African Festival of the Arts in Chicago

By Theo Abbott

Recently, over Labor Day weekend, recording artists Lela James, MC Lyte, Cameo, Moni Love, Curtis Blow, etc. all performed at the African Festival of the Arts in Chicago. The Festival ran for three days from September 1 through September 3 from 10am until 10pm each day. The Festival highlights not only African arts and culture. It also features Carribean and Spanish Influences. There were featured exhibits, concerts, fashion, food, arts, etc.

The popular radio personality Beyonce Fox on WGCI Chicago did a live broadcast from the Festival. Another big hit was the bongo drum band. Many people tried their luck with African dancing as band members beat on the drums. People come from across the country and abroad to attend this annual event at Washington Park on the South Side of Chicago.

Sponsors and Exhibitors included Heineken, McDonald's, Coca Cola, Walgreen’s, Bally Total Fitness, and Covergirl. As a sponsor, the Covergirl Queen (Latifah) Collection provided free makeovers for female attendees. Ladies also got the opportunity to enter to win to meet Queen Latifah and receive a year supply of the Queen's Covergirl makeup line.

Throughout the Festival, attendees had their picture taken and were given a card where they could pull up the website WWW.EVERYWOMANISAQUEEN.COM and retrieve their photo. Each night of the Festival ended with a recording artist performance. The main highlight was on the last day when Cameo and the Stylistics took the stage and performed all of their old hits. People danced the night away listening to the classics. Everyone knows that Chicago is the city of stepping, hand dancing, and sliding. At one point during the Festival, it seemed like the whole crowd started doing the Cupid Slide.

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