African Arts Festival Coming to Commodore Barry Park This Weekend (Updated)

FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — The International African Arts Festival will bring an array for arts, food, music and performances to Commodore Barry Park in Fort Greene this weekend.

The festival, which started in 1971, will run from July 1 through July 4. It's a free event, although organizers request a $5 donation for adults and $2 for kids.

Scheduled events include a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Zulu Nation, martial arts exhibits, a natural hair and fashion show and a chess tournament. And here are a few of the festival's biggest scheduled acts:

On Friday, July 1, performances will be provided by Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Company, which combines modern dance, ballet, hip-hop and traditional West African dance styles, and Haitian singer Emeline Michel.

On Saturday, July 2, the KanKouran West African Dance Company will spread knowledge of African music, dance and drum traditions, while jazz saxophone player Gary Bartz will share his artistry, honed over decades of playing with such jazz luminaries as Miles Davis and Max Roach.

On Sunday, July 3, the Black Rock Coalition will offer a tribute to the music of Prince and Maurice White, and rapper Blitz the Ambassador will display his mixture of soul, hip-hop and African popular music.

On Monday, July 4, singer Wunmi, born in the United Kingdom to Nigerian parents, will offer her blend of Nigerian-inspired pop, and poet and activist Sonia Sanchez will read from her voluminous body of work.

Here's a complete schedule for the festival:

Top image courtesy of Emeline Michel