Strangers locked arms and formed a semi-circle on the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds Sunday, pouring water in the soil and shouting out names of the dead.
The traditional African libation ceremony was the kickoff for day two of the 19th annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival in Annapolis.
Kunta Kinte, an African slave made famous in Alex Haley?s groundbreaking book “Roots,” landed at the Annapolis dock on Sept. 29, 1767, and his life has become the focus of local celebrations of African-American culture and heritage.
Koli Tengali, master of ceremonies Sunday, called out to the crowd: “There is no such thing as different races ? there is only one race and that?s the human race. At the core of our DNA, we are all African. Welcome to the family.”
About 8,000 people became part of the family at the two-day festival on Saturday and Sunday, said David Arthur, president of the board of directors of the Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival. A long-standing Annapolis tradition, the festival moved to the county fairgrounds from St. John?s College three years ago, when a construction project presented a conflict.
And the new, bigger venue works, Arthur said. This year the festival boasted about 50 vendors, who sold everything from cocoa butter to fine art.
Peggielene Bartels, a Ghana native who now lives in Silver Spring, sold hand-carved statues from her home country. One red-and-black statue with an oblong face and slender body towered above the rest of her display. Bartels explained the statue represented fertility and is typically presented to Ghana brides on their wedding day.
“It depends on what family you are going into, though,” she said.
Andrea Darham, of Crofton, took advantage of the great shopping. Within minutes of arriving, she scooped up a black and brown shell necklace and matching earrings.
“I?m taking a rest here,” she said, gesturing at the bench she was sitting on. “I?ve got a long way to go.”
Supporting African-American businesses is just one aspect of the festival that makes it so special, Arthur said.
“It?s about connecting to our history and making sure that history is passed on from generation to generation,” Arthur said, “And it?s for everybody to be able to see the contributions of Kunta Kinte.”
