Mayor Gray and OAA invite District residents to the 4th Annual African Heritage Celebration: A Tribute to Past & Present Leaders in the African Community to be held on September 30 at the Howard Theatre.
For the first time last year, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, proclaimed September as “African Heritage Month” in the District of Columbia. In recognition of the unique contributions made by the tens of thousands of Africans residing in the District of Columbia, Mayor Gray declared September as a time for the larger District community to learn about and celebrate its ethnically, linguistically and culturally diverse African community.
“The District of Columbia is home to thousands of African businesses, residents, and their families – representing diverse cultural, religious, and political backgrounds and speaking hundreds of languages and dialects. These communities have enriched the cultural and economic fabric of our world-class city,” said Mayor Gray in the proclamation.
In honor of African Heritage Month and the worldwide observance of the 50th Anniversary of the African Union, Mayor Gray and his Office on African Affairs (OAA) invite District residents to the 4th Annual DC African Heritage Celebration: A Tribute to Past & Present Leaders in the African Community. This festive event will be held on Monday, September 30, 2013 at the legendary Howard Theatre (620 T St NW Washington, DC 20001) from 6 pm to 10 pm and will be free and open to the public.
Each year, the Mayor’s Annual DC Africa Celebration unites diverse communities of African descent in the District through art, culture, food, history, and music. Since its inception in 2010, the DC Africa Celebration has fast become one of the District’s most anticipated cultural events drawing thousands of diverse attendees. This event stands as testament of the unprecedented growth of the District’s African community, and showcases the burgeoning contributions this community makes to the cultural and economic vitality of the nation’s capital.
“The District of Columbia has one of the most vibrant and diverse African communities in the entire country, with African residents and businesses contributing not only to the cultural identity but also to the economic strength of the city,” said Director Ngozi Nmezi. “I would like to thank Mayor Gray for his unwavering support of the District’s African community.”
The year 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Mayor Gray and OAA will join governments, organizations and communities around the world in celebrating this historic moment for Africans by promoting the official theme of Panafricanism and global African renaissance in the 21st century. At the local level, this theme ties seamlessly into Mayor Gray’s vision of building “One City” in which all residents thrive together. It further echoes the goals of OAA’s Multicultural Awareness and Development program which aims to promote greater connection and solidarity among the District’s ethnically diverse communities of African descent.
For the first time in four years, OAA’s annual DC African Heritage event will be hosted indoors, and will incorporate a new feature: a special tribute to past and present leaders in the African community. An awards program at the celebration will highlight exceptional leaders who have shaped history, and recognize seven exceptional leaders who are presently making unique contributions to Panafricanism and the economic and cultural renaissance of the District’s African community. Among other attractions, the festivities include a reception, high profile special guests and speakers, and a rich variety of performances.
The 4th Annual DC African Heritage Celebration on September 30 will conclude and come at the heels of a month-long celebration of the long legacy of African contributions to the economic vibrancy, character, and cultural identity of this city.
For a complete listing of events in the community please visit www.oaa.dc.gov.
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