¡ P o r t l a n d (S h js e ru e r
H w m m v o F e s t i v a l Gather Round i ll.'
Portland’s Homowo (pronounced
ho-mo-wah) Festival replicates the
traditional Ghanaian harvest festival
held annually in West Africa.
Activities include a processional
(right) and traditional music by
Obo Addy (above).
PHOTOS COURTESY OF J l'I.IE K EEFE
An evening
of African
folklore
The Homowo Festival o f Afri
can Arts, a celebration of a tradi
tional harvest festival from the
Ga people of Ghana, West Af
rica, is the largest cultural festival
o f its kind in the Northwest. The
festival will celebrate its 15th
year on Aug. 6 through 8. The
event kicks off at 7 p.m. on Aug.
6 at Jamison Square, 810 N.W.
11 th, with an evening of African
folk stories told around the glow
ing embers of a fire. The main
event continues at a different
venue on Aug. 7 from noon to 7
p.m. and August 8 from noon to
5 p.m. at the South Park Blocks
on the Portland State University
C am pus betw een S outhw est
Harrison and College streets. Ad
mission to the festival is a sug
gested donation o f $5; children
are free.
P o rtla n d ’s H om ow o (pro-
version in 1990, blending A fri
can m usic, dance, pageantry,
crafts, food and d em o n stra
tions to create an authentic eth
nic celebration.
The festival transcends cul
tural boundaries in its celebration
o f com m unity. The weekend
x the philosophy o f the Homowo
that of its founder, Addy: to build
community to create a welcoming
people of diverse international o
nounced ho-m o-wah) Festival
replicates the traditional G ha
naian harvest festival held an
nually in W est A frica. Obo
Addy, a m aster drum m er from
Ghana, established the Portland
draws in thousands o f specta
tors with its thunderous drum
ming, colorful costumes and ex
otic aromas.
The scope o f the festival ex
tends beyond Ghana to embrace
a broad range of African cul
tures, with folk art demonstra
tions; an African marketplace; a
community stage featuring a va
riety of talent, from interactive
dance dem onstrations to Afri
ca n -A m eric an
p o e try ;
a
children’s craft area; and ethnic
national groups including Obo
A ddy o f G hana, M am adou
Diabate of Mali, Maya Soleil of a
Worldbeat sound, and Borrina
Mapaka of Congo.
T he p h ilo so p h y o f the
Homowo Festival mirrors that of
its founder, Addy: to build on the
strength of community to create
a welcoming, vibrant place for
people of diverse international
origins. Addy is a cultural ambas
sador and a source of enrichment
whose music speaks to these
values and celebrates a connec
tion between cultures. His per
forming groups of musicians and
dancers are living examples of
food vendors from the African the strength of African perform
Diaspora.
ing arts.
Throughout it all, traditional
For more information, con
and popular African music and tact Homowo African Arts &
dance take center stage, with Cultures at 503-288-3025 or visit
performances by regional and w w w .hom ow o.org.