THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609130266
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY REBECCA MYERS CUTCHINS, STAFF WRITER<
LENGTH: 116 lines
A PIGGYBACK RIDE on a fish bowl got the first Umoja Festival off the ground.
But it has taken less than five years for the festival, which focuses on the cultural heritage and achievements of blacks, to take on an identity of its own.
``It has become almost an expected event,'' said L. Pettis Patton, the city's director of leisure services and festival chair. ``People tell us we don't have to advertise it because they already know it's the third weekend in September. They call to ask, `What is going to be the community forum's topic?' or `What kind of vendors are you bringing in?' ''
The festival initially was held in 1991 to coincide with the Shriners' Fish Bowl Classic, which allowed the event to draw its crowds from the thousands of Shriners in town for the weekend. The festival also gave visiting Shriners something to do before and after their annual football game and parade.
But after only two years, the festival branched out on its own.
Typically, the festival begins on a Friday afternoon and runs through Sunday. This year's festival, however, will begin on Saturday morning, mainly due to the loss of Riverfront Park. In past years, the park had been the central location for most of the festival's activities, but it is currently under construction to install a new ferry landing.
``With High Street Landing expected to open next May, we'll be able to go back to a 2 1/2-day celebration next year,'' Patton said.
This year's festival will be held at Portside, in the Signet Bank parking lot and at the park near Lafayette Arch on Crawford Street. The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with a traditional African drum call at Portside. In African culture, a drum call is used to summon the community to gather for a special event.
The drum call will be followed by a colorful procession of city officials, City Council members and Portsmouth residents. Marchers carrying streamers, wearing masks and clad in traditional African clothing will walk from the corner of London Boulevard and Water Street to Portside for permission from the ``Council of Elders,'' a small gathering of elderly residents, to begin the festival.
Live music on two stages can be heard from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Saturday's headliner will be Zapp Featuring Roger and Shirley Murdock, rhythm and blues musicians, starting at 8:30 p.m. Sunday's main attraction will be Kim Waters, a contemporary jazz saxophonist. In addition, a variety of local artists will provide gospel entertainment from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday on the Lafayette Arch park stage.
Concessionaires are expected to offer festival-goers exotic dishes like jambalaya, curried chicken and yellow rice, and vendors will exhibit ethnic art, jewelry, clothing, artifacts and fabrics.
More than two dozen community service organizations will provide informational literature on subjects such as AIDS prevention, sickle cell anemia, affordable housing, and the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.
Children who come to the festival can expect to play games and take part in activities that give them an appreciation for and understanding of African culture. Children will be invited to create African masks, design African jewelry, piece together wall designs or play number games such as Mankala.
For those who would like to venture a few blocks away from the Portsmouth waterfront, a narrated trolley tour will take visitors to Emanuel AME Church on North Street that has pews handmade by slaves, and to The Art Atrium, where the works of five African-American artists will be on display. Tours depart from the Lafayette Arch park stage at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information about the Umoja Festival, call Parks and Recreation at 393-8481 or the Portsmouth Convention and Visitors Bureau at 393-5327. ILLUSTRATION: Color cover staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Artist Maizelle Brown did the original artwork and logo, at right,
for the Umoja Festival. The Portsmouth festival begins this year on
Saturday morning, instead of its usual time on Friday afternoon due
to construction in the Riverfront Park area.
Graphics
This T-shirt design displays the official festival symbol, now owned
by the city of Portsmouth.
AT A GLANCE
What: Sixth Annual Umoja Festival
When: From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Portsmouth Waterfront - Portside, Signet Bank parking lot
and Lafayette Park
Cost: Free
More info: Call 393-8481
FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, Sept. 21
Noon-1 p.m. - African dance group, Umoja stage
1-2 p.m. - Verbal Threat (hip hop, jazz, reggae), Portside stage
2-3 p.m. - Simply Amazing (variety), Umoja stage
3-4 p.m. - Sharrrp (top 40), Portside stage
4-5 p.m. - Plunky (variety), Umoja stage
5-6 p.m. - Positive Sounds (variety), Portside stage
6:30-7:30 p.m. - Caream (top 40), Umoja stage
7:30-8:30 p.m. - Trippa & the Bottom Line (reggae), Portside
stage
8:30-10 p.m. - Zapp, featuring Roger and Shirley Murdock
(national artist), Umoja stage
Sunday, Sept. 22
Noon to 1 p.m. - Scope Harris & Magic Island (jazz), Umoja stage
1-2 p.m. - Opium (jazz), Portside stage
2-3 p.m. - Against All Odds (jazz), Umoja stage
3-4 p.m. - Forte (jazz), Portside stage
4-5:30 p.m. - Kim Waters (national artist), Umoja stage
Noon to 5 p.m. - Gospel entertainment featuring local artists
Temple Aire, Unity, Grove Baptist Mass Choir and more, Lafayette
Park stage
Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
L. Pettis Patton, the city's director of leisure services and the
Umoja chair, founded the festival five years ago. The event
initially was held in 1991 to coincide with the Shriners' Fish Bowl
Classic. by CNB