One aspect of African beauty are the diverse artifacts that originate from the different regions and countries of Africa. A wide variety of African artifacts will be on display in the African Village Tent, hosted by members of the African Women’s Association.

“This year, we will be showcasing all of the beautiful artifacts from the different parts of Africa, things like clothing, jewelry, and beautiful baskets,” Vakunta observed. “It is almost like we are museum curators putting on a show.  There are so many things that we will be showcasing, I don’t remember all of the things that we have collected. We have a lot of diverse artifacts from all the 54 countries of Africa that we will be showcasing to the public. We will also have a slideshow running in the background with more artifacts that we could display in the tent. We do it electronically and it will keep running. We will show more with the technology than what we will physically have in the tent.”

The artifacts on display will be the largest collection of artifacts that Africa Fest has featured.

“Auntie Koso and I are going to pick up some stuff from someone who donated her sister’s artifacts,” Vakunta said. “Her sister went to Africa and collected a lot of beautiful things and she wanted us to display them. These artifacts are coming from the different countries on the continent that her sister visited while she was alive. The living sister wanted to keep her legacy alive. And the African tent is one way she wants to showcase some of these beautiful things that she collected over the years.”

The artifacts in the African Village Tent are just a part of African culture that will be on display.

“We have the food vendors, the craft vendors and even the information tables,” said Ray Kumapayi, president of AAM and chair of Africa Fest. “We have folks from the university, business and non-profits. It’s a village in which we try to inculcate the culture into everything we do. You have the foods, a taste of Africa and the artifacts. The booths and the tents line the park in every which way showcasing what Africa is all about.”

And an important cultural display are the performances, the drumming, dancing and musical performances.

“The performances are one thing that is really geared towards the culture,” Kumapayi said. “We have local bands that give the performances. They are professionals. We also inculcate amateur performances. This year, for example, we are trying to get the youth more involved. They are the leaders of tomorrow. So we are getting them more involved so they understand what we are doing, are able to assimilate that culture and their African heritage with the American culture that they are born with. That’s also confusing to them. We encourage them to take in the performances on stage. This year, we have three different groups: one from Senegal, one from Cameroon and a new band led by Akornefa Akyea. She is the daughter of one of the founders of Africa Fest, Aggo Akyea. She has a band and this will be their debut at Africa Fest this year.”

For Kumapayi, Africa Fest is a winning benefit for everyone involved.

“It’s a time when the African immigrant can showcase their culture and residents of Madison to learn,” Kumapayi said. “When you learn about different cultures, you understand their culture and you understand that person. It is a very, very important aspect of the cultural showcase that we are offering to everyone. And the Africans are so, so proud of it. They want to engage in it and show their pride. In the Parade of Nations that we conduct at Africa Fest, everyone is so proud to carry their country’s flag around. Even if we don’t have representation from all of the countries, people will carry the country’s flag that they don’t belong to. We want everyone to be proud of their heritage.”

It’s a time that builds community for people far and wide.

“Africa Fest brings together many folks of different walks of life in the community and beyond together,” Kumapayi noted. “We do get people from Illinois and cities in Wisconsin like Milwaukee and Oshkosh who come to Africa Fest. The Madison community, for me, has always been a community that wants to learn. They want to hear and learn about the different cultures. They are very much interested. And so it’s no wonder that Madison was named the Number One city in the nation many years back. We try to showcase and educate not only by the performances that we do, but also by the interactions of people who come to Africa Fest. Luckily for us in the Madison community, there are many Madisonians who have gone beyond the city of Madison or the state of Wisconsin and actually have gone to visit African nations. And they come back and want to still relate to Africa even though they are here now. They want to know about what we are doing. They want to be part of it.”

And most importantly, it is a time for children of African descent who were born and raised in the U.S. to learn about African culture and keep it alive.

“Keeping the legacy of the African continent alive is very strong in my mindset,” Kumapayi observed. “And I speak to our youth, especially where I can get them all together at a big place like Africa Fest. When I see a bunch of them, I call them together to see what is going on currently. They are there. They are seeing the showcase. They are a part of it. And I want them to know that I want them to be engaged because sooner or later, they will be in charge and providing leadership to put on this showcase. At the festival, they can visually see how big it is and if they are not involved, it may be no more. And I would never want to see that happen.”

Africa Fest is a time for learning and growth. And it is a time to just have an afternoon of fun. Come join us.