.jpg)
| |||||||||
|
|||||||||
|
By:
Harrison Maina | |||||||||
| Posted:
Jul,07-2015 15:49:21
| |||||||||
|
LOWELL, MA--Despite threats of bad weather with pregnant skies hovering above throughout the day, the 2015 edition of the Annual Lowell African Festival last Saturday provided revelers with memorable treats of entertainment, ethic food, fashion as well as a unique outdoors socializing platform.
The annual affair took place at the usual Sampas Pavilion on Pawtucket Boulevard organized by the African Cultural Association of Lowell. Monica Swaida, a Lowell based songstress, actress and business entrepreneur returned on the stage after several years break as the event host and master of ceremonies. Swaida wa praised by many for her outstanding performance that ensured a flawless flow of the program, keeping most the audience engaged throughout the day. During the festival, several thousands of African Diaspora nationals and friends who love the taste of African culture turned out, ranging from toddlers to teenagers, the youth as well as the elderly. A wide variety of music was presented by several artists displaying a rare mix of cultural, pop and religious music entertainment that define the contemporary life of people from the continent of Africa. Among the most visible and highly impacting performers was the African Roots band, a live gospel music band made up of youthful artistes from several African counties of Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbambe. The group, dressed in army fatigues and boots and led by Kenya's Apostle George Melden of the new Well of Worship Center in Dracut moved revelers with the familiar lyrics of "Double Double" blessings that may result from heeding the word of God.
Other performing groups included the upcoming Lowell High School performing group, also led by Kenya's Shiro Wang'ang'a that performed a silent foot thumping and hand clapping dance to the delight of the large crowd. Also on state were several cultural and traditional dancers from Nigeria, Ghana and other West African communities in Lowell. However, a highly entertaining African attire fashion show was staged by a dozen youthful male and female Africans, showcasing a massive talent by local Diaspora African fashion designers and incredibly courageous and talented models hitting the catwalk. "I am very happy with what is going on here. The weather was not for us today but we have seen a lot of great performances and the people seem to like it," said Lee Furusa, chairlady of the African Cultural Association during an interview with Ajabu Africa News. Furusa said that the association will continue to improve the Lowell African festival as the premier source of African cultural pride in Lowell and Massachusetts. She thanked all the guests and sponsors who had made the event a huge success.
Craft vendors as well as corporations also took advantage of the large turnout to market their wares and services to the increasingly economically powerful African community in the region. Among the corporate companies with a huge presence there was Nizhoni Health Systems, as well as Essy Healthcare, a Kenyan owned healthcare company. Jay Kalungi, founder of the Praise through Worship Entertainment Company from the Ugandan community provided the sound system at the event for the 4 year in a row. "We are here to let Africans know that we are hiring and we are giving a lot of opportunities to people," said one Kenyan representative from Essy Homecare.
"It's a great festival. I love it. People are having fun before going back to their busy lives," said Rev. Jeremiah Menyongai of the Christ Jubilee International church that also had a food stand at the festival. The event ended late in the evening when the skies made true their threats and light rain started dropping on departing guests, and disappointing others who were arriving hoping to catch some late end of the day action. Another African Festival dubbed the Boston African Festival will take place at the City Hall Plaza in Boston on Saturday July 18 organized by a different group of African Diaspora cultural enthusiasts.
| |||||||||
|
Source:
Ajabu Africa News
| |||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
RSS