illi News - The 35th Annual African Festival of the Arts Returns to Washington Park Labor Day Weekend

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"Wèrèwèrèya: The Return" — A Grand Reunion of Culture, Legacy, and Celebration

CHICAGO - illiNews -- Africa International House USA, Inc. proudly announces the triumphant return of the 35th Annual African Festival of the Arts (AFA)—a beloved cultural tradition and one of the nation's largest and longest-running African-themed festivals. After a one-year hiatus, AFA 2025 brings Chicagoans and global visitors back together for a vibrant Labor Day Weekend celebration, August 30 – September 1, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, at Washington Park's Sunken Gardens.

This year's powerful theme, "Wèrèwèrèya: The Return" (Bambara for "transformation"), honors a legacy of cultural pride, resilience, and renewal. AFA 2025 invites everyone—families, elders, youth, artists, educators, and lovers of Black excellence—to reconnect with the soul of the diaspora and celebrate a return to cultural roots through music, art, food, and fellowship.

For three decades, AFA has served as a cultural bridge and immersive artistic village, where generations converge to experience the vast richness of African and African diasporic heritage. This year, we celebrate not only the return of the festival but the return of the people—a collective reunion of communities who have long found joy, identity, and inspiration on these sacred festival grounds.

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From the sounds of Afrobeat to Funk, the AFA Performance Stages have featured legends like James Brown, Chaka Khan, and Hugh Masekela—and 2025 promises another unforgettable lineup of world-class entertainers and rising stars who will light up the weekend with energy, rhythm, and soul.

Highlights Includes:

Drum Village – Revive your spirit in a communal heartbeat of drums, dance, and ancestral rhythms.

Fine Arts & Quilt Pavilions – Meet master artists and collectors showcasing high-end visual art, textiles, wood carvings, Shona sculptures, and wearable art.

Ancestral Grove: Wellness & Spiritual Pavilion – Recharge with yoga, meditation, and holistic healing traditions from across the diaspora.

Heritage Pavilion – Engage in global dialogue on current issues and cultural trends with live panel talks and digital roundtables.

Children & Family Village – A joyful space of play, learning, and creativity designed to leave kids with memories that last a lifetime.

Bank of the Nile Food Court – Taste the Diaspora! From Jollof rice and cassava greens to Caribbean jerk and Ethiopian injera, culinary delights await.

African Marketplace – A treasure trove of handcrafted jewelry, fashion, music, rare collectibles, and more.

"We're not just coming back—we're coming back transformed," says Patrick Woodtor, Founder of Africa International House. "This festival is a sacred space of cultural celebration, learning, and connection. It's where past, present, and future come together. Whether you've been coming for years or it's your first time, we welcome you home."

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Ticket Info

● Tickets start at $25

● Discounts available for seniors and children

● Children under 5 attend FREE

● Family passes available

To purchase tickets and additional information, log on to aihusa.org.

Connect to the 35^th Annual AFA experience on Facebook and Instagram #AFAChi35 and #AFAChi.

About Africa International House USA, Inc.

The mission of Africa International House USA, Inc. (AIH) is to serve as a center that exposes and educates all people to the individual works and collective contributions of African cultures. Our mission is addressed through our flagship program, the African Festival of the Arts, and through other activities that promote African-based culture. AIH is an umbrella for linkages and exchanges of people from Africa and the African Diaspora. Since its inception, AIH has worked to bridge the divides between the people of the African Diaspora with its unique brand of cultural programming.