A new addition to this weekend’s World Festival in Richmond is sure to, at the very least, add a splash of colour.
The Africa Zone will burst into life this Friday on the running track at Minoru as part of the festival, which runs all day and night, Aug. 31 and Saturday, Sept. 1.
As well as a varied host of performers, from jazz to gospel choirs, there will be free hair-braiding and hand Henna at the Africa Zone pavilion.
The idea for the tribute to Africa came from the Richmond-based Somali Women Empowerment Society (SWES), which originally pitched the idea of an African Festival to the City of Richmond.
It was, instead, decided to have an Africa Zone incorporated into the Richmond World Festival.
“The African community in Richmond came up with the idea, specifically the Somali Women Empowerment Society made the pitch to the City of Richmond’s World Festival organizing committee,” said Mary Wilson, founder of Richmond’s Black History Month celebrations, who is helping to organize Africa Zone.
“It’s going to be a very colourful addition to World Fest; we are all very much looking forward to it.”
Among the array of Africa Zone performers will be jazz singer Phyllis Adelyne, the Phase III Steel Drummers, contemporary singer Dawn Pemberton, the Voc Sweet Soul Gospel Choir, Soul Survivors and African Stages, which is story-telling and dance performance led by children.
The Africa Zone pavilion will also contain a collection of African art from various African countries, as well as story-telling and music by Ezeadi Onukwulu.
The hair-braiding is being done, for free, by Love Afrodite, and Henna applications by members of the SWES.
African-themed food trucks will also be available at the main food truck site, dubbed “Feastival” of flavours from around the world.
