38th International African Arts Festival celebrates The East

July 3, 10:31 AMNY Urban Arts ExaminerKevin Harewood

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For 38 Years a must visit  Fourth of July highlight in Brooklyn, New York has been the International African Arts Festival.  This years festival which takes place at Commodore Barry Park on the borders of the Fort Greene and DUMBO sections of Brooklyn celebrates the 40th anniversary of the founding of The East.

The East was a legendary African cultural located which was located at 10 Claver Place in Brooklyn.  The East was a gathering place for adults and youth alike. Participants were exposed to visual arts, Swahili classes, African dance and other endeavors that connected them to The Motherland.  The East was also the foundation for The Uhuru Sasa Shule which was an influential private Afrocentric school, The East Food Coop which provided healthy organic foods for the community and Black News which was a pivotal newspaper.

The International African American Arts Festival was started thirty eight years ago  in the streets in front of The East at 10 Claver Place. Through the years live performers have included Lauren Hill, George Clinton, Fela Kuti, Yusef Waliyaya, The Last Poets, Sun Ra and a host of other world reknown performers.  The festival grew from its humble beginnings and for many years was held at the field at Boys and Girls High School in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.  The festival moved to its current location just a few years ago

Artisans from all over the world continue to come to the festival to sell their  wares.  Painters, clothing/jewelry designers, sculptors and the like are in abundance.  HIghlights of programs on the childrens stage include Pur Elements Youth Dance Comany. Ha Ha's Musical Concert and Watoto Walk Around Clowns.  Main stage musical highlights include three respective tributes to Fela, Joe Cuba and Leon Thomas and Pharoah Saunders.

This years theme is Mashariki which means "The East".  Commodore Barry Park is located at Flushing and Navy Street in
Brooklyn.