Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival

Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival

Last weekend in September

The Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival is a two-day event held at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds in Crownsville, Md., that celebrates the heritage and culture of African Americans. The festival, which draws about 8,000 visitors annually, is named in honor of Kunta Kinte, a Gambian youth who was forced into slavery in the United States during the late 18th century. His descendant, Alex Haley, listened to family stories he heard from his grandmother and became inspired. He researched his family history and published it in 1976 in the worldwide bestseller Roots.
First held in 1987, the Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival was conceived as an opportunity both to celebrate the contributions of African Americans to American culture and to educate younger generations about their history. The festival is held on the last weekend of September each year to reflect Kinte's arrival on the slave ship Lord Ligonier at the Annapolis port on September 29, 1767. Music and entertainment range from African dancers to Caribbean steel drum bands, jazz bands, gospel choirs, and hip hop acts. Family activities are emphasized, including games, storytelling, instrument-making, and mask-decorating. A Family Education Tent also offers exhibits and information on a variety of education, career, and health topics as well as information on social groups and political action organizations.

CONTACTS:
Kunta Kinte Celebrations, Inc.
P.O. Box 314
Arnold, MD 21012-0314
410-349-0338; fax: 509.561.8274
www.kuntakinte.org
Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation Inc.
31 Old Solomons Island Rd., Ste. 102
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-6920; fax: 410-841-6505
www.kintehaley.org

SOURCES:
AAH-2007, p. 261

Celebration days:
2011: Sep 24; Sep 25
2012: Sep 29; Sep 30
2013: Sep 28; Sep 29
2014: Sep 27; Sep 28
2015: Sep 26; Sep 27