TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The annual Florida A&M University Harambee Festival will be held on February 23 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Cascades Park in Tallahassee. The festival’s goal is to honor African and Black traditions and inspire unity in the community. Nearly 10,000 people are expected to attend the event.
Guests can experience a Sankofa Concert featuring KOFI KAZA African Drum and Dance Ensemble, songstress Lyrical Lynn, historian Kitty Oliver, Ph.D., FAMU’s Gospel Choir and Jazz Quartet and Akofena African Drum & Dance.
Funk and R&B soul artist Cody ChesnuTT will close out the concert. ChestnuTT has worked with artists such as The Roots and Raphael Saadiq and gave an awe-inspiring performance in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.
World-renowned poet, singer and activist Sunni Patterson will also take the stage. Patterson is a New Orleans native and resident artist for both the City of New Orleans’ Claiborne Corridor Cultural Initiative and Junebug Productions of New Orleans.
Attendees can also sit in on inspiring seminars, visit eclectic vendors, participate in health screenings and purchase fresh food from a grower’s market. Representatives from FAMU’s colleges and schools will return to the festival to educate prospective students and their families about opportunities and events at FAMU.
“It’s exciting to see the Harambee Festival grow year after year because of the support and unity of the community and FAMU,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “I appreciate the support of our community partners, faculty, students, staff and volunteers who dedicate many hours and resources to produce an amazing event in the heart of the city.”
Sponsors include the City of Tallahassee and Visit Tallahassee, The Greater Chamber of Commerce, Tallahassee Downtown Authority, Cross Cultural Coalition, FAMU Office of the President, FAMU Business and Auxiliary Services, Tallawah Marketing Group, WTXL-ABC27 and Cumulus Radio.
“The City of Tallahassee is proud to partner with Florida A&M University to host this year’s Harambee Festival, which is designed to inspire unity in the community,” said Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey. “I encourage everyone to attend this celebration to experience a host of rich cultural traditions and honor the many contributions of African Americans to our community and the nation.”
“The Harambee Festival celebrates Black History Month in exciting fashion, highlighting culture, history and education in the perfect setting of Cascades Park,” said Kerri L. Post, executive director for the Leon County Division of Tourism.
Post added, “This outstanding event stimulates our minds and souls, and it also has an important economic element. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the festival and spend money with local vendors, hotels, restaurants and other local businesses.”
The FAMU Harambee Festival is free to attend and open to the general public.
For a full schedule of performances and events, go to https://my.famu.edu/event/harambee.