Posted Date: June 11, 2008
25-Year-Old Afr'Am Fest Defended By Organizers Against Noise Complaints
New Journal and Guide Report
Organizers of the annual Afr’Am Fest in Norfolk are not taking lightly media-reported charges that this year’s popular African American-themed festival was noisy and disruptive.
The three-day event which takes place over the Memorial Day weekend was captured negatively in a front page article titled “Norfolk Re-examining Afr’Am Fest After Residents’ Complaints”, that appeared May 28 in the city’s daily newspaper.
The 25th Afr’Am Fest this past Memorial Day weekend drew the festival’s largest turnout, an estimated 300,000 plus attendees. Since its founding, Afr’Am Fest has grown from several thousand attendees into one of Norfolk’s favorite outdoor events at the city’s downtown Town Point Park. The popular site is home to a number of festivals, including the 32-year-old Harbor Fest, the Wine Fest, and the Children’s Fest.
Afr’Am Fest is now Norfolk’s second largest festival and one of the East Coast region’s largest African-American festivals. It is presented by the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA), a group whose mission is to celebrate and protect African American history and culture.
Members of the SEVAA board of directors say they were “startled” to read the front page story of charges of excess noise and vulgar music lyrics that were highlighted in the news article. In a June 9th press release that follows, the group defends the festival and offers their perspective of the negative attention to the festival.
—From the SEVAA Board Of Directors
For twenty-five years, the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA) has been hosting what has now become the City’s second largest festival and one of the East Coast region’s largest African-American festival, Afr’Am Fest.
We would like to thank our sponsors, supporters, area residents and everyone who celebrated this milestone anniversary with us this past Memorial Day Weekend.
As with any endeavor of this magnitude, there are bound to be instances of disagreements and misunderstandings. Such was the case, as reported by the article in The Virginian-Pilot on May 28, 2008. Reading the front page headline, “Norfolk re-examining Afr’Am Fest after residents’ complaints” was quite startling to say the least.
We recognize the right of citizens to voice their opinions, and we take their suggestions with the highest regards. If there were instances of music played too loudly during the change over of acts, we accept that concern and will deal with that in future events. During the performances from our two main stages, the volume was at a level comparable to what one would find at any locally produced festival at Town Point Park. In the one instance where a profane word was used, Mark Madison, Afr’Am Project Director, Donna Sample Smith, Executive Director of SEVAA and the MC informed the performer and his management that language of that nature was not acceptable and would not be tolerated.
We welcome the neighborhood residents informing us of any difficulties they may have with the music while the festival is in progress. Unfortunately, no one contacted us directly or the police, during the weekend. We always invite everyone including the downtown residents to join us at this “family-friendly” celebration.
It is disheartening to see our countless hours of work minimized to a festival that promotes “vulgar” performances and offers nothing of cultural value. We commend our committee members and volunteers who worked tirelessly for almost a year to produce a festival of this caliber. The variety of foods, clothing, authors, literature and cultural dancers provided at the festival appealed to a wide variety of interests. Our art show which has always been the pinnacle of our festival included some of the region’s most inspiring African-American artists.
Our goal is not to only entertain our attendees; but also, to educate them. There was a large breast cancer awareness exhibit; and in the Fine Arts area of the park, representatives from various organizations disseminated information about a multitude of other health and financial issues.
TO READ THE REST OF THIS STORY AND MANY MORE LIKE IT, CALL 757-543-6531 AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY! LET THE NEW JOURNAL AND GUIDE BE YOUR GUIDE.
Click Here to Subscribe to the New Journal and Guide.
