User:Kpotoloma1

African Festival of the Arts - Chicago Date begun: 1988 Location:   Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Audience size:  over 200,000 people for the four days

Description: Four-day event celebrating the art, culture, heritage and traditions of Africa and its diaspora. It features three performance stages. The Main stage is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Delores "Dee" Parmer Woodtor who founded the festival with her husband, Patrick Saingbey Woodtor. It features performing artist with national and international profile. For example some names who have been on the main stage include: James Brown, George Clinton, Hugh Masekela, Roy Ayers, James Moody, Eryka Badu, Sheila E, Amngelique Kidjo, Isaac Hayes, Ahmad Jamaal, Chaka Khan, Roy Hardgrove. Dianne Reeves, and many others.

The Family and world Music Sate features World Music talent like Daniela Mercury, Jean Paul Samputu, Soweto kinch with Abram Wilson, Johnny Clegg & Mchucu/South Africa, T-Vice/Haiti, Oliver Mtukudzi, Mahotella Queens, Shina Peters (Nigeria), Benbeya Jazz (Guinea), Vinx with Les Nubians (France) and many others.

The third stage is the Hip Hop Stage. It showcases Hip Hop talent. Some of the names who have appeared on the Hip Hop Stage include MC Lyte, Special Ed, Slick rick, B-Bay Battle, Kool Moe Dee, Guru, Qualo. Little Brother and many more.

The African Festival of the Arts include education programs under special Pavilions. The pavilions are: African Spirituality Pavilion, African Heritage Pavilion, AfroFolk Dance and Music Pavilion, Film & Videos Pavilion, Children & Family Pavilion, Fine Art Pavilion, Drum village, Griots's Chair, Books & Publishers, Hospitality  Pavilion, Wellness Village: Health, Beauty Aids & Fitness,  Quilting Pavilion and Food Court.

George Clinton (center with Festival Founder (left) at the 2006 African Festival of the Arts