, school, working, wanting to be a good citizen, want to be part of Sydney, this beautiful [city]."

Hair weaving at the Africultures Festival. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

Local Australian-African brand Eyona. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

The vendor at Neden Benci, an Egyptian inspired stall, selling gifts, clothing, jewellery and artwork. ( ABC News: Jennine Khalik )

"It's so untrue what you hear [in media] to what you see on the ground.

"We live in a multicultural society ... and cultural diversity is so important in Sydney, and the best part about Sydney is that all cultures are welcome.

"If people don't understand the cultures of Africa, [we must] bring it to Sydney."

