2008 Marcus Garvey Rootz Extravaganza and Pan-African Bookfest plans to be a memorable one
FT. LAUDERDALE – With a schedule that includes dramatic re-enactments, multimedia photo and art exhibitions, as well as music, live vocalists and dancers, the 2008 Marcus Garvey Rootz Extravaganza and Pan-African Bookfest on August 17, 2008, will be the most meaningful and memorable incarnation of the annual event to date, say organizers of this year’s Garvey Birthday anniversary.
According to a spokesman for the Rootz Foundation Inc., the upcoming Garvey Extravaganza and Pan-African Bookfest will also be the most lively and exciting so far, especially because the promoters have a bigger space to work with and less restrictive time constraints this year. The Garvey anniversary is scheduled to run from 12noon to 8pm on Sunday, August 17, 2008, at the Joseph C. Carter Park, located at 1450 West Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
Marcus Garvey
The cultural celebration is staged annually by the Rootz Foundation Inc. in association with the Broward County Library to mark the birthday of Marcus Garvey. The Jamaican-born Marcus Mosiah Garvey became an International Hero in the Caribbean, the Americas and Africa, after he organized and led the Universal Negro Improvement Association, the UNIA, an organization which became the largest international mass movement of Black people in the history of the United States and the world.
The climax of the day’s activities will be a community town hall meeting led by keynote guest speaker from Washington, D.C., Senghor Baye, who is the1st Assistant President-General of the UNIA and Managing Editor of the Garvey Voice newspaper.
Baye will lead a panel of other speakers that include community activist Kwame Afoh, who is Founder and Coordinator of the Pan-Afrikan Nationalists of South Florida, and Past President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Afrika; the multi-talented Pan-African Spoken Word exponent, Heru; and from Atlanta, Queen Mother Moses of the Empress of Zion organization.
Earlier during the afternoon, the information filled and variety packed program will offer a cross section of activities for all ages: from the Bookfest of over 25 authors; presentations by the authors of their newest books; storytelling for the younger children; the one of a kind Kinad Mobile Museum of African-American History (mounted on a bus); to a Holistic Health Fair with homeopathic doctors, chiropractors, dentists, and massage therapists giving hands-on treatment, free screenings and free health information.
The Garvey Rootz Extravaganza and Pan-African Bookfest will feature live in performance, the versatile and celebrated Spoken Word Poet, Heru, who is now widely recognized for his mesmerizing performances, intellectual creativity and historical depth, and from Orlando, Florida, the Marcus Garvey Revolutionary Guard, also cutting edge exponents of culturally based Spoken Word. Vocalists including Shanty Plus and Highah Seekah are on the schedule, as are dance presentations by the Tribeholistic Dance Company and the Roots & Culture dancers, and music by the Revelation Sound System. Entry will be free and the gate prize will be a return air ticket to Jamaica.
This year, the Rootz Foundation Inc. and the Broward County Library have partnered with the City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department, which is hosting the event at the City’s Joseph Carter Park.
The 2008 Marcus Garvey Rootz Extravaganza and Pan-African Bookfest is sponsored by the Broward County Library Foundation, Tomlinson Dental Center, Air Jamaica, Comcast, Bobby’s Meals, Café Calypso, the Book Lover’s Lounge, Mount Teman Roots, Cooyah Rootz Wear, Elgo’s Art, In & Out Tire Shack, the Caribbean Today, the Miami Herald, the Westside Gazette and 103 FM the Beat.
