Latest news with #AfricanFestival
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘We care about everybody': Worcester African Festival returns this Saturday
The Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants (MOAD) will hold its third annual Worcester African Festival on Saturday. The festival will be a celebration of many African cultures, featuring vendors serving cuisines and merchandise from different African countries, a fashion show, and live music from disc jockeys, according to MOAD president Jermoh Kamara. Beginning in 2023, the festival was established to help bring exposure to the African community both in Worcester and throughout Massachusetts, Kamara told MassLive. 'The African community is vibrant,' Kamara said. 'We're vast. We've got a whole continent of people.' Karama told MassLive that MOAD is operating with a smaller budget for the festival this year. In 2023 and 2024, the festival had an operating budget of $30,000 to $35,000 that came from their sponsors. This year, the festival's sponsors have been sending smaller donations, resulting in a budget of $16,000 for the event. Karama said that one of the festival's top sponsors, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, had its funding cut, leading to it having to make smaller donations. 'I can only think that may be the reason why,' Karama said about the smaller donations this year. Nevertheless, the festival is still on for Saturday, and Karama says that everyone is welcome to attend. The celebration not only draws people from Worcester but from all over the state as well, according to Karama. 'You don't have to be of African background or descent to come to attend our festival,' she said. 'We welcome a variety of different nationalities and people. We care about everybody.' The Worcester African Festival will take place on Aug 2. at the Worcester Common and on Franklin Street from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. More Worcester Stories Funeral to be held for Worcester man who 'never stopped showing up for the city he loved' 'My baby!': Newly released body cam video shows new insight into Worcester ICE arrest Worcester school jobs saved as Trump admin releases education funding Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Community performers sought for African arts gala
A call-out has been issued for young performers to take part in a summer festival in Bradford which celebrates the arts and culture of the city's African populations. The second BAFA (Bradford African Festival of Arts) will be held in August, centred on the theme of "ubuntu" - a Zulu word meaning "of the people" or "unity". Judith Dlamini, who is part of the festival team, said the idea was "to bring Africa here" but to also encourage people to work together to support those from all communities who may need help. "This is a place where we can just express ourselves and invite lots of people so that they can come and belong," she said. The festival, to be held at several city centre venues between 13 and 16 August, will include a children's theatre performance and a Zulu dance. Organisers have urged children aged six to sixteen who are interested in singing, dancing, acting or cultural displays to get in touch. "It is to express our culture and then teach our children as well," Ms Dlamini said. Festival director and founder Dr Olushola Kolawole said this year's 4-day event would be expanded from last year's inaugural 2-day showcase, and around 4,000 people are expected to attend. BAFA is part of Bradford's 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations and aims to reflect the city's growing African communities, including newcomers from Zimbabwe, Botswana and beyond. It will feature food, music, dance and storytelling from a range of African countries. Ms Dlamini stressed the festival was both a celebration and a response to a need felt by many in the community who may be newer arrivals to the city. "We can work together… we who have been in this country for many years, [and] we can welcome them so that they don't feel lonely," she said. "It is difficult when you have just moved. We want to help to make Bradford feel like home for people, because it has been home for us for many years. So we want those that are joining us here as well to feel at home." Young performers and community groups interested in taking part are encouraged to contact organisers via the Bradford African Festival website. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Culture group hopes £280k revamp will boost footfall Reclaiming the story of Bradford's 1904 Somali village
