From left, Beverly Ann, Sharron Porter, Felicia Peoples and Sharron Cooper at their booth at Kuumba Fest. Photo: Gina Yarbrough/San Diego County News
By Gina Yarbrough
SAN DIEGO—In honor of Black History Month, the Lyceum Theater at Horton Plaza hosted the 21st annual Kuumba Fest celebration.
The three-day festival featured traditional African art, food, a market place, a health fair, educational workshops, community leadership awards, dance, a hip-hop showcase, a tribute to the Apollo Theatre, and a gospel concert.
Organizers say Kuumba (Swahili for “creativity”) unites the community, local performers and celebrities.
Kuumba Fest, founded in 1993 by San Diego resident Dajahn Blevins, began as an offshoot of the San Diego Urban Warriors’ gang diversion program to teach arts to local at-risk youths. The youths would perform before an audience at the San Diego Repertory Theatre. The success of the program created Kuumba Fest.
The festival is held annual in February, and co-produced by the Repertory Theatre and its African American Council.
