International Festival of Life returns to Washington Park

International Festival of Life returns to Washington Park

A galaxy of international reggae, African and other world music entertainers will headline the upcoming 9th Annual African/Caribbean International Festival of Life. Produced by Martin's Inter-Culture Ltd., the star-studded Festival of Life that takes place Wednesday through Sunday, July 4-8 in Washington Park, 55th Street and South Cottage Grove.

The five-day Festival of Life is a celebration of the music, dance, art, crafts, cuisine and culture of Africa and the Caribbean. It attracts more than 100,000 people each year.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 from 2 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 5 and Friday, July 6.

Dedicated to "Teens In Crisis," this year's Festival will feature a special "Hands of Love" observance Thursday, July 5, to call attention to the crime and violence that plague our communities.

Chicagoans are invited to participate by joining hands to form a human chain that will stretch from the Dan Ryan Red Line station to Cottage Grove along 55th Street.

Participants will begin congregating at 10 a.m. and at noon, they will pray for an end to crime in the City of Chicago and other parts of the world.

"Each year, the Festival of Life brings people from all walks of life together to enjoy African and Caribbean culture and our incredible entertainment lineup. We want people to unite in the same way for `Hands of Love' to show support for our youth who face crime and violence on a daily basis," and Ephraim Martin, Festival of Life organizer.

The Festival of Life also features more than 50 musical artists on two stages and offers entertainment for every musical taste from rap, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, gospel, blues and jazz, to reggae, calypso, soca, salsa, punta rock, highlife and more.

Featured headliners include veteran reggae superstar Gregory Isaacs and the legendary Lord Laro on Wednesday, July 4, from the I-Three's and Bob Marley and the Wailer's fame, Marcia Griffiths, who created the Electric Slide/Electric Boogie, on Thursday, July 5, Chicago's own Mighty Chi-Lites, Shine Head and V-103 DJ Herb Kent on Friday, July 6, the master of African Highlife, Zimbabwe's Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks United and Michigan and Smiley, Jamaica's reggae dancehall rappers, on Saturday, July 7, Calypso Rose, Queen of Calypso and Half Pint on Sunday, July 8.

Other entertainers include New Dynamics, the Tribe of Judah, Michael Anthony, Michael Black, Dansika, Carl Brown, Charles Cameron, Osezua and the Predator, the Loop Lab School Choir, Jamiah and Tony Rogers, Jerge from Yard, Dub Dis, Devon Brown, Indika, Doogie, Kelly Rankin and the New Joy Community Singers, along with some of the most outstanding Gospel entertainers Chicago and the rest of the country have to offer.

The festival will also feature a food court, with 30 Oriental and American cuisines. Over 100 other exhibitors will be on hand selling, sampling and displaying their products, including arts, crafts, jewelry, clothes, vacation giveaways and more.

Games and other activities for children will be a part of the festivities. Several educational and motivational speakers will participate in the celebration.

The African/Caribbean International Festival of Life is made possible this year by the Chicago Park District, Pepsi-Cola, Western Union, Air Jamaica, the Chicago Defender, African Spectrum, CBS 2-Chicago, Guinness, WSSD FM, Nutritional Network, the Wild Hare Club and Red Stripe beer.

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