Coming To America…Via Bladensburg
Africa Festival Draws Families And Neighbors To A Day Of Music, Food, Fashion, Art And Culture
Story and Photography By Raoul Dennis
The overcast skies eventually gave way to sun and summer breezes by the mid-afternoon at the Celebrate Africa Festival on Sept. 8 (see photos click here). The weather was a perfect assist in creating an atmosphere that felt like a marketplace in an African city – a downtown outdoor mall experience unlike any suburban one that includes the likes of Target or Men’s Wearhouse or Chuck E Cheese.
As good as Chuck E Cheese can be, the Celebrate Africa Festival had all that America’s mouse house playground includes and more. From children’s games, food, fashion and music to art, culture and even riverboat rides with African storytelling, the afternoon was thick with activities and high energy.
Families from across the region and more than a few tourists attended the festival and took part in the shopping, dancing and eating in the spirit of western and central African cultures.
“I can’t believe there is so much here,” said Cheverly resident Arline Williams who was among the dozens of people spiraling through nearly a quarter mile of vendors, artists, fashion models and designers, drummers and food tables.
Kalimah McKeaver, 15, easily wowed crowds who stopped by her Dinkra Stylez Enterprises booth. McKeaver is polished, prepared, engaging and enthusiastic about her company and products. Dinkra Stylez is a “craft design firm that promotes literacy about African heritage through the creation of fun, colorful, and engaging products” that she hand sculpts and crafts herself.
She says the company started as a school assignment to “learn and demonstrate parts of her own African culture in a fun and engaging way.” (See video above). But now three years later, it has evolved. “She created the company to fill a void she found in locating colorful and engaging products that were not only fun but provided information about the rich and often overlooked contributions and accomplishments steeped in African Heritage,” the young entrepreneur’s biography outlines. Her product lines include Kwanzaa education, the umbira (African thumb piano), Andinkra-symbol laced hair beads and more.
Young McKeaver has already generated local and media attention. She has been featured on WUSA9 News, in the Washington Sun newspaper and Bmore.com.
Fashion designer Sheridonna F. Wilson, founder of Sheridonna Designs, LLC, was one of three designers whose work was on display at the Festival. Wilson who may have been the youngest designer on stage, dazzled the audience with daring looks that blend traditional African cultural touches with racy, sexy edge typically associated with western styles.
The musical range included: Les Filles de Illighadad, Fatou Seidi Ghali, LeSole Main Dance Project, TolumiDE, Amadou Koyate and more.
Watch The Space!!! More to come week of 9/18/19
