23rd Annual UMOJA Festival

Portsmouth, VA — The City of Portsmouth hosted the 23rd Annual UMOJA Festival starting on Friday, May 24 at 5:30pm and ran through Sunday, May 26th. This three-day festival took place at nTelos Wireless Pavilion and Festival Park.

The festival represents the rich heritage of African culture and the manner in which it weaves into our national tapestry. Festival visitors are introduced to the continent through art, performance, entertainment, demonstration, music, and food. A marketplace of sculptures, paintings, prints, baskets, and other assorted handcrafted wares and jewelry contribute to the ambiance of the UMOJA Festival. While children’s activities are a specialty at the festival, this year is no exception, with a Kids Corner featuring storytelling, bounce houses, coloring contests, games and crafts with origins in several African countries.

Phillip Brashear was invited to attend this event by Lorraine Stokes of the Portsmouth Recreation Department. During the opening ceremony on Friday, May 24th, the Honorable Mayor of Portsmouth, Kenneth Wright presented Phillip Brashear with a city-wide proclamation declaring that May 24 will be known as Carl Brashear Day. On Saturday, Phillip manned a display of Carl Brashear memorabilia as a part of the UMOJA Festival in the Heritage section the fairgrounds.