Penn Museum held its first Imagine Africa Community Night, sponsored by Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell—and more than 500 people came out to dance, drum, listen to spoken word poetry, tour the Museum’s new Imagine Africa gallery project and visit throughout the galleries. In addition to the live entertainment and workshops, the night featured a craft table for kids and families, a scavenger hunt, even free refreshments at the event, which ran from 5:00 – 7:30 pm on Wednesday, October 26. Al Butler (host of WURD talk radio’s “Al B. in the Afternoon”) broadcast live from the event. Click the photos below to enlarge, and click here to see more.
Young visitors to Penn Museum’s first free Community Night: An Evening to Imagine Africa enjoy an interactive multimedia experience in the Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum gallery project.
Here (on right), Habiba, founder of the Habiba Dance Ensemble, leads a workshop on folkloric Tunisian and Moroccan dances.
At the Penn Museum's first Imagine Africa Community Night are (left to right): Pam Kosty, Penn Museum; Tiguida Kaba, Founder and Executive Director, African Family Health Organization; Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell; guest; Lois Fernandez, Founder of Odunde; Melodye Micere Van Putten, President and CEO, Black History Works; Honorable Stanley Straughter, Chairman, Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs; Anjali Chainani, Public Relations, Office of Councilwoman Blackwell; Dr. Eric Edi, Chairman of the Board, AFRICOM; Glenn Bryan, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations, University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Phillip Udo-Inyang.
900AM WURD’s “Al B in the Afternoon” interviews Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell during his live broadcast from the Penn Museum’s Community Night.
More great free Imagine Africa community nights—and community afternoons—are planned for 2012. Mark your calendars for these Wednesday nights, 5:00 to 7:30: March 28 and May 23. Three free Imagine Africa Saturday afternoons are also being planned: February 18, March 31, and September 15, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Join us!
(All photos by Lauren Hansen-Flaschen)