Cultural celebration is stirring this weekend, as the second annual CSRA Afro-Caribbean Fest is set to kick off in downtown Augusta Saturday afternoon.
AfrovisionUs is partnering with the Augusta African American Historic Preservation Council (AAAHPC) to host the free community event, which will include food vendors, speakers and performers representing various countries from Africa and the Caribbean.
Authentic cultural cuisine, a fashion show, poetry and music from Nigeria, Jamaica and Ghana, for example, will be among the merriments at the family-friendly bazaar.
The festival aims not only to entertain, but to inform the wider public about African and West Indian cultures, said Paul Okojie, one of the organizers.
“We try to bridge the gap between African, Caribbean, even White,” said Okojie, stressing the intention to undermine common, stereotypical depictions of Africans in television and movies — “the kids with the flies and no food”—and replace them with richer understandings of life and customs in African nations.
Okojie, who is Nigerian, also underscores the fact that Africa is a continent, with a range of cultural diversity.
“I’ve only been to like three countries in Africa myself,” he said. “And when you look on the Caribbean side, it’s the same thing: everything is different. Different people, different languages, culture is different in every country, even within one country.”
AfrovisionUs hosted a similar event, the CSRA African Festival, at the Evans Towne Center in May. Okojie said that the organizers hope to cultivate further interest in Afro-Caribbean-themed celebrations, complete with more festivals and even parades, much like growing Juneteenth festivities in the area.
“We try to take what we have from home and try to educate people,” Okojie said.
The 2nd Annual Afro-Caribbean Fest will start at 2 p.m. and go until 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Augusta Common, 836 Reynolds St.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
