The Augusta Common was bustling Saturday as families and vendors packed the downtown greenspace for the 2nd Annual CSRA Afro-Caribbean Fest.
A host of vendors serving food or selling apparel lined up either side of the common as attendees grew from when the bazaar began at 2 p.m., the crowd staying steady throughout most of the event.
The Blood Connection Augusta had a trailer set up to accept donations, and a Richmond County Library Bookmobile for any young bookworms among attendees at the family-friendly fair was also present. Even the New Georgia Project had a tent open on the grass to help people register to vote.
“The heat had people slow to come, a little bit,” said Morris Porter, who organized the event with Paul Okojie, via their organization AfrovisionUs. “But the vibe has been like this since 2 o’clock.”
The turnout and the crowd’s energy fit the event’s goal: to celebrate African and Caribbean cultures. A jollof rice cookoff, music and dance performances and a fashion show were among the festivities.
Presenters representing different African and Caribbean countries occasionally took to the stage to share facts about their nation of origin.
Jamaica, Cameroon, Ghana, South Sudan, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Haiti were among the countries represented between all the speakers and performers.
Porter estimates this year’s crowd was at least a threefold increase from the inaugural Afro-Caribbean Fest last year at Lock and Dam Park.
“At Lock and Dam, there were 400, maybe 500 who showed up,” recalled Porter. “They were going on live on social media, taking pictures and what not.”
That initial turnout gave way to plenty of feedback to Morris and Okojie from those who made it, as well as from those who missed it, Morris said. Interest swelled more after they hosted the CSRA African Festival at Evans Towne Center Park in May of this year.
“Most of the people that showed up pulled me aside at the event and said, ‘Thank you for doing this — please keep this going!’” said Morris.
Saturday’s numbers have inclined AfrovisionUs to upgrade next year’s event, which would include a “fashion parade” featuring sartorial styles of each country.
Per the festival’s core aims, Morris attributes its popularity to the fact that “representation matters,” and the Afro-Caribbean fest is one opportunity for locals from African and West Indian communities to share and express their culture, so that the rest of the community can better understand them.
“It’s going to improve relationships,” said Morris. “And that’s the key to it for me.”
For more information on AfrovisionUs and the Afro-Caribbean Festival, visit https://afrovisionusllc.com/.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
