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DETROIT NATIVE SUN
DETROIT NATIVE SUN
37th Annual African World Festival
The 37th annual African World Festival is bringing over 150,000 attendees to the grounds of The Wright Museum. With performances, poetry, arts and crafts, African drumming and dance, hundreds of vendors, authentic foods of the diaspora and more, this FREE 3-day festival is for the entire family!
The Wright Museum is proud to continue its 37-year legacy of hosting the city’s largest celebration of African diasporic culture! This year's event is made possible by generous contributions from presenting sponsor Ford Motor Company Fund, Wayne State University, Go RVing and a host of others. AWF will feature several stages of entertainment, more than 125 marketplace vendors, crowd-pleasing ethnic foods, visual arts, master crafts exhibitions, live demonstrations and so much more.
Food & Shopping
AWF 2019 will feature over 125 vendors of authentic African, African American and Caribbean food, apparel and accessories, health products and more. These vendors represent 8 African countries and 15 U.S. states, providing a unique shopping experience! Vendor booths will be situated on Brush and Farnsworth streets.
Entertainment
Festivities will officially commence on Friday afternoon with a welcome by The Wright Museum President and CEO Neil A. Barclay. Headlining AWF 2019 is R&B crooner Freddie Jackson, who will perform on the Main Stage on Friday night. Other notable performers include Grammy Award-winning gospel music legends and Detroit natives, The Clark Sisters on Saturday and the exciting Afrobeat ensemble Kalakuta on Sunday.
More entertainment includes, but is not limited to:
Detroit Rocks The Runway Fashion Show coordinated by renowned local creative and fashion photographer Piper Carter and featuring musical headliner Danni Cassette
Children’s activities including face painting, stage performances, and a book fair
Live drum and dance performances coordinated by Heritage Works
Education
As an institution focused on learning, visitors can participate in this year's college fair featuring local colleges and universities, as well as prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Inside the Museum
Inside of the 22,000 square-foot facility, all exhibitions on display - traveling exhibition The Inside World: Contemporary Aboriginal Australian Memorial Poles, permanent exhibition And Still We Rise, and others - will be open. The Museum store will also be open, which features Museum merchandise, Detroit specific brands, memberships and other unique finds that won’t be outside. Inside the General Motors Theater, African World Film Festival will host an exclusive screening of the smash documentary Horror Noire directed by Xavier Burgin, featuring commentary by Jordan Peele, followed by live Q&A with Burgin.
The Opening Ceremony for African World Festival 2019 begins at 4 PM on Friday, August 16. This weekend-long event is sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund, Heritage Works, Wayne State University, Domino’s Pizza, Knight Foundation, and Go RVing.
The Called and Ready Writers, founded by Dr. Mary D. Edwards in 1999, will mark their 20th Anniversary with two more weekend events. The Book Fair Festival will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Detroit/Dearborn Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 5200 Mercury Drive, Dearborn, MI 48126. Admission is $5.00 for non-members.
This Christian writing organization has over twenty members. At the Book Fair Festival, more than 12 of the published authors will feature and sell the fruits of their labor: poetry, books, devotionals, newsletters, novels, autobiographies, gospel tracts, inspirational messages, motivational posters, CDs, crafts, and special productions. They will have beautiful and uplifting items to enrich, encourage, motivate, and empower one’s life.
The day will feature a host of activities with guest speakers, poetry reading, and the authors’ presentation and discussion on their books. There are fun things for children and youth to participate in during this session. Complimentary gifts will be given. Light refreshments will be served.
Sunday, August 18, 2019, is the “Rededication Ceremony and Prayer Service.” This will be held in the late afternoon at: 4:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. at the same hotel, The Courtyard by Marriott at 5200 Mercury Drive in Dearborn, MI. This is a sacred ceremony for the writers and authors to recommit their time and life to God to write. A balloon launch outside will follow this activity.
For more information please contact: Mrs. Wanda J. Burnside, President at: wtvision@hotmail.com and Author Ramelle T. Lee, Vice President and Membership Chairman at: ramelleskip@aol.com. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at: 313-271-1400.
Called and Ready Writers to celebrate 20 year anniversary
