Savannah’s Black Heritage Festival 2008

The Savannah Black Heritage Festival kicks off a two-week celebration on Friday, February 1, 2008 with a Youth Talent Explosion at the Tiger Arena on the Savannah State University campus. The Festival continues with activities for every age and every interest; food, fun and family are emphasized throughout the celebration.  You’ll enjoy great music of every genre, dance performances and contests, a talent showcase, tours, art shows and photo exhibits, lectures and plays. In addition to outstanding food, music and cultural activities, great educational opportunities are provided throughout the Festival. Saturday, February 9 is Grand Festival Day at the Civic Center and includes a Health Fair, Business Expo, Career Fair and a Food Fest and Youth Program. Vendors will also be on hand with a wide variety of goods and services. The Festival concludes with a lecture by Pernessa Seele. Named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in 2006, Ms. Seele, one of the first AIDS educators, established the Balm of Gilead, an organization to support mobilization of African-American churches to address HIV/AIDS. The location of the lecture has not been determined.

In addition to the two-week Festival other events surrounding the Festival include the arrival of the renowned Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels at Adams Hall on the Savannah State University campus on Sunday, January 26, 2008. There will also be a three-day symposium beginning Wednesday, February 27, 2008 sponsored by the Ossabaw Island Educational Alliance.  The Symposium features 10 leading experts from around the United States who will discuss the role of African Americans in the history of Georgia’s barrier islands and Georgia’s place in the larger Black Atlantic world.