Africa Day Fest, held May 27 on several blocks of south Main Street in Little Rock, proved to be well worth a Memorial Day Weekend staycation for capital-city residents.
Featuring various vendors of food and merchandise from the Motherland, the six-hour festival enjoyed good weather and a hearty turnout.
Hosted by Afrika House and its community partners, Africans of Arkansas, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, the event was chaired by Tanzania native Benito Lubazibwa and helped along by a small army of volunteers. African proverbs were posted on signs lining the street.
Highlights included performances by Out Loud Artistry's Young Stars, the Dunk Doctors acrobatic basketball team, poetry by Leron McAdoo, a show of African fashions and a dance contest. Activities for children included an inflatable bounce house on the campus of Nayles Medical Center. Attendees also had the option to have their faces painted and participate in a drumming circle.
The festival was created to celebrate African arts and culture, highlight the connections between Arkansas and African countries, and create a platform to share African history with Arkansans, according to the event website.
High Profile on 06/04/2017