DALLAS — Harambee Festival (https://www.harambeedallas.org) is the oldest and largest African-American cultural event in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex of Texas, with over 15,000 in attendance. The festival is a community-based educational and cultural event that was created in the early 1970s, by the founding members of the Harambee Festival Steering Committee, a group of community-minded citizens who gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center to form a safe and alternative celebration to Halloween.
Harambee is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events, e.g. fundraising or development activities. Harambee literally means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is also the official motto of Kenya and appears on its coat of arms.
In 2023, traditional Harambee Dallas further expands its online experience, to continue to keep our children safe and to support our children and young adults with positive interactions — ranging from marketplace demonstrations, talks, and entertainment. This year's theme is "Harambee! Continuing to Shine at 49!".
On Saturday, October 29, 2023, for the 4th consecutive year, media personality and philanthropist Shefik (https://shefik.info) of the multiple award winning, nationally syndicated radio show "Shefik presents Invocation" (https://invocation.co) is producing, directing, and hosting the 49th Annual Harambee Festival live on video, via broadcast on the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DallasHarambeeFestival. Urban legend historian and musician LaShone Law is slated as co-host, where she will serve as a correspondent on-the-ground in Dallas during the live broadcast, while Shefik anchors from the New York production headquarters.
Additionally, thanks to the support of Chief Executive Officer Charlie Knight, the Yonkers association of YWCA (https://www.ywcayonkers.org) will join forces with Shefik at the New York production headquarters, where members of the P.E.A.R.L Program (https://www.ywcayonkers.org/pearl-program) will amplify their message of Prevention, Empowerment, Academics, Recreation, Leadership. Under the direction of Program Coordinator Jessica Alicea, P.E.A.R.L Program focuses on building a foundation for girls between the ages of 10 to 18 years old. The program provides a fun and safe place for teens to be themselves, as they navigate through their teen lives.
YWCA is a non-profit organization, dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. It is one of the oldest and largest multi-cultural organizations promoting solutions to enhance the lives of women, girls, and families. They have been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for 165 years — from voting rights to civil rights, affordable housing to pay equity, and violence prevention to health care reform.
Starting at 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET), a full day of exhibits, music performances, and more is planned. Local and surrounding families are welcome to stop by the venue location, to receive free treat bags and care packages (until supplies last). The address is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75215.
During the event, Dr. Harry Robinson Jr. will be presented with a Lifetime Unity Award. Dr. Robinson is the President at African American Museum of Dallas. Under his leadership, the facility was built in 1984, at Fair Park in Dallas. The museum's collection includes decorative arts, Sepia magazine's photo archive, and the carefully researched archaeological specimens of the Freedmen's Cemetery. Dr. Robinson has developed the African American Museum of Dallas into a nationally recognized destination for people from all over the world.
CR Capers of Harlem Film House (https://harlemfilmhouse.org) (a New York based, non-profit organization) is once again set to provide live broadcast streaming services. Attendees are encouraged to watch the event on the festival's Facebook page, in order to capture the auxiliary experience of this year's festival.
Sponsors of Harambee Festival include Citizens' Committee to Save Our Children.
Media Contacts
Shefik
All Knight Access
+1 (914) 548-5033
shefik@allknightaccess.com
Last Updated: October 28, 2023
