THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 20, 1996 TAG: 9609200063
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA MYERS CUTCHINS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 48 lines
A TRADITIONAL African drum call will signal the beginning of the city's sixth annual Umoja Festival, a weekend celebration of the cultural heritage and achievements of African Americans.
Following the drum call at 10 a.m. Saturday, city officials, council members and Portsmouth residents will march along Water Street to Portside to kick off the festivities.
The event has become so popular in recent years that concessionaires from as far away as Missouri, Chicago, Atlanta and New York plan to bring jambalaya, curried chicken, yellow rice and Cajun fish to Portsmouth, as well as ethnic art, jewelry, clothing, artifacts and fabrics.
While entertainment is typically the main emphasis of most festivals, Umoja tries to be a little different by focusing on educational activities that promote an appreciation for and understanding of African-American life. For example:
Dozens of residents will explore cultural diversity at a community forum, ``Communicating Across Cultures in a Time of Change,'' to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Children's Museum of Virginia, 221 High St.
Over the weekend, staff members from the Children's Museum will teach children how to create African masks, design African jewelry and play number games such as Mankala.
Re-enactors will trace the history of African Americans on a ``living history stage,'' to be set up from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday in Lafayette Park, adjacent to Signet Bank on Crawford Street.
A narrated trolley tour will depart from the park area at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on both days to take visitors to Emanuel AME Church, which contains the hand-carved pews of slaves, and to The Art Atrium, where the works of five African-American artists will be on display.
The festival also will include a variety of entertainment - from traditional African dance performances to reggae, hip hop, jazz and gospel. Continuous music on two stages is planned from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, with a national artist closing the festival each night.
Rhythm and blues musicians Zapp featuring Roger and Shirley Murdock will be Saturday's headliner from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday's main attraction, Kim Waters, a contemporary jazz saxophonist, will play from 4 to 5 p.m.
For more information, call Portsmouth Parks and Recreation at 393-8481 or the Portsmouth Convention and Visitors Bureau at 393-5327. ILLUSTRATION: [For a copy of the schedule, see microfilm.] by CNB