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City of Newark and Newark African Commission Launch First Annual African Diaspora Celebration
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Friday, July 31st, 2009
City Hall Ceremony opens three-day African cultural and sports festival. Newark, NJ – July 31, 2009 – Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood
Engagement Margarita Muñiz, members of the Newark African Commission, representatives from African nations, African soccer
teams, and other Newark dignitaries launched the City of Newark’s African Diaspora Celebration with a kick-off ceremony in the City
Hall Rotunda last night.
The ceremony opened a three-day festival of sports, family activities, musical performances and celebrations of African culture, which
will be held at Military Park with concerts and family activities. Military Park will host “Family Day” today, and an all-day festival on
Sunday, August 2. Day two of the three-day event will feature an international soccer tournament at Nat Turner Park, on Saturday,
August 1. The park is located at 251-289 18th Avenue (between Boyd Street and Muhammad Ali Avenue). A comprehensive schedule
of the festival’s events is attached.
“This weekend we are celebrating and acknowledging the great achievements, heritage, and power of African culture in the City of
Newark,” Mayor Booker said in a statement. “I commend the members of the Newark African Commission for organizing this event and
encourage everyone to join us as we kick off our City’s First Annual African Diaspora Festival.”
“The African Diaspora retells the story of how Africans have been able to maintain their culture, language and folklore throughout the
Americas and the Caribbean. The richness of this event lies in the appreciation of African influence throughout the world. Here in
Newark we honor and celebrate that richness and acknowledge its significance in our collective lives,” said Deputy Mayor Muñiz.
The ceremony included remarks by Ghanaian Government Chief Whip Enoch Teye Mensah, African music, and the introduction a
soccer team representing the Republic of Ghana, which will compete in Saturday’s soccer tournament.
“Africa is referred to as the ‘cradle of civilization’ and the birthplace of humanity. The purpose of Mayor Booker’s African Commission
of Newark is to promote the greatness of the African continent and enlighten the Diaspora here within Newark about all the good
Africa has to offer, rather than the negative image it so often receives from the media. We are here to bridge the gap between African-
Americans, Africans and people of African descent. To correct this growing disconnect, we are empowering our community to reach
out to one another and celebrate their common heritage,” said Dosso Kassimou, President of the Mayor’s Newark African Commission.
On Sunday, the Newark African Commission will honor African-American community members for their leadership and service: Jacinta
Ukah-Ogbonna, Director of Patient Care Practices in the Family Health Services Division of Nursing at University Hospital; Amina
Diabagate, an entrepreneur; Joy Adsumola Adenubi Olateru Olagbegi, founder of the Joy School of Hair Design and a vocational
educator; Alex Dennis, a barber and business leader; Sergent Sen Sei Haress Goodson, a youth martial arts instructor; and Imam
Souleimane Konate from the Masjid AWSA Mosque. In addition, the Commission will honor Mr. Teye Mensah and U.S. Representative
Donald M. Payne for their political leadership both at home and abroad.
“The festival brings everybody of African descent together, celebrating a common culture. It’s very exciting for us because Newark
used to be left out of festivals like these, but now through the Mayor’s support, we’re bringing them back. We want to thank Mayor
Booker for all he has done to make this three-day festival a reality,” said Marcy Phillips, Vice President of the commission.
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