FORT GREENE — Hip-hop artist Blitz the Ambassador and a cappella group Thokoza featuring Thuli Dumakude of Broadway’s "The Lion King" will headline the 45th International African Arts Festival this weekend in Fort Greene.
The festival, which runs July 1 to 4 at Commodore Barry Park, will also feature performances by dance company Forces of Nature, Grammy Award-winning musician Gary Bartz, Haitian singer Emeline Michel, the Kankouran West African Dance Co., a Black Rock Coalition tribute to Prince and Maurice White, Nigerian singer Wunmi, and award-winning poet Sonia Sanchez.
There will also be an intellectual symposium, dance workshops, African drum workshops, a martial arts demonstration, a chess tournament, a natural hair showcase, face-painting for kids, and a marketplace with food and goods from all over the world.
“You’re going to get African expression in a variety of forms,” said IAAF spokeswoman April Silver.
While the festival will represent all forms of African culture, from the main continent to South America and the Caribbean, this year’s event will place special emphasis on South Africa. Each year going forward will focus on a different country.
Past performers at IAAF have included Talib Kweli, Living Colour, Fela Kuti, KRS-One, Erykah Badu, India Arie and Lauryn Hill.
The IAAF began in 1971 in Bedford-Stuyvesant as a fundraiser for the Uhuru Sasa School, community-based initiative that educated youth and adults about African culture
While it started small with 2,000 visitors in its first year, the festival now draws 75,000 people to Fort Greene annually.
Despite that growth, Silver said its mission remains the same.
“This is a safe place to come and to meet like-minded people and to broaden your horizons,” she said. “It’s not only for African people but for people who want to explore other cultures and learn about the world beyond their four walls.”
The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, rain or shine. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children.
Each performance at the main stage this year will be available to stream on Facebook Live.
