Photo Credit: Africa International House USA, Inc.
A cornerstone South Side event that serves as the unofficial end to the Chicago Summer Festival season has been canceled, and rising costs are to blame.
The African Festival of the Arts, a Labor Day holiday weekend staple that features concerts, vendors, food, activities and vibes, won’t take place in Washington Park this weekend. Organizers have decided to move the time-honored festival to Labor Day weekend in 2025.
Patrick Saingbey Woodtor, the founder of Africa International House USA, Inc., which organizes the event, announced the decision in a letter posted to the organization’s site.
He clarified that the festival’s high standards couldn’t be met without straining the community’s wallets.
“This difficult decision was made due to the rising cost of production, coupled with our commitment to keeping admissions affordable for our community,” wrote Woodtor.
When the Defender contacted the Africa International House for further comment, the organization responded via text, confirming the cancellation and plans to reintroduce the event next year.
The African Festival of the Arts has been a destination for families for over thirty years. Every Labor Day weekend at Washington Park, the festival reliably provided attendees with a feast for the senses as the mouthwatering smells of grilled meat intermingled with rhythmic drumming and singing and the buzz of buoyant conversations.
Over that time, the AFA established itself as a premier showcase of Black diasporic culture, featuring legendary artists like Chaka Khan, James Brown and many others. It genuinely served as a gathering of community, art and culture.
The AFA is the third major summer festival catering to Black audiences to be canceled this summer. Last summer, the Silver Room Block Party organizers announced that the 2023 event would be the last. In May, the group behind the Hyde Park Summer Fest pulled the plug on the event, citing rising security costs.
While the African Fest is on hold, the AIH plans to continue its other programs, such as Taste of Liberia and Kwanzaa Celebrations.
“Thank you for your support over the years,” wrote Woodtor.
“We look forward to welcoming you back to the African Festival of the Arts in 2025, where we will continue to celebrate and uplift the rich heritage and vibrant culture of our community.”
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