WASHINGTON PARK — The annual African Festival of the Arts will celebrate its 25th anniversary Labor Day weekend.
An anniversary gala was held last week at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts in Hyde Park where Patrick Woodtor, founder of the festival, was honored. The 2014 Grand Baba and Grand Yeye for the festival is Chicago historian Timuel Black and community activist Juanita Passmore.
The event is operated by the nonprofit Africa International House USA Inc. in Woodlawn and runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Monday at Washington Park, 5100 Cottage Grove Ave.
Tickets are $20 but advance tickets can be bought online for $10 until Friday. Each day of the festival will feature various vendors, speakers, workshops, such as cooking demonstrations, and entertainment. This year's headline performer is R&B singer Musiq Soul Child, who is scheduled to perform Saturday.
The festival, which Woodtor said was the largest neighborhood festival in Chicago, was created to provide black artists a venue to showcase their work.
"There was no place where black artists could fully promote their products," Woodtor said. "Many artists have gotten their start at the festival."
He estimated that 10 to 20 artists a year are new vendors at the festival, which averages 300,000 people annually over the Labor Day weekend.
The 63-year-old Woodlawn resident, who is also executive director of the International House USA, said he previously owned a retail store, Windows to Africa, in Hyde Park before starting the festival.
"I remember the first festival cost $60,000 to produce. Now it's $600,000, which is one reason why I have not been able to expand the festival to other cities," Woodtor said. "But if any sponsors would like to make that happen I am all ears."
He added that the festival serves as a reminder to black Americans who may not know where their heritage originated.
“Our culture derived from strong black traditions and continues to colonize the world today through fashion, music and innovative style," Woodtor said. "Moreover, it is because of our connection to the cultures and traditions of the 'Motherland' that we can look back with dignity at the contributions we have made all over the world."
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