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It’s been over a decade since Milwaukeeans gathered en masse to celebrate African culture and heritage.
But, thanks to the work of three local women, the African Cultural Festival is slated to take place on July 6. And there is hope that it will mark the rebirth of many festivals and future initiatives that celebrate and support the local African community.
“We are on a mission to fill the void in Milwaukee’s festival line-up by bringing a traditional native African cultural celebration to the public,” says Yollande Tchouapi, who is working alongside African community members Cordelia Ekwueme and Reine M. Asana to provide the logistics and leadership to make the African Cultural Festival a success.
Experience Africa
The African Cultural Festival is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 6 from noon to 7 p.m. at Brown Deer Park, 7835 N. Green Bay Rd. (picnic areas 2 and 3).
The event is free and open to the public and will include representation from approximately 15 African countries.
Festivities will kick off on the main stage with opening remarks and a “Parade of Nations” showcasing each African nation dressed in full traditional regalia.
From there, guests can experience traditional African dance from groups including the Nefertari African Dance Company and the Umu-Ada dance troupe from Nigeria; a fashion show that highlights both contemporary and traditional African fashion; African gospel music; a showcase of music with traditional African instruments; a talent show and a closing performance by the traditional Nigerian Odenigbo Masquerade Dancers.
Guests can also partake in a Taste of Africa, a sampling tent featuring representation from a range of African cuisines; an area showcasing art and videos of various traditional African ceremonies (marriage, etc); and a childrens’ activity area operated by Fit 4 Life.
African food, art, crafts, fashion fabric and jewelry will also be available for purchase from vendors at the festival.
“This is our first year, but we want this to grow into an experience where people can truly immerse themselves in the culture,” says Reine.
Tchouapi nods. “I think about my daughter Naima and her friends and how having a festival like this brings their cultures to life and gives them a way to celebrate it.”
Bringing folks together
The festival is – in many ways – a culmination of many little festivals and gatherings that have taken place in the African community here in Milwaukee over the years. But this time, it is a collective effort.
The seeds were planted during the COVID-19 pandemic when, after years of struggling to come together, members of the African community unified and created African Stakeholders Inc., an organization formalized in 2023.
Ekwueme wrote a grant for the organization that assisted in mobilizing various African communities. However, when the grant ended, the question was “Where do we go from here?”
The answer? The African Cultural Festival, a community celebration that gives a visible presence to the organization’s goals and initiatives.
“Our goals are to create a community voice for African immigrants and refugees,” notes Ekwueme. “We want to promote African heritage, educate the public and create opportunities in the community for individuals to achieve financial independence and provide leadership training for our African youth.”
“As a people, we tend to stay on the outskirts,” she adds. “But our story needs to be told in a way that represents us. And we need our culture to be integrated into the larger community.”
Reine agrees. “We love this work,” she says. “But it’s a true commitment. We have children who are born here, and they need to see what their parents have done, gain an understanding of where they are from, and then they can pass that along to their children.
The festival, says Tchouapi is about more than sharing. It’s an active conversation between the African community and Milwaukee at large.
“It's an exchange with the community through fashion, music and art,” says Tchouapi. “And the goal is to promote understanding and appreciation for the richness and diversity that exists in Africa and within the immigrants who’ve made Milwaukee home.”
Sponsorships needed
Asana, Ekwueme and Tchouapi and African Stakeholders Inc are seeking sponsorship that will not only assist in funding the African Cultural Festival, but provide funding to jumpstart programming for African immigrants and refugees.
Among the initiatives they hope to fund are scholarships that assist refugee families with gaining access to English language and science programming. The current target is to raise at least $50K, which would fund 50 $1,000 scholarships.
Financial commitments have been secured from The Brewers’ Foundation and Johnson Controls; but additional support is needed to make the ongoing work sustainable. Parties interested in sponsorships can inquire by email at acfestivalmke@gmail.com or by phone at (414) 522-7682.
Follow the African Cultural Festival on Facebook and Instagram for additional details and updates leading up to the festival.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
