Portland observer., August 08, 2018, Page Page 9, Image 9

August 8, 2018
Page 9
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
Oregon’s second annual Pan African Festival returns Saturday, Aug. 11 at Pioneer Courthouse Square, downtown, to celebrate the richness of culture, strength and
resilience of people from all over the world of African descent through live entertainment, cultural foods, arts and crafts, and more.
Experience African Culture
A celebration of resilience, strength and influence
The Pan African Festival of
Oregon returns for its second an-
nual run Saturday, Aug. 11 at Pi-
oneer Courthouse Square, down-
town, from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The festival is a celebration of
the resilience, strength, and in-
fluence of Africans, Caribbean,
and African-American people,
known collectively as Pan Afri-
cans, in Oregon.
With the guiding theme of
“Experience The Culture”, the
festival seeks to galvanize, mobi-
lize, and empower peoples of the
African diaspora in Oregon. Also,
as a springboard to community
building, the festival aims to in-
crease understanding within and
between communities, and create
a dialogue that will bring aware-
ness and sensitivity.
“This year we’re expanding
our line up from different cul-
tures to enhance the richness of
the day,” festival spokesperson
Laus Mwakalebela said.
The lineup includes live enter-
tainment, cultural foods, arts and
crafts, and much more. The festi-
val emphasizes promoting health
equity, providing employment
and educational opportunities,
building community awareness,
and other essential components to
empower Pan Africans and their
allies to enact social change.
Additional information can
be found at panafricanfestivalor.
org.