Festival Celebrates West African Culture

Jill Sheridan

Festival Celebrates West African Culture

In Ghana, the word "sankofa" loosely means to reclaim the past in order to move forward, and that is the sentiment surrounding the Sankofa Black Heritage Festival this Saturday at the Indiana State Museum.

This is the second year for the event. The festival coincides with Black History Month.

Bruce Williams with the Indiana State Museum, came up with the idea for the celebration that honors the African American experience both past and present.

"It's important that people understand that black history did not begin in America," explains Williams, "there is a rich history from the coast of Africa."

Live music, dance, drumming and arts will be offered at Sankofa on Saturday. The family friendly festival is free and open to the public. Activities get underway at 10 a.m. in the Frank O'Bannon Great Hall at the Indiana State Museum.

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