This year, the Odunde Festival marked its 50th anniversary by transforming 16 city blocks in Philadelphia into a vibrant celebration of music, food, and cultural traditions from the African and Caribbean diaspora, despite overcast skies on Sunday.
Originally founded in 1975 by community leader Lois Fernandez, the festival began as a modest one-block event with a mere $100 grant.
Now, it attracts over 500,000 visitors each year, making it possibly the largest African American street festival in the United States.
Held annually on the second Sunday of June in Graduate Hospital, one of Philadelphia’s historically Black neighborhoods, Odunde stands out as one of the most significant celebrations of Black and African culture in the nation.
The inspiration behind Odunde came from Fernandez’s pilgrimage to Nigeria, where she experienced a traditional New Year celebration.
Determined to share this cultural experience with her community, she organized the first festival with a small team and limited funding, setting the stage for five decades of growth in both size and importance.
Today, the festival is led by Fernandez’s daughter, Oshunbumi Fernandez-West, who has expanded its influence through the ODUNDE365 initiative.
ODUNDE365 provides year-round cultural education and youth programming, ensuring that the festival’s legacy and cultural teachings reach future generations.
This year, Fernandez-West welcomed her son, Adeniyi Ogundana, to join the leadership team as the festival’s COO.
A central feature of the Odunde Festival is the sacred river ceremony, which takes place annually at noon on Sunday.
Participants, dressed in white or traditional attire, gather at the intersection of 23rd and South streets to partake in a procession to the Schuylkill River.
During this ritual, they present offerings of fruit, flowers, honey, and cakes to Oshun, the Yoruba goddess associated with rivers, prosperity, and love.
This symbolic gesture not only sets a sacred tone for the festival but also strengthens its connection to West African traditions.
Baba Akinkugbe Karade, who first participated in the procession in 1997 with Fernandez-West, highlighted the profound historical significance of Odunde.
He stated,
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