 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
FESTAC, the “brain child” of the late Senegalese leader and poet, Leopold Sedah Senghor, first launched in Senegal in 1966 and hosted in Nigeria in 1977, has the purpose of promoting and enriching Black and African arts, culture, and civilization.
FESTAC is one of the events sponsored annually by APDS (Africentric Personal Development Shop, Inc.) and the Columbus 
Recreation and Parks Department, in collaboration with other community based organizations.
The year 2008 marked the sixth year that FESTAC has been hosted in Columbus, Ohio at the Driving Park Community Park. The day was filled with activities for every age, including:
Exhibitors and Vendors- FESTAC 2008 brought together a total of 21 vendors from various arenas such as, African art, jewelry and clothing, various ethnic foods, health education and more. The festival included health, children, teen and adult pavilions, each hosting a variety of exhibits and activities. The health pavilion included several health organizations including the Central Ohio Diabetes Association, the Columbus Health Department, and the Driving Park Walking Club, offering various education and screenings to FESTAC participants. The children and teen pavilions offered an airbrush artist, a 3-on-3-basketball tournament, a prize vault, arts and crafts, and inflatable play stations. The adult pavilion was filled with activities such as a cakewalk, bingo and card games and other various activities.
Entertainment- FESTAC 2008 provided a variety of live entertainment throughout the day. Kicking off the event with the drumming of Elder Tony West, sounds of reggae, jazz, neo-soul, gospel, and spoken word poetry filled the air with melodious sounds of excitement and celebration, inviting participants to join in.
Sponsors/Collaborators- APDS and the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department were the primary sponsors of FESTAC 2008 and were joined by several other community-based organizations and corporate and private donors to help make the event a success.
Each area of the event was alive and vibrant with community members who came out in numbers to espouse and enjoy FESTAC. Over the years, our attendance has increased from 300 attendees in 2002 to 1,200 attendees in 2008.
With the increase in attendance over the past six (6) years, FESTAC has certainly proven to be a success and demonstrates the need and desire in the community to bring the African, African American, all cultures together to highlight unity in the community.
With the help of community organizations such as the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department, Driving Park Area Commission, Livingston Avenue Collaborative for Community Development (LACCD), Glory Foods, Inc., APDS and community volunteers, this event will continue to thrive for years to come.
The only missing factor is you!
This site created by
Nehemiah Enterprises
|
|
 |
|