FESTIVALS

INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN ARTS FESTIVAL. In its 27th season, the international African Arts Festival (formerly African Street Festival), will bring cultures from around the world to the head of Brooklyn for a four-day celebration that starts on Thursday, July 2nd and ends Sunday July 5, 1998.  This year's Festival is entitled MALAKON YA meaning Our Affair.  Malakonya is from the Mandeng people of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal, Burkin Faso, Mali and Cote D'Ivoire.

A typical Festival day begins with a Children's Program, designed for schools, daycare and summer camps to make this event part of their summer trip schedule.  The program offers intera tive entertainment; storytellers, dancers, and puppeteers, a petting zoo, face painting and pony rides.  Stroll leisurely through the world's largest marketplace of more than 300 artisans to check out the hand crafted items and shop for bargains.  A mixture of aromatic international cuisines permeate the air such as mango, roti, lemon chicken,  grilled corn, vegetarian delights and many fresh baked desserts.  Quench your thirst with beverages which include homemade herbal iced teas, freshly brewed sorrel, ginger beer and exotic fruit jices to name a few.  In the past music lovers have rocked to the sounds emanating from the main stage (Umoja and Kuumba) featuring perfomances from Hugh Masekela, Jon Lucien,Tania Maria, Johnny Pacheco, Third World, The Fugees, Black Stain, Wor-A-Girl, David Rudder, Mutabaruka, Boukman Eksperyans, B.T. Express,  Doug E. Fresh,  Super Blue and many more.  

Daily activities begin at 10:00a.m. end at 12:00 midnight. Admission: $7.00 adults; $2.00 seniors and children 12 and under; children under 12 accompanied by an adult, free for the first two hours on weekend; 4 day discount tickets offered for $20.00.

For additonal information call (718) 638-6700.