History of Odunde Festival in Timeline

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By Popular Timelines Editorial Team  · Updated:
Odunde Festival

The Odunde Festival is an annual one-day street festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, celebrating African-American culture and the African diaspora. Rooted in the Yoruba tradition of Nigeria, it marks the Yoruba new year (Kọ́jọ́dá), typically occurring in June. The festival is centered at the intersection of Grays Ferry Avenue and South Street and features a large street market catering to African-American interests. It provides a vibrant cultural experience, connecting attendees to African heritage through music, food, crafts, and community engagement.

April 1975: Inaugural Odunde Festival

In April 1975, the first Odunde Festival, initially named the "Oshun Festival", was organized by Lois Fernandez and Ruth Arthur in Philadelphia with $100 raised through neighborhood donations. The festival aimed to unite the community and promote awareness and pride in Black history and culture.

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1997: Death of Co-founder Ruth Arthur

In 1997, Ruth Arthur, one of the co-founders of the Odunde festival, passed away at the age of 64.

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2017: Death of Co-founder Lois Fernandez

In 2017, Lois Fernandez, a co-founder of the Odunde festival, died at the age of 81.

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2020: Odunde Festival Cancelled

In 2020, the Odunde festival was not held.

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