7th Annual Celebrate Africa Festival Features Artists, Musicians, Food At Bowie Park

PRINCE GEORGE's COUNTY, MD — The 7th annual Celebrate Africa Festival will take place Sept. 22 during African Heritage Month.

The festival acknowledges the contributions and impact of the African immigrant community on Prince George’s County and the Washington metropolitan area and "celebrates the beauty, vibrancy and cultural relevance of the work of African artisans, musicians and performing artists. The festival aims to promote cultural awareness and understanding between African immigrants and other communities," organizers said.

The inaugural festival was held Oct. 14, 2018, and in its second year recorded attendance of more than 2,000 people. This year’s activities showcase the cultures of the African continent and will feature performances from musicians from Prince George’s County and beyond.

At the Celebrate Festival Vendor Village, local craftspeople will be selling textiles, jewelry and bath products. Experience firsthand the artwork from celebrated international artist Shiri Achu, hand-crafted drums from Hands on Drums and wares from local business including Delkis Collections, Kwamboka, Afrique Fashion House, Malik’s Fashion Boutique, Doors to Africa, Candles with Attitude, Sweet Splendor Bath and Body, and more.

Explore the flavors of the African Continent from local food trucks representing the best of African cuisine across the region including Shewa Ethiopian, Gidi Chow, Bigmama Kitchen and 1936 Food Truck.

Below is a list of the special entertainment that can be enjoyed Sunday at the festival from 1 to 6 p.m. at Fairwood Community Park, 12390 Fairwood Parkway, Bowie:

Uasuf Gueye Jazz Quartet, Driven by traditional instruments from the 13th century Manding empire such as the Balafon and the Ngoni, the Urban Virtuosos band plays captivating arrangements that combine funky drum set patterns, soothing horn lines, soulful jazz vocals and thought-stimulating hip-hop lyrics.

Ni Dembaya Drum Ensemble, Ni Dembaya's mission is to present traditional and modern rhythms, songs and dances from African people worldwide as a tool to educate, inspire, uplift, promote wellness, empower, and connect people, especially those of African descent.

Elikeh Afropop, Elikeh uses elements of Togolese rhythms as a foundation for exploration into American-influenced blues, funk and rock to produce captivating Afro-pop tunes that are as listenable as they are danceable.

Urban Foli Afro Jazz Band, Menes Yahudah’s soul stirring compositions serve to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary musical expression. The band is comprised of traditional and modern instruments played by some of Baltimore's best musicians.

Master of Ceremonies, DJ Kweks The ultimate DJ and MC for multi-cultural events, DJ Kweks is one of the most sought-after international DJs with a large resume of influential brands worldwide including Guinness, BET, Universal, WorldBank, African Union and others. He has been featured on BBC, ABC, Voice of America and several other media channels.