NEWARK -- Bright hues of green, red and yellow dotted Military Park on Saturday as hundreds -- many donning traditional African garb -- gathered for the city's Afro Beat Fest.
"This is what inner cities need, they need culture programs like this to stop crime," said Obalaji Baraka, who works for the city's recreation department and helped coordinate the event. "We need to revolve ourselves back to culture, history and all the fine foods that are out here."
The day-long festival featured performances by Grammy-nominated French duo Les Nubians, English-born Nigerian singer/songwriter Ayo Jay, and Ghanaian singer Bisa Kdei. More than 100 vendors filled the sidewalks selling food, clothing, jewelry and other accessories.
The city used to hold a festival to celebrate African culture since the 1980s called "Africa Newark." But the festival stopped in 2006 after it lost city support, Mayor Ras Baraka said. He said this year the city worked with local organizers to bring it back and rebrand it as "Afro Beat Fest."
"We used to have fun as children involved in it so we thought it'd be something that we do now," he said. "Culture is very important to revive the city ... it gives people something to do and it gives you a chance to connect with your roots and your culture at the same time."
Linda Jumah, one of the organizers of the event, whose father co-founded Africa Newark, said the city has always been welcoming to all cultures and embraced its diversity.
"It's important to celebrate who we are. They have cultural festivals all over the city and this one was the one that was lacking," she said.
Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.