AFRICAN DESCENT FESTIVAL RETURNS TO VANCOUVER JULY 22 AND 23 WITH HEADLINER NKULEE DUBRE

As a celebration and promotion of the arts, culture, and music of African descendants, African Descent Society is proud to announce the 3^rd annual African Descent Festival. With an often unknown rich African history, Vancouver boasts a vibrant and long-standing African descendent community. This community follows historic lines back to Hogan’s Alley, the first and only neighborhood in Vancouver with a highly concentrated African-Canadian population. Existing as a vibrant community, the existence of Hogan’s Alley came to an end with the proposed construction of the Georgia Viaduct, which destroyed most of Hogan’s Alley, sparing Chinatown and Gastown. Commemorating the lives of the African descendants that lived then and the communities that are continuing to be fostered today, the festival takes place at 1166 Main Street, beside Main Street-Chinatown Skytrain Station.

Headliners this year include: Princess Nkulee Dube, the daughter of Lucky Dube, Friction and the Roots Drivers and Mostley Marley. With 30+ artists spanning over the weekend of July 22 and 23, the festival also boasts an African Fashion Show curated by Zao Zeus Mohammed, traditional dances, and many guest speakers. In the current United Nations Decade for People of African Descent, these spaces gather community support for the African Diaspora that exists worldwide. The main aim is to promote the cultural diversity of African Descent in Vancouver through music and entertainment.

South African and African best reggae artist PRINCESS NKULEE DUBE, daughter of LUCKY DUBE, will headline the festival with a special concert on Sunday July 23. The extremely talented vocalist and performer is the daughter of South Africa’s premier reggae star Lucky Dube, and Nkulee will be participating in the various “African Descent festival presented by African Descent Society BC” at 1166 Main street Thornton, Vancouver historic site of People of African Descent. The purpose of NKULEE DUBE tour is to pay tribute Hogan’s Alley heritage history for people of African Descent and UN international Decade for people of African Descent in Vancouver. Hogan’s Alley was the first and last concentrated community of African descent destroyed 1972 when the City constructed Georgia Viaduct and today, as the city plan to remove the Viaduct, we celebrate this legacy for Hogan’s Alley and contribution of people of African Descent in Vancouver.

Nkulee, whose music can be classified as ‘ethno-ragga’,reggae and fused with soul and jazz is no stranger to the performance circuit and the music industry. Nkulee was awarded the prestigious “Most Promising New Entertainer” award at the International World Reggae Music Awards show after being nominated in seven categories, and was also nominated in a number of categories at additional award events. Nkulee Dube was requested to become the “Goodwill Ambassador” for the African Youth Leadership Council and she was nominated in South Africa at the South African Music Awards for the “Best Produced Album”.