NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Oshunbumi Fernandez
(267) 808-8510
ODUNDE, INC. ANNOUNCES 40TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL WEEK ACTIVITIES
“HIP HOP LEGENDS CONCERT” FEATURING KURTIS BLOW, CHUBB ROCK, SPECIAL ED AND KWAME
WILL CLOSE OUT A WEEKLONG CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN CULTURE INCLUDES
ACTIVITIES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Philadelphia, Pa., June 8, 2015 -The organizers of ODUNDE, Inc. today announced the ODUNDE
African-American Festival Celebration will take place Sunday, June 14, 2015, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.,
along South Street from 20th to 23rd Streets and in the surrounding area. The free, outdoor festival,
whose central ceremonies are rooted in the traditions of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, will feature a
wide variety of vendors, craftspeople, artists and performers.
ODUNDE Week festivities will kick off with a range of no-cost activities beginning Wednesday and
concluding with the Festival on Sunday:

On Wednesday, June 10, in partnership with UPPN, A Conversation on Love and
Relationships at the African American Museum of Philadelphia (701 Arch Street;
Philadelphia) from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.;

On Thursday, June 11, a Fashion Networking Event at Ms. Tootsie’s (1312 South Street,
3rd Floor) from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.;

On Friday, June 12, an African Business Roundtable at the Federal Reserve Bank of
Philadelphia’s Boehne Auditorium (100 North 6th Street, Philadelphia) from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
followed by a V.I.P. Diplomat Reception from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.;

On Saturday, June 13, ODUNDE’s Annual Global African Diaspora Tourism Initiative, a
town hall discussion giving a global perspective on international tourism at the Enterprise
Center (4548 Market Street; Philadelphia) from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.;

As with past festivals, Sunday's events will begin with a procession from ODUNDE's Grays
Ferry headquarters to the South Street Bridge at 12 noon. There, ODUNDE leadership, Lois
and Oshunbumi Fernandez, will lead participants in paying homage to the Yoruba goddess
of the river, Oshun. Once offerings of fruit, money, flowers, and other items have been cast
into the river, the procession will make its way back down South Street for the official start of
the festival.
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PAGE 2 OF 2/ ODUNDE SPONSORS 40TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, ODUNDE will conclude the festival with a HIP HOP
LEGENDS Concert featuring Kurtis Blow, Chubb Rock, Special Ed and Kwame. All day,
entertainers will participate in Sunday's festivities on two stages (one on South Street and one on
Grays Ferry Avenue) including: Neo Soul Artists, Hip Hop Dance Groups, Doo-Wop Groups,
Community Visionary Awards Ceremony, African Dance Troupes, Fashion Show, Gospel Music
Groups, and many other activities including local and national performers.
Each year, the ODUNDE Festival draws over hundreds of thousands of people from throughout the
Philadelphia area, the Mid-Atlantic region, and across the country. Due to the event's substantial
positive economic impact for the City of Philadelphia, the ODUNDE Festival has been designated
an official City event.
Sponsors of this year’s activities include: Congressman Robert Brady and the Philadelphia
Traditions Fund; the ODUNDE, Inc. Board of Directors - A. Rahim Islam, Stanley Straughter and
Kenneth Gamble; the Brazil Cultural Center (Dr. Ken Dosslar and Mrs. Suzana Silva); our corporate
sponsors: the Philadelphia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Greater Philadelphia Tourism and
Marketing Corporation, Universal Companies, Xfinity, PECO, Pennsylvania Lottery, Penn Medicine,
Drexel University – LeBow School of Business, PENN Museum, University of Pennsylvania,
Wharton School of Business; our partners: Keven Parker & Ms. Tootsie’s Restaurant, Warmdaddy’s
Restaurant, Please Touch Museum, African American Museum of Philadelphia, Councilman
Kenyatta Johnson, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Councilman James Kenney, Pennsylvania
Legislative Black Caucus and State Senator Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. and a host of other partners.
Initiated in 1975 by Lois Fernandez and Ruth Arthur, the ODUNDE Festival has spawned a vital
organization whose yearly programs and events reach audiences of over 450,000. ODUNDE
continues to expand the cultural and community programs it offers local residents. A national leader
in arts performance and teaching, the ODUNDE365 Program provides opportunities for diverse
audiences to meet, engage, cultivate and learn about African American and African diverse
heritage, communities, leadership and arts. The brainchild of ODUNDE, Inc. CEO Oshunbumi
Fernandez, the program’s goal is to provide cultural and athletic programming year-round to the
Philadelphia region and to young people around the world. ODUNDE also offers publications and
other educational materials, such as the video "Be a Player: An Oral History of the Life of Lois
Fernandez" and the book From Hucklebuck to HipHop: Social Dance in the African American
Community in Philadelphia by acclaimed folklorist John Roberts.
Further information on ODUNDE's programs, publications and calendar of events may be obtained
by calling the ODUNDE office at (215) 732-8510.
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