¡ 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.