African Street Festival founder Kwame Lillard (at left) with a vendor from a past festival.
The 39th Annual African Street Festival by the African American Cultural Alliance is on the weekend of September 17 through September 19, 2021 at Hadley Park, located at 1037 28th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee. This year’s theme is “The Power of Umoja Kwame Legacy Begins with YOU!” The upcoming community event will honor the legacy of Nashville Civil Rights/Community Activist Kwame Leo Lillard the founder of the festival and the African American Cultural Alliance.
Nashville’s Annual African Street Festival is hosted by the African American Cultural Alliance (AACA). This phenomenal, family-oriented festival has continuously grown each year and now attracts thousands of attendees who are interested in African and African American culture. The best part about the festival is that it is FREE.
“The ASF is an institution for the Jefferson Street and North Nashville that celebrates the Black Culture,” says Sharon Hurt,” CEO of JUMP and Nashville Metro Council Member At Large. “It’s a long awaited event that attracts tens of thousands to the community. We anxiously await its return this year.”
The festival kicks off on Friday, September 17th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with an international block party featuring local artists. The event continues on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
All participants are encouraged to enjoy local artists, music and movement, spoken word, local history, drama, dance, physical fitness, games, language & literacy, and health. Attendees can also enjoy Authentic African, American and other cuisines representing the Diaspora; an eclectic mix of live music and other performances, such as African, Reggae, Latin, R&B, Jazz, Gospel, Neo-Soul, Country, Blues, African Drumming; dance; puppet shows; spoken word; and shop with over 120 vendors from around the globe.
This year’s festival activities include the “Theme/Knowledge Village,” which offers community resources for families; the “Wellness Village,” which offers resources for healthier lifestyles for families: the “Art Village,” which features local artists; the “Children’s Village,” which features arts and crafts, drumming, dance, storytelling and the Puppet Truck.
The goal of the African American Cultural Alliance is to provide engaging, interactive, educational areas and activities that will provide information and resources on the fascinating people, places, and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora, several of which are represented in the Nashville Metropolitan area.
The African Street Festival has continuously grown since its debut in 1983, attracting well over 50,000 people from all over the region, and remains free and open to the public. It has gained national media attention and remains one of Nashville’s premier events because of its history as a long-running, family-oriented cultural event. Persons of all ages, races, religions, and cultures are always welcome and invited.
The African Street Festival is free and open to the public. For more information on this event please call the African American Cultural Alliance at: (615) 880-0088; or fax: 615 248‐9082. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 22173 Nashville TN 37202-2121. For more information: www.aacanashville.com
