by Tyler Ayodeji/staff writer
CHICAGO, IL After two years’ suspension occasioned by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the African Festival of the Arts is returning to Washington Park in Chicago to once again relish, dine and showcase the rich cultural diversity of the Black race.
Tagged “Back to Culture, Back to Tradition”, an indication of a return to normalcy as a community, village and people, after the Covid-19 pandemic the 33rd version is scheduled for the Labor Day weekend of September 2nd-5th.
“I’m impressed. This is wonderful,” declared erstwhile Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago as he went around the festival center during the 15th edition shaking hands and taking pictures with friends, acquaintances and visitors.
Two outstanding Black leaders Minister Louis Farakhan and State Senator Mattie Hunter will be unveiled on August 27, 2022 as the Grand “baba (father) and grand yeye”(mother) at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago campus. Both are the overseer of the return of the festival after the pandemic break.
Erstwhile Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Chicago Charles Bowen takes great pride in the African Festival of the Arts because ‘it has done more to tie African Americans into what the Africans are about with its first -hand knowledge about how business is done in Africa and the spirit of Africa.”
Registration for vendors, artist and artisans are on going for the event. It could be done online at www.aihusa.org. The event, the largest community organization in Chicago is set to see politicians jostling for attention in this election year as food vendors, artists and artisans hawk their wares in traditional African settings, while many danced to the talking drums and other traditional music instruments displayed at the annual fiesta.
The Ghanaian-Americans will be on song with their makosa music while Black Americans mingle with fellow Blacks from motherland, Jamaica and West Indies to mark the 33rd edition of the festival.
“Non-stop entertainment representing the full arc of global Black music expression will
be featured on two stages. International DJ’s will pump-up the spirit and segue
between great talent including Kenyan born Chicago raised Chi Tulani with his
Mchuzi or “sauce” (in Swahili) of Hip Hop, Rap and Reggae, classical jazz vocalist
Megan McNeal, spoken word artist Janeff The Poet , smooth jazz with London
based Jericho Noguera and more” says Devorah Crable, AIH spokes person.
Other artists lined up for the festival includes Chicago’s own “Empress of Soul” Terisa Griffin expected to launch the “Harambee” reunion celebration with her soul stirring rendition of R&B favorites.
Nigeria twin-brothers music sensation P-Square, Peter and Paul Okoye are slated to perform at the festival. Also gracing the festival are Chicago Mass Choir and the Victory Travelers.
Safety is equally assured at the gated grounds of the event throughout the four-day fiesta. “Our programs benefit all people with African linkage either from the Caribbean, Asia or African Americans. Hopefully, we are bringing like-minded people together whether they are from here, Africa, Brazil or Canada. We do have more African Americans during the festivals because they are many in Chicago and they have longed to get information about Africa and learn about the African culture,” says Patrick Saingbey Woodtor, founder and President of AIH.
