June 12 Odunde Festival

June 10-12, 2011: One of the largest and most longstanding African-American street festivals in the nation The Odunde Street Festival and African Marketplace The Odunde Street Festival and African Marketplace Credit: by G. Widman for GPTMC Description Date: June 10 – 12, 2011 Take in the sights, sounds and smells: the rhythmic, thumping beat of the drums, the colorful, never-ending array of African textiles and crafts mix, and the tantalizing smell of African spices cooking on an outdoor grill. The annual Odunde Street Festival, held every second Sunday in June, brings a genuine taste of Africa to South Street and one of Philadelphia’s oldest, historically African-American neighborhoods. The festival begins with a procession to the Schuylkill River, where prayers are offered and blessings bestowed. The procession then returns to 23rd and South Streets for the start of the street festival. This year, as the landmark festival enters its fourth decade, it becomes a three-day abundance of cultural, historical and family-friendly events. Visit the website for more information. Odunde is the creation of its South Philadelphia founder, Lois Fernandez, who launched the festival after visiting similar celebrations in Africa. The concept originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa, and celebrates the coming of another year for African-Americans and Africanized people around the world. ODUNDE, Inc. is an educational and cultural organization that sponsors year-round programs featuring the African Diaspora as well as the annual Odunde Festival. Traditionally, the festival draws 22 percent of its visitors from outside the Philadelphia region. COME PREPARED Festival streets will be closed to traffic and parking, so consider taking public transportation. DON’T MISS Odunde’s authentic African Marketplace features vendors from around the world, including the Caribbean and Brazil. Outsider Tip Odunde is a Yoruba word that means “Happy New Year.” Every year, Odunde draws vendors from not only America but from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Guinea. The Festival is almost like a large family reunion. And the aromas of Africa, the Caribbean and beyond fill the air.