Africa In April Cultural Awareness Festival

December 2009 - Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration placing emphasis on the traditional values of family and community responsibility. Our Kwanza celebration includes gift giving, story telling and a “First Fruits” celebration.

Special thanks:

David and Yvonne Acey wish to acknowledge the following: the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, the Memphis Performing Arts Company, Dorothy Spencer, Virginia N. Acey, Shirley H. Jones, Kenneth D. Acey, Sr., Barry A. Ford, Sr., and the Memphis Nigerian Association. Thank you for sharing Kwanzaa with us. Heri ya Mwaka Mpya!! (Translation: "Happy New Year!!")

Event Sponsors:

Tennessee Arts Commission

Arts Memphis

January 2010 - Celebrating Dr. King's Legacy - Continuing to Carry the Torch

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has richly influenced the destiny of our culture. The America of Dr. King’s time has changed drastically in certain instances. Federal legislation has been passed to ensure minorities have public accommodations, housing, voting rights, equal educational opportunities, and fair employment.

These rights were not easily won, there was a collective cost paid by a large part of American society, including both minorities and non-minorities who marched and in some cases lost their lives to help secure the civil liberties enjoyed today.

February 2010 - Celebration of African American History Month

African American History Month consists of several events coordinated with the City of Memphis and the Shelby County School Board to bring awareness to African American figures in history.

March 2010 - Crime On Wheels Prevention

The Crime On Wheels Prevention Campaign is an attempt to build positive relationships between the police department and multi-cultural youth within the community. Youth participants travel to various communities with police escorts to inform residents of neighborhood safety precautions.

April 2010 - Africa In April

It is our pleasure to invite you and your colleges to join us in Memphis, Tennessee, for the 24rth Anniversary of the Africa-In-April Festival, to be held April 15 - 18, 2010. The Republic of Nigeria will be this year’s featured country. This is a unique event that focuses on bringing African dignitaries, ambassadors, and culture to the Memphis Community on an annual basis. Our staff, board and corporate partners have worked diligently to plan an exciting series of training sessions, networking opportunities and marketing outlets for this year’s venue.

This years festival incorporates two components, training and networking. The Diversity Awareness workshops have been designed to deliver information on current industry trends in supplier diversity while the multicultural awareness training covers topics of importance to both diversity professionals and community based groups alike. The International Trade Center will be the focal point of all networking opportunities.

There will be two sections to accommodate the needs of our corporate partners and to recreate the African marketplace of old. The African World Bazaar is set to host the small business vendors in a setting themed after the traditional African “souk” where trade and commerce thrived. The International Trade Floor, for corporate partners, will facilitate direct B2C relationship building.

We encourage you to join your peers from around the county and potential product consumers for four fabulous days of discovery and adventure.

* Detailed information locations, dates and times for specific events held during the festival such as the Poster Unveiling Ceremony and Corporate Luncheon will be posted soon.