By Javacia Harris Bowser | The Birmingham Times
The rhythms of live drumming, the colors of African-inspired art activities, and the energy of local Black-owned businesses will fill the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) and nearby City Walk on June 13 as the museum hosts its annual African Heritage Festival.
The free event invites visitors of all ages to celebrate the vibrant cultures, traditions and artistic legacies of Africa through music, artmaking, community engagement and performance. Designed as a welcoming, multigenerational experience, the festival connects art, culture and community while highlighting the richness and diversity of the African continent and its diaspora.
Guests can enjoy live percussion performances by DRUM the Program in the museum café, African-themed art activities for children and families, face painting with local artist Yogi Dada and Masquerade Face Paint and food trucks throughout the day.
In partnership with The Modern Green Book and City Walk BHM, the festival will also feature a community marketplace on City Walk’s Green Space, showcasing local Black-owned businesses and creatives.
Visitors can also take advantage of free tours of the museum’s African art galleries, home to one of the museum’s most extensive and culturally significant collections.
“Our collections inspire everything we do,” said Joan Inman, Manager of Public Programs and Partnerships at the BMA. “We are honored to care for nearly 2,000 objects created by African artists, ranging from painting to pottery, musical instruments to textiles. Inspired by these works, we collaborate with performers, designers, storytellers and community members from the African diaspora to bring to life the traditions and cultures reflected in them. Through these immersive experiences, we hope visitors will engage more deeply with the artistry and ideas found in the gallery while connecting firsthand with artists who continue, as well as reimagine, these practices today.”
The African Heritage Festival is about more than a day of entertainment. It offers an opportunity to explore the stories, histories and traditions reflected in the museum’s African collection.
“The African gallery tells the story of the continent’s extraordinarily rich history and the interconnectedness of its cultures,” Inman said. “Africa is a continent of enormous diversity, with over fifty countries, and hundreds of ethnic groups, cultures, languages, religions and traditions. African art, in its many forms and functions, embodies this diversity.”
That diversity is evident throughout the galleries. Visitors can discover sculptures, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, musical instruments, masks, clothing, and household and ritual objects spanning centuries and regions. Highlights range from an ancient Egyptian false door and a Nkisi Nkonde (power figure) from the Democratic Republic of Congo to a contemporary Nwententay (plank mask) from Burkina Faso.
The BMA has hosted the African Heritage Festival for nearly a decade. The event is part of the museum’s Family Festival series, which also includes celebrations of East Asian, Holi, and Latin heritage cultures and traditions.
“These festivals are designed to create welcoming, multigenerational experiences that connect art, performance, food, and cultural celebration,” Inman said.
The African Heritage Festival is free, but registration is encouraged.
The African Heritage Festival will be held Saturday, June 13, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203. To learn more and register, visit artsbma.org/event/african-heritage-festival.
