African Festival '08 to be celebrated Oct. 18 at ASU's West campus
A celebration of Africa will feature music, dance, vendors, food, live performances, children’s games, a fashion show and more at Arizona State University’s West campus Oct. 18. The 11th annual “African Festival ‘08” will be presented by the African Association of Arizona (AFASA) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Delph Courtyard. The festival is AFASA’s largest community outreach event each year.
Included on the schedule of events are live performances throughout the day by Nigerian talking drummer “Agalu,” led by Akeem Ayanniyi; master djembi drummer Amadou Kienou from the country of Burkina Faso; Arizona Drum and Dance, with master dancer Mabiba Baegne from the Congo; and Kawambe-Omawale Drum and Dance Theatre, including performances of drumming, dancing, storytelling and singing. A full schedule is provided below.
Among the activities scheduled are an African marketplace, fashion show, African arts and crafts, masks and home décor, paintings and sculptures, and African children’s games.
The mission of AFASA, a 501c3 founded in 1992, is to bring people in Arizona together to promote African awareness through educational and cultural activities. The organization works to be an educational resource to the surrounding community and to serve as a new contact for African immigrants to Arizona.
Other festival sponsors include the City of Phoenix, Arizona Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and myspace.com/africanfestival.
The West campus is located at 4701 West Thunderbird Road in Phoenix. African Festival ’08 is free to the public.
Call (623) 247-4869 or (623) 215-2507 for more information.
Schedule of Events --- Saturday, October 18
10 – 10:15 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
10:30 a.m. AGALU – Akeem Ayanniyi
12:30 p.m. Amadou Kienou/Mabiba Baegne/AZ Drum and Dance
1:15 p.m. Motherland Soul Reggae Band
2:00 p.m. African Fashion Show
2:30 p.m. Amadou Kienou/Mabiba Baegne/AZ Drum and Dance
3:30 p.m. Motherland Soul Reggae Band
4:15 p.m. AGALU – Akeem Ayanniyi
4:45 p.m. Kawambe Omowale Drum and Dance Theatre
5:30 p.m. Motherland Soul Reggae Band