DETROIT – Detroit’s African World Festival is wrapping up its 43rd year at Hart Plaza, and organizers say there’s still time to take part in the summer tradition hosted by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
The festival features vendors, food and a safari experience — a major expansion from previous years.
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“We had a few animals last year but now we have over 100 animals that call the safari home this weekend here at Hart Plaza,” said Desirae Tolbert, vice president of marketing and communications.
The event is designed to be both a cultural celebration and an educational experience, drawing visitors who want to learn more about African history and the African diaspora.
“We are intentional about celebrating the culture of all walks of the diaspora, so there’s no one monolithic you know culture,” Tolbert said.
Among the vendors at this year’s festival is B&B African Prints, a business focused on bringing traditional African fabrics into a modern American context.
“My business partner and I really wanted to bring African prints, truly African prints to modern American culture,” said Dawnyel Verrett of B&B African Prints. “We’ve been really inspired by sort of African meets Asian.”
For some vendors, the Detroit festival holds a special personal significance.
“This one in Detroit means a lot to myself because of the people in Detroit. They are very very interested in not only the artifacts but the culture itself, so whenever these three days a year comes for me it’s like visiting home, from home,” said Omar Sillah of African Arts.
Now in its fifth decade, the festival has cemented itself as a Detroit summer staple.
“This is actually our 43rd year doing the African World Festival, so we’re not new to it but it’s just become a staple. It’s just what you do every summer,” Tolbert said.
The African World Festival runs through Sunday night, wrapping up at 11 p.m. at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit.