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Why a FREE African Heritage Festival is Being Held
| The African Heritage Ancestral Festival will be
held on Saturday August 7th at Roots Public Charter School, located at 15 Kennedy Street, NW from 12 noon to 9 pm. The Festival will be honoring the legacies of
ancestors who have made positive contributions to our community, and will feature live performances, arts, crafts, libations, and much more. Along with many others who went before and after them, ancestors Jimmy
Black Fire Gray, BaBa Ngoma, Rabia Rayford, Barnett Williams, Mamadi
Nyasuma, BaBacar Nnang, Mwandishi Johnson, Jahi Bem Sherad, Gaston
Neal, M'Wile Yaw Askari, Brian Walker, Evan Antoine, Reggie Simmons,
Djimo Kouyate and Jimmy Butler contributed to the music, the dance,
spoken word and other artistic expressions in Banneker City. Ancestors Wm Henry Jackson Bey, Kamau Robinson, Alaka Johnson Ford,
Vernon Butler, Jackie Green, Damu Smith, Betty Jean Williams, Ronald
Thomas Davis, Shiekh Sharieff, Chris Crowder, Marilyn Killingham, Ajama
King and BaBa Oraefo Karomoko were committed and consistent community
activists, teachers and organizers within our community. Ancestors Harlee Little and Kofi Owusu left photographic and activist legacies for us to celebrate and remember. Ancestors Cheryl Diane Carson Wilson, Rashid Handy, Balla Sidibe, Nana
Sandra Richardson, Dianne Carson Wilson, and Valerie Ann Yarborough
brought more love to us by staying true to their mission on the planet
and bringing love to children in schools, churches and other African
institutions. We will never forget these men and women and the many other ancestors
whose names we call around the globe for their many contributions to
our African community. We give thanks to their families, loved ones and
friends for sharing them so generously with us. Our work is
to continue to carry on their works and deeds. The African Heritage Ancestral Festival is organized to help keep the
phenomenal legacies and the ordinary and extraordinary lives of our
ancestors alive. We give thanks for the countless blessings, the
memories of laughter and fun and the deep, abiding love we have shared
and shall continue to share with and for these ancestors and the
African Community they supported and loved. The festival will be both inside and outside the Roots Campus and will
include an African Market Place, live entertainment and health and
wellness screening and information. We are also providing a space where the community can bring photos,
obituaries and other materials to share in celebration of the memory of
their personal ancestors. It is up to us to refresh our collective
memory of those who walked before and for us! For more details please contact Baye Services at 202-256-2518 or senghorb@hotmail.com. See flier at RIGHT. |
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Friends,
 Tomorrow, August 6, marks 48 years since Jamaica became independent. As a person who spent most of her life in Jamaica, I am inclined to write this entire editorial in patois, but because I believe in being inclusive, I will stick to the Queen's English (for the most part).
Born and bred in Jamaica, I emigrated to the USA in early 2003 -- yeah man, mi juss come yah even dough moss people check sey mi deh yah from "Wappy kill Fillup." My whole life is defined by my upbringing in Jamaica and all the values which were instilled in me. Even though I now live in the USA, nothing or no piece of paper will ever make me lose the essence of who I am - I AM JAMAICA!
Jamaica just celebrated Emancipation last Sunday (August 1) and tomorrow is the big 48th Independence Day. In true Jamaican stylee, you better believe that Jamaicans all over the world will be celebrating all of this week and beyond until we get we belly full - rain or shine!
Yes, "we likkle but we tallawah" and we are the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean, so when we refer to other Caribbean islands as "small islands," it is not because we are being condescending...we juss proud nuh baxide! With 3 counties, 14 parishes, a population of around 2.8 million, roughly 120 rivers flowing through the island, and a country having the most churches per square mile, we are truly "Irie." We have 1 national she-ro and 6 national heroes, including one of the greatest orators of all times - Marcus Garvey who is known for creating a level of black consciousness that lives on and on. In case you did not know, Dutty Boukman who is famous for the bashment he created in Haiti leading up the Haitian Revolution, is in fact Jamaican-born. Did I mention that the fastest man in the world is a Jamaican? Usain Bolt to de world!
We are the home of the reggae legend, Bob Marley and the Reggae Boys; we do not have snow but we do have a Bobsled team; and we are highly spirited people because J. Wray and Nephew (Ministry of Rum) is a part of us. We are one of the few countries where an area Don can have the entire country on lock down for about a week (you already know the Dudus tale, so mi naah go dehso), and while that may not be something to boast about, it shows that we are very "special" and have the capacity to seriously run tings. There is so much more to Jamaica than meets the eye. Each time I visit the island, I discover something precious that I missed during my years living there. Even though the little piece of Jamaica that flies is no longer Jamaican-owned, it still flies to Jamaica. As the tourism ad says "Come to Jamaica and Feel Alright." Nuh rely pan hear-seh.
Yaadie massive and crew, as we celebrate our Independence, let us wear our Black, Green and Gold colors and think about how we, as Jamaicans, can continue to do our part to represent Jamaica in a favorable light.
Happy 48th Jamaica,
Rosie "Peppy" Parke Creative Director PEPPY ENTERTAINMENT & PROMOTIONS, LLC
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AFRICAN HERITAGE ANCESTRAL FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 7
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"TASTE JAMAICA" WITHOUT KY-MANI MARLEY ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 15
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 On behalf of ILR, JAM, and JNA, we regret to inform you that as previously advertised, and due to circumstances beyond our control, Ky-Mani Marley will not be able to participate in the
"Taste JAMAICA" event. We invite you to attend this FREE festival, celebrating Jamaica's 48th Independence and enjoy dynamic performances from Benjy Myaz, Image Band, Lenny Kurlou, EnsideOut, DJ Fabulous, DJ Nemesis, DJ GNice and other entertainers. "Taste JAMAICA" is the first of its kind, and will be a day highlighting Jamaica's rich culture and heritage. Bring your entire family for food, fashion, arts & crafts, entertainment, and dialogue with the Ambassador of Jamaica
on things "made in Jamaica."
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CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF TARRUS RILEY?
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Tickets available at Caribbean Sea Restaurant, Caribbean at 301-891-3497, Caribbean Gardens at 301-559-2445, Zanzibar's Box Office, or you may call Anthony at 240-355-5909. |
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