General Information

Another Great Africa West Festival held on June 13 & 14

Spanning two summer Oklahoma days in June, Africa West 2009 brought in culture, education and entertainment to the people of Oklahoma City. Held at Metro Technology’s Springlake campus, more than 4,000 festival participants were on hand to experience African American culture at its best.

“This is really special, stated Africa West volunteer Marian Ware. “I have lived here in Oklahoma City all my adult life and it is so wonderful to see the community come together to support and celebrate Oklahoma’s African American community.”

To emphasize health and wellness, Saturday morning kicked off with a 5k run and 2k fun walk. More than 100 participants crowded the start line to run the race that resulted in 16-year-old Dustin Barrier and 55-year-old Marie Breshears, both from OKC, as the male and female winners in the 5k category.

Upon completion of the run, the festival began with an African processional that began inside Metro Tech and snaked itself outside onto the amphitheater stage.  It was there where the festivities began with an opening ceremony and culture program featuring the Tulsa African Ancestral Society.

With the festival officially underway, a sundry of programs took place throughout the facility.  With ample green space and building facilities, the campus was able to provide both indoor and outdoor settings for the festival. 

The amphitheater was the site of a series of educational exhibits and reenactments from: The Oklahoma Science Museum, Black Town presentation, Buffalo Soldier Squadron, Freedmen Association and the Tuskegee Airmen. These components were key in telling the lesser known facts about Black history in Oklahoma.

Two major program pieces then were held inside with an African fashion show that showcased styles and cultural elements from Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo-Kinshasa, Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria. 

Sarah Knudson, from Norman, served as the chair for the fashion show and West Africa Program and strived to maintain the integrity of each country with authentic garments representing each. “We really wanted to give the people something different, Knudson said. 

We wanted to show the traditional fashion, music and culture from each country.” 

Additionally the National Soul Food Competition opened its doors to Africa West for the second year in a row and had the best soul food cooks in the state come out and throw down.  Local cooks Kitti Asberry and Dereck Forshee both placed in their respective categories.

Incorporating the entire family was key in the planning of Africa West 2009.  With that in mind, the planning committee sought to make sure that the kids had plenty to do. Representatives from the Oklahoma City Thunder handed out books from the Rolling Thunder Book Bus and inflatables were set up in the children’s plaza alongside a tent that offered arts and crafts.  Cricket set up a kid’s safety tent to help family develop an identification kit that included their kids finger prints.

Incorporating the spiritual and musical side of African American culture, a gospel extravaganza was held at the amphitheater. It provided many groups and individuals opportunities to share their faith creatively. Featuring national recording artist Cameron “Cam” Dukes who delivered an outstanding performance, many metro praise and worship groups and dance teams came and contributed to the overall program. 

Gospel Extravaganza performers included: Johnny Summers, Mt. Carmel Choir, Mt. Carmel’s Children and Adult dance groups, Sacred Image, Jaymes Kirksey, Pam Hoover & Friends, Chosen, Hands of God, and Rev. Terry Tubbs’ Diversity Music Fellowship.

Upon completion of the extravaganza, the stage was then set for Osubi Craig and the Prophecy Music Project.  The Prophecy Music Project is an ensemble of professional dancers and musicians dedicated to the performance, practice and preservation of traditional African and African Diasporan music and dance. 

Weaving traditional Yoruba traditions in their performance they recognized, Ogun, which is the God of War, Metal and Energy in West African culture. Tapping into this component of the culture added to the authenticity of the program. The highlight of the evening may possibly have been the frenetic ending that saw the use of the various drums and instruments as the foundation to an interpretive dance that captured the spirit of Yemaya, a mother goddess in Yoruba mythology.

Osubi Craig was pleased with their contribution to Africa West specifically in bringing in well-versed and well- educated individuals to interact with festival participants in the different venues. With all of the excitement the first day brought the second day had a lot to live up to.  However the talent of the community was up to the challenge as the Africa West Has Talent Showcase took center stage.  Performers Jabee, Apaulsoul, Felix Linden, Myxd Emoshunz, True Dimensions, The Freemen Sisters, Silvabac, Kyonna Scott, LC and The Truth all helped to shed light on the talent located in our good city.

Numerous vendors were present throughout the program.  In an effort to further promote African culture a series of vendors with authentic artifacts were on display and sold as well. Dubbed the “African Merchant Market” and located underneath a canvas tent, it served to help replicate a market setting one would find in Africa. 

The closing ceremony brought Africa West to a fitting end.  Featuring Jahruba and the Sonder Kids, Sunuada African Dance Ensemble and Skinfonia their addition to the program left people with a feeling of anticipation for next years event.

The hustle and bustle of the festival provided a sense of movement and progression.  In only its second year, Africa West has now set the stage to become the biggest African American cultural festivals of its kind in our nation.

The event was presented by the Capitol Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Metro Tech. Sponsors include Tinker Federal Credit Union, Cricket, Fox 25, Okla. City Thunder, Perry Publishing & Broadcasting, Metro Tech, AT&T, Okla. Historical Society, Okla. City Tourism and Visitor’s Bureau, Fast Care and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Africa West Chair, Tania Mitchell notes that attendance from last years’ festival more than tripled and that year three is going to be bigger and better.

“I’ve received nothing but positive feedback, Mitchell said with a proud smile on her face.

There are people already asking about next year.  The community has embraced the festival and it’s slowly making a name for itself.”