June 19, 2003
Section: Local

African Fest to revel in culture of fast-growing city population AMANDA KRUPKOSKI, Sun Staff

LOWELL - If not for the cars driving by and the traditional cityscapes surrounding it, pedestrians passing by JFK Plaza on Saturday might just think they are in Africa.

The festival, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., will feature African food, dancing to African music and sales of traditional African clothing and crafts.

The third annual African Festival will also feature a fashion show of African clothing and a keynote speech by Jeremy Manyongai, who is from Libya.

"It's a time to see old friends and meet new ones, and for our children for those who weren't born there to have a chance to know what Africa is all about," said Gordon Halm, one of the organizers of the event.

Although non-Africans are invited and encouraged to attend, Halm says the purpose of the festival is to bring Africans living in the Greater Lowell area together.

Originally from Ghana, Halm first conceived of the idea for the festival with Yvonne La-Garde, executive director of LifeLinks, Inc., and Rev. David Malone, pastor of the Elliot Presbyterian Church in Lowell. He wanted to find a way for all area Africans to get to know one another and share stories.

Today, the festival serves to educate Africans and non-Africans alike on the African culture.

"Those people that are not African are very curious to know about where we come from," Halm said. "By inviting them to come, at least they have the opportunity to taste some of our food, to see the culture, to know what the African culture is about."

Halm says the organizers are hoping for a thousand people if the weather permits. He also says he hopes the festival will one day be as large as the Lowell Folk Festival and that "Africans from all over the state will come and join us."

(c) 2003 The Sun (Lowell, MA). All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.