HYDE PARK — The African Festival of the Arts announced Wednesday that Rose Royce will headline this year’s Labor Day weekend festival.
The festival will bring Royce and Hewett to Washington Park along with other musicians, arts and crafts, food and more from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 2-5.
Rose Royce, the Los Angeles-based group that had a string of hits in the 1970s with “Car Wash,” “I Wanna Get Next to You,” and others, is the first group to be announced for this year’s lineup at the festival.
Howard Hewett will also play on the main stage.
Other acts announced so far include Nigerian musician “Chief Commander” Ebenezer Obey playing Nigerian juju music, as well as Angel ‘d Cuba and the EPA! AfroColombian Band on Saturday.
Dee Alexander and the Evolution Ensemble will play Sunday night as part of the Chicago’s Best Night showcase.
Honorary hosts for the festival this year will be “Grand BaBa” Robert Jordan from WGN and “Grand YeYe” Diane Dinkins-Carr acting as exemplars of this year’s theme, “ruwadzano,” which means “togetherness” in the Shona language of Zimbabwe.
For more information about vendors or purchase day pass tickets for $15 or a weekend pass for $40, visit the festival website.
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