UNITY: THE 45TH AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Unity: UMOJA

We are the 45th African American Heritage Festival Committee! Throughout the years, the African American Heritage Festival has become a staple here at The Ohio State University and the larger Columbus community. The mission of the festival is to promote and provide a space for community, visibility, creativity, and education at The Ohio State University and in the greater Columbus Community. We also aim to commemorate and build upon the legacy of the African and African American experience.

This coming festival will center around the word "Umoja", which is the Swahili word for Unity! The theme Unity will be incorporated throughout the entire academic year as we gear up for the festival. The weeklong festival will feature talent and poetry showcases, intriguing cultural awareness programs, and our annual Gospel Fest!

Schedule:

Friday, February 24, 2023

OSU Reads

Not open to the public

Location: N/A

OSU Reads is an entire day dedicated to highlighting reading and literacy for Columbus City School children. We have the honor of collaborating with students that will participate in various activities during the day surrounding our 45th OSU Reads theme.

A group of second and third-grade students will experience Ohio State’s campus and culture, while also integrating educational experiences throughout the day. They will have an opportunity to team-build with their classmates through group activities, learn what "Unity" means, and gain an understanding of the importance of literacy and accessibility to books. In addition, they will receive their very own book as a memento of the event.

OSU Reads will also give a scholarship to one CCS high school senior attending Ohio State in Fall 2023. Applicants will write an essay in response to the prompt(s), and a winner will be chosen based on appropriately met criteria.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Kick Off

Location: RPAC

Join us as we kick off the week with a night filled with games, black-owned business vendors, food, music, and dancing! The theme for this year’s Kick-Off will be paying homage to the original cowboys, whom were Black, taking place in the Wild Wild West. We reimagined and combined the best aspects of fairs, family reunions, and Black staples and included them in the theme of this event. We want our attendees to feel like they actually stepped foot in the West while celebrating our rich history and unity!

Sunday, February 26, 2023

GOSPEL FEST

5:00 pm - 8:30 pm (doors open at 4:30 pm)

Location: Ohio Union Archie Griffin Ballroom

The African American Heritage Festival has always been a celebration of the culture while promoting unification through shared experiences. Gospel Fest is a space where people from The Ohio State University and Columbus community can come and worship the lord through song, dance and even mime ministry and/or other acts.

Gospel Fest is a highly anticipated event that highlights the genre originated by the Black community. Dating back to the 17th century, gospel music continues to shape our culture. Gospel Fest will promote a joyful, loving, and inclusive spiritual rejuvenation for all ages!

Monday, February 27, 2023

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Word on the Street

Location: Ohio Union Great Hall Meeting Room

Join us as we bring the community together and discuss all things Black Culture. Word on the Street is intended to provide the community with an open atmosphere to engage in dialogue and hear the perspectives of experts in various fields!

This year's Word on the Street theme is "Debunking the Black Monolith." Be a part of the conversation as experts, students, and various members come to create a dialogue with an open mind and leave feeling unified!

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Poetry Showcase

(Doors open at 5:45)

Location: WOSU Building

This year’s Poetry Showcase will be a fusion of rap and poetry to align with the theme "Unity and Rap!" There will be various rap activities like a cypher, pick-up and kill it, and an impromptu song, all related to unity! There will also be a poetry section in which our poets find an unlikely thing that unites them together. To interact with the crowd, we’re giving you all an opportunity to participate in pick up and kill it, plus an interactive poster board to make one collective poem!

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

6:00 pm - 10:00pm: Variety Show

Location: Ohio Union Performance Hall

We are back and stronger than ever with the vision to celebrate the gifts of our community. The Variety Show is one of the highly anticipated events showcaing the various talents of Ohio State students and local talent in Columbus. This event has the sole mission to commemorate the artistry and expression of our diverse community.

This year, we aim to bring back the atmosphere where we come together once again and elevate each other to take pride in our passions. The Variety Show is an in-person interactive showcase of group and individual talent. The talent will come from campus, Columbus, and surrounding communities surrounding the theme "BOSU'S Got Talent."

Thursday, March 2, 2023

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Theme Thursday

Location: N/A

Theme Thursday is our wildcard event! Theme Thursday changes year-to-year, and the chair of this event with the help of the subcommittee is empowered to design a completely new program that engages and celebrates the Ohio State, and the Columbus community focused around a theme of their choice. This year will be about Unity in the Black community. Oftentimes we’re pinned against each other. The differences and similarities in our cultures are what makes Black people unique. We also have an undeniable connection that can’t be broken. This year we have the opportunity to showcase that uniqueness and connection with a panel of experts that will help to remind us of our connection,  and performances that showcase the differences and similarities between the Black diaspora; and many more surprises in store! The goal is to educate and promote each part of the diaspora, and topics and issues prevalent in the Black community as a whole .  We’re going around the world! We will highlight cultures and experiences from Continental Africas, African Americans, Caribbeans, Afro Latins, and Afro Indigenous cultures. The goal is to unite and to help bridge the gaps that separate us. Umjoa (unity) will be the focus. And don’t worry, we’re going Black 2 Black!

Saturday, March 4, 2023

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Mahogany Moments

Location: Ohio Union Archie Griffin Ballroom

Mahogany Moments is a semi-formal/formal gala at the end of the Heritage Festival, with a theme of "Night at the Art Gallery." During the event, there will be art, music, food, and celebration around the theme of the fest which is Unity and of the gala (Black Art, Expression, and Excellence). Furthermore, the OSU reads scholarship award will be presented by the OSU Reads Chair and subcommittee. Following the scholarship award, the Mahogany Moments Chair and subcommittee will represent the awards for undergraduates, graduate, and Black student organizations on campus which will be a total of six awards.

Date: February 24 - March 4, 2023

Location: Various Venues in Columbus, OH

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