The 2013 Trenton African American Pride Festival will boast a full schedule of cultural entertainment, including music by gospel house giant Kenny Bobien who will perform hits like “You Are My Friend” and “Grateful.” The festival will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2013 at Cadwalader Park, and will be hosted by legendary radio DJ Patty Jackson of 105.3 WDAS FM.

Bobien, a singer, songwriter, and producer who has sang background vocals for the likes of Celine Dion and Teddy Pendergrass, has a distinct falsetto voice that has been synonymous with house and club music anthems for the past 20 years, and an electrifying stage presence that promises to bring the house down.

Also gracing the stage at the festival: funk, dance, and R&B band Valerie Adams and the Dimensions performing Motown, soul, and jazz hits; Cimarrones, an Afro-Cuban percussion and dance ensemble performing authentic bomba and plena, and R&B group The Main Event Band. Presenting the Caribbean aspect of the African heritage will be reggae artists Larry White, Richie Lane, and Jah Pops.

“We are very excited to feature the talent of Trentonians, as well as entertainers from across the region, this year. It was very important for us that the entertainment reflect the diversity of the African Diaspora, since that is the whole purpose of this festival, to celebrate our African ancestry,” said Nina Dawkins, chair of the
festival’s entertainment committee. “We have some great performances lined up, plenty of fun for the kids, great food and vendors. It will be a fun day at the park for the whole family. Who doesn’t love that?”

The festival will also feature performances by Egun Omode (Children of the Ancestors), Trenton’s own West African dance/drum troupe. The Yoruba Folklore Performing Arts Company will kick things off with a traditional African dance presentation. There will also be African drumming; Capoeira demonstrations, Brooklyn Jumbies stilt walkers, and more. The festival will also have a Children’s Village that will feature story telling, African drum lessons, arts and crafts, inflatable jumps, face painting, and more. There will be a variety of vendors spread throughout the park selling their wares and food of all varieties.

The festival will also feature a Healthy Living Pavilion to raise awareness of the health issues affecting the African American community. Internationally renowned best-selling author, holistic wellness entrepreneur, and highly sought after natural health practitioner, Queen Afua will be the keynote speaker. Queen Afua guides men and women on a holistic transformation journey to the Global City of Wellness. There will also be free health screenings, health care and holistic wellness speakers, natural product vendors, as well as fitness and wellness activities.

The African American Pride Festival is an annual celebration of the history, culture, heritage, and arts that represent the rich traditions and zestful spirit of the African American community in the City of Trenton.

Following the legacy of the African American culture’s Juneteenth celebration, the goal of the festival is to inspire an appreciation for the diversity, influence, and contributions of the African Diaspora.

The festival is produced by a group of local organizations with the full support of the City of Trenton, as well as support from Mercer County. For more information about the festival, visit www.taapf.com.