Seattle Center Presents Festival Sundiata 6/12-13

Music, traditional drumming and dance set a rhythmic tone for a weekend filled with continuous live entertainment at Seattle Center Festál: Festival Sundiata - African-American Festival, Saturday, June 12, 12 noon - 11 p.m. and Sunday, June 13, 12 noon - 8 p.m., in Center House and Fisher Pavilion.

This lively festival celebrates art, entertainment and education about the people of African descent, where participants and visitors from all communities may have an opportunity to peak into the window and experience the richness of Black culture.

This year, the festival features a compelling and touching exhibit, "The American History Exhibit," divided into three parts. "The Unspoken Truths" chronicles the rich history of Africans in Africa and their significant contributions to the world. "Black Holocaust: Middle Passage/Chattel Slavery" explores the challenges African Americans endured during the Jim Crow Era. "African American Inventors/Inventions" showcases their perseverance and accomplishments.

Other weekend highlights include a "Best of Both World"s" fashion show, African performance showcase and Literary Café. A special Saturday evening concert features popular 1970s group Cookin Bag and other special guest artists.

The festival line-up also includes:
Pastor David and the PHD Mass Choir, special guests from Los Angeles, CA;
206 ZULU Jam
Northwest Drill Team Competition
All City Youth Ensemble
Somali Youth Dancers
"Sikcent" Hip Hop Dance Group
Atlantic Melody
SOMATO African Dance Workshop
Live Blues, Jazz and Hip Hop
Pacific Northwest African American Quilters

The 22 Festál cultural celebrations highlight The Common forms of tradition and expression among ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest, while underscoring their unique creative contributions, customs, foods and ideals. Our 2010 "did you know" will explore some of these commonalities and differences.

Did you know? Red, black and green were first adopted in 1920 as official colors of the African race, symbolizing red - the blood that men must shed, black - the color of the noble and distnguished race, and green - the luxuriant vegetaion of the Motherland. Some of the most popular foods are Barbeque catfish,collard greens, chicken, ribs and peach cobbler. People are the greatest source of cultural price in this melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. Their livelihoods are many. In Seattle, African-Americans work as educators, doctors, lawyers, police officers, fire fighters, Boeing engineers, and government workers.

Seattle Center Festál: Festival Sundiata - African-American Festival is presented by Seattle Center in partnership with the Sundiata African-American Cultural Association. For a full event schedule, visit festivalsundiata.org, and for more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.

About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál, a series of 22 world festivals presented at Seattle Center on weekends throughout 2010, highlights the distinct cultures and common threads of ethnic communities in our region through traditional and contemporary art, music, foods, youth activities, workshops and more. This collection of cultural events is produced with the generous support of Wells Fargo, Verizon Wireless, KUOW 94.9 Public Radio. Additional support is provided by Seattle Center Foundation and the City of Seattle.

More Information: http://www.seattlecenter.com.

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