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Getting in the Festival Spirit

By:  Shakira Hightower for Travel Noire

Reposted from http://travelnoire.com/spring-and-summer-festival-fun-in-the-diaspora/

Plenty of warm days are now on the horizon with the arrival of spring and the highly-anticipated coming of summer.  Accordingly, festivals abound with celebration themes of sun and soul.  Festivals offer lots of fun–and generally for just a few coins–the chance to meet great people with common interests over a few days or an extended stay for good times that last forever. These advantages position the festival as a satisfying staycation or perfect go-to getaway.

Here are some ideas sure to inspire and get you moving on your festival travel itinerary:

The Maralal Camel Derby

Camel jockeys vie for top honors during the Maralal, Kenya camel derby every year. Why not join them?  Whether you spectate or participate, you are sure to enjoy this thrilling adventure in the Motherland. This year the festivities take place August 24 through August 26.

The Saint Lucia Jazz Festival

In beautiful St. Lucia, the sweet sounds of jazz serve as the soundtrack to your island getaway when you visit April 30 through May 11. The marquis boasts an all-star line-up including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kem, and Maxwell. This year the festival turns 14. This means continued cultural tourism and civic pride for the island and big fun for you.

National Black Arts Festival

Atlanta opens its doors to its most treasured cultural venues this summer beginning in July for its National Black Arts Festival (NBAF). This festival proudly hosts cultural arts conversations, exhibits, a marketplace and concerts that feature the Diaspora’s most talented artisans.

 

 

 

 

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Billy Dee Williams Talks About Colt 45.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Billy Dee Williams! 77 years of #smooth! He was born William December Williams in Harlem with his twin sister Loretta and graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, the school that would later become known for the film and the television series, “Fame.”

 He was on scholarship at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Design when he returned to the acting he dabbled in as a child. He spent a few years doing small roles in theater before getting his first film role in the 1959 film, “The Last Angry Man.” Many of us swoon and think of Mr. Williams’s in “Lady Sings the Blues” and “Mahogany” with Diana Ross of course.

However, the breakthrough role that opened the door for those parts was in the film “Brian’s Song,” as Chicago Bears football player, Gale Sayers. The film was based on Mr. Sayer’s friendship with his teammate, Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at age 26 in 1970.

Mr. Williams told Roger Ebert in 1975, “Right before “Brian’s Song” there was a period when I was very despondent, broke, depressed, my first marriage was on the rocks. The role of Gale Sayers had been cast with Lou Gossett, and then he hurt himself playing basketball. I was called in to read for the role. I was their last choice, and I knew it. I was very down, and I read the role that way, and the chemistry with Caan was good, so they hired me. That was the turning point. Sometimes I think there are spiritual forces that guide me and protect me, and know where to take me.” Photo: People magazine.