Africa Fest celebrates its 10th anniversary
The call of the drum
The call of the drum
reflects that intergenerational unity of the African community.
According to Kumapayi, Africa Fest is also for everyone who lives in the Madison area who are eager to learn about cultures different than their own. “We
have found that the Madison community is open-minded and wants to learn more about different cultures,” Kumapayi reflected. “You can see it in their faces
when they come to Africa Fest. Africa Fest is for everyone. It is free to the public. Come and learn more about Africa. We want the community to continue to be
as diverse as it is. And we are very proud of being here in Madison and being part of this community.”
At Africa Fest, being held August 16 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., people will find authentic arts and crafts vendors lining the entrance to Africa Fest. There will be
food vendors like the newly opened Africana Restaurant. And there are information booths where people can find out about services and resources that Madison
has to offer. New this year is the African Village being put together by the African Women’s Association that will give demonstrations on tolls used in Africa and
will showcase African fashions.
But the main attraction of Africa Fest is the drumming, dancing and singing, something that Madison’s African community helps to put on. The stage is
always adorned by the flags of the countries of Africa and the performances reflect the diversity and talent of Madison’s African community. “on stage, you see
the performances,” Kumapayi said. “All of these entertainers are not professionals. But they remember how it was done way back then in terms of what they
viewed when they were kids. It’s very enlightening.” And it’s also very entertaining to see the dances such as the Nigerian Wedding Dance. And there will be
featured acts like WADOMA and Jam Ak Jam Drum & Dance Ensemble.
And what gives Africa Fest the vital energy that makes it exciting is the supporet the African community has given it over the years. “The African community
does get fully behind Africa Fest,” Kumapayi emphasized. “It takes a lot to get this festival going. One thing we have in Madison that most communities around
the United States do not have is an African association. Most of the states might have their own organizations of each nation, but we are like one in a million in
having an African Association. It’s like the umbrella for all African nations.”
Come heed the call of the djembe drum. Come to Africa Fest.
According to Kumapayi, Africa Fest is also for everyone who lives in the Madison area who are eager to learn about cultures different than their own. “We
have found that the Madison community is open-minded and wants to learn more about different cultures,” Kumapayi reflected. “You can see it in their faces
when they come to Africa Fest. Africa Fest is for everyone. It is free to the public. Come and learn more about Africa. We want the community to continue to be
as diverse as it is. And we are very proud of being here in Madison and being part of this community.”
At Africa Fest, being held August 16 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., people will find authentic arts and crafts vendors lining the entrance to Africa Fest. There will be
food vendors like the newly opened Africana Restaurant. And there are information booths where people can find out about services and resources that Madison
has to offer. New this year is the African Village being put together by the African Women’s Association that will give demonstrations on tolls used in Africa and
will showcase African fashions.
But the main attraction of Africa Fest is the drumming, dancing and singing, something that Madison’s African community helps to put on. The stage is
always adorned by the flags of the countries of Africa and the performances reflect the diversity and talent of Madison’s African community. “on stage, you see
the performances,” Kumapayi said. “All of these entertainers are not professionals. But they remember how it was done way back then in terms of what they
viewed when they were kids. It’s very enlightening.” And it’s also very entertaining to see the dances such as the Nigerian Wedding Dance. And there will be
featured acts like WADOMA and Jam Ak Jam Drum & Dance Ensemble.
And what gives Africa Fest the vital energy that makes it exciting is the supporet the African community has given it over the years. “The African community
does get fully behind Africa Fest,” Kumapayi emphasized. “It takes a lot to get this festival going. One thing we have in Madison that most communities around
the United States do not have is an African association. Most of the states might have their own organizations of each nation, but we are like one in a million in
having an African Association. It’s like the umbrella for all African nations.”
Come heed the call of the djembe drum. Come to Africa Fest.
Ray Kumapayi, the 2008 Africa Fest chair, at the
site of Africa Fest 2008 in Warner Park
site of Africa Fest 2008 in Warner Park
By Jonathan Gramling
The beat of the djembe drum pierces the air calling people together for a meeting or event. It is a
custom that provides a type of unity to the continent of Africa, an amalgamation of 53 distinct countries that
stretch from the Saharan sands of the Mediterranean Sea to the plateaus of South Africa.
And it is the beat of the djembe drum that also beckons all to Africa Fest 2008, the 10th annual celebration
hosted by the African Association of Madison. Ray Kumapayi, an engineer with WisDOT and the 2008 Africa
Fest chair, can remember the sounds of the drums from his native Nigeria. Part of his involvement in Africa
Fest, which was first held at Monona Terrace in 1998, is to allow the children born in the U.S. to African
parents to also hear that drum. “Africa Fest gives you the feeling of being back in Africa,” Kumapayi
reflected as we surveyed the site of this year’s Africa Fest in Warner Park. “We’re trying to inculcate that
feeling in our youth. They haven’t grown up in Africa and don’t know what life really is there. They go on
vacations to Africa every couple of years. But going on vacation to Africa and living there and feeling those
things are two different things.” In many ways, this year’s theme “Wisdom of the Past, Promise for the Future”
The beat of the djembe drum pierces the air calling people together for a meeting or event. It is a
custom that provides a type of unity to the continent of Africa, an amalgamation of 53 distinct countries that
stretch from the Saharan sands of the Mediterranean Sea to the plateaus of South Africa.
And it is the beat of the djembe drum that also beckons all to Africa Fest 2008, the 10th annual celebration
hosted by the African Association of Madison. Ray Kumapayi, an engineer with WisDOT and the 2008 Africa
Fest chair, can remember the sounds of the drums from his native Nigeria. Part of his involvement in Africa
Fest, which was first held at Monona Terrace in 1998, is to allow the children born in the U.S. to African
parents to also hear that drum. “Africa Fest gives you the feeling of being back in Africa,” Kumapayi
reflected as we surveyed the site of this year’s Africa Fest in Warner Park. “We’re trying to inculcate that
feeling in our youth. They haven’t grown up in Africa and don’t know what life really is there. They go on
vacations to Africa every couple of years. But going on vacation to Africa and living there and feeling those
things are two different things.” In many ways, this year’s theme “Wisdom of the Past, Promise for the Future”