Chicago’s largest outdoor cultural festival, the African Festival of the Arts, will feature an array of musical talents from around the African diaspora, along with several decidedly American acts such as George Clinton. This year marks the 23rd year of the Festival.
Most music fans know Clinton as the heart and soul of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. One of the principal architects of funk, Clinton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with several other members of Parliament-Funkadelic in 1997. Clinton and singer Dwele will perform on the Dee Palmer Woodtor Main Stage, Saturday, Sept. 1.
Other musical performers include Kahil El ’Zabar, Dwele, Lyfe Jennings, Nona Hendryx, and several other local, national and international talents. The musical portion of the Festival opens Friday, Aug. 31 with Grammy Award-winner Charles “Horn Man” Neville of the Neville Brothers teaming up with Senegalese harpist and vocalist Youssoupha Sidibe.
The festival will feature distinctive fashions, artwork and music and offer access to more than 300 vendors and artisans. Activities for the youngest festival goers will take place at the Bernice Gardner Children and Family Pavilion Stage, and international and inspirational sounds can be heard on the World Music Stage.
The festival, which runs through the Labor Day weekend, will be held in Washington Park, 5100 S. Cottage Grove Ave. For more details visit: http://www.africanfestivalchicago.com/2012/site/index.html
Great info! I am so looking forward to the fest. I can’t wait to see George Clinton, Kahil El’Zabar, Dwele, and Lyfe Jennings.