Street festival catering to African-American interests and the African Diaspora
| Odunde Festival |
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| Observed by | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
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| Type | Cultural, commercial |
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| Date | Second Sunday in June |
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| 2023 date | June 11 (2023-06-11) |
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| 2024 date | June 9 (2024-06-09) |
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| 2025 date | June 8 (2025-06-08) |
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| 2026 date | June 14 (2026-06-14) |
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| Frequency | annual |
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The Odunde Festival is a one-day festival and mostly a street market catered to African-American interests and the African diaspora. It is derived from the tradition of the Yoruba people of Nigeria in celebration of the new year according to the Yoruba calendar or Kọ́jọ́dá, which usually falls on the first moon of June (Òkudù) on the Gregorian calendar. It is centered at the intersection of Grays Ferry Avenue and South Street in the U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ruth Arthur and Lois Fernandez were co-founders of Odunde festival. Ruth died at age 64 in 1997. While Lois died at age 81 in 2017.
History
The Odunde festival started in Philadelphia in 1975. Lois Fernandez and her friend Ruth Arthur organized the first Odunde Festival. It took place in April 1975,[1][2]
as the "Oshun Festival".[1] The goal was to bring together the community and to foster awareness of and pride in black history and culture.[3] The festival began with $100 from neighborhood donations.[4]
The festival is one of the largest African celebration on the east coast of the United States. It is held in the month of June. The festival brings in Africans from all parts of the world, including Africa, Brazil, and other places around the United States.[5]
According to WXPN, "... beginning with an all-inclusive spiritual procession to the Schuylkill River, the festival carries on from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., filling the day with vibrant traditional clothing, African food, and art and craft vendors from around the world."[6]
There was no festival in 2020.
