African Festival '08 to be celebrated Oct. 18 at ASU's West campus
<p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">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.<span> </span>The 11<sup>th</sup> 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.<span> </span>The festival is AFASA’s largest community outreach event each year.</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">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.<span> </span>A full schedule is provided below.</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">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.</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">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.<span> </span>The organization works to be an educational resource to the surrounding community and to serve as a new contact for African immigrants to Arizona.</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">Other festival sponsors include the City of Phoenix, Arizona Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and myspace.com/africanfestival.</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">The West campus is located at 4701 West Thunderbird Road in Phoenix.<span> </span>African Festival ’08 is free to the public.</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">Call (623) 247-4869 or (623) 215-2507 for more information.</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">Schedule of Events --- Saturday, October 18</span></u></strong></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">10 – 10:15 a.m.<span> </span><span> </span>Opening Ceremonies</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">10:30 a.m.<span> </span><span> </span>AGALU – Akeem Ayanniyi</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">12:30 p.m.<span> </span><span> </span>Amadou Kienou/Mabiba Baegne/AZ Drum and Dance</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">1:15 p.m.<span> </span><span> </span>Motherland Soul Reggae Band</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">2:00 p.m.<span> </span><span> </span>African Fashion Show</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">2:30 p.m.<span> </span><span> </span>Amadou Kienou/Mabiba Baegne/AZ Drum and Dance</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">3:30 p.m.<span> </span><span> </span>Motherland Soul Reggae Band</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">4:15 p.m.<span> </span><span> </span>AGALU – Akeem Ayanniyi</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">4:45 p.m.<span> </span><span> </span>Kawambe Omowale Drum and Dance Theatre</span></p><separator></separator><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; line-height: 150%" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial">5:30 p.m.<span> </span><span> </span>Motherland Soul Reggae Band</span></p><separator></separator> </p>