The Black Writers Museum hosted its sixth annual People’s Poetry and Jazz Festival in Vernon Park on Saturday, bringing together a diverse crowd of men, women, youth and elders — Black and white.

The celebration of African and African-American dance, music and literary arts was headlined by Grammy-award winning jazz musician Lenny White and Friends and featured local and national artists such as Instant Funk, Cedric A. Napoleon and Friends, the Foundation Singers, Tye’Himba Drum and Dance Ensemble and Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble.

“We give this event because it’s so important to bring arts and culture up close and personal in urban centers across America,” said Supreme Dow, Black Writers Museum founder. “It’s really important to keep Vernon Park as a cultural hub. We feel it’s our responsibility to maintain the cultural integrity of Germantown.”

Vernon Park, home to A People’s Festival from 1978 to the early 2000s, provided inspiration for the People’s Poetry and Jazz Festival. The original festival was led by the late community organizer Frank Jones.

“Our intention is to keep this legacy and honor [Jones’] legacy,” said Dow. “It’s in keeping with our focus of paying honor to our [ancestors.]”

Instant Funk, which has recorded with Kenney Gamble and Leon Huff, represented the Sound of Philadelphia, while the Foundation Singers brought a smooth, melodic vibe to the festival, singing original pieces and classics such as Nina Simone’s “Four Women.” Headliner White performed classics and original works, including music written by some of his band mates. A drummer, White has played with the likes of Miles Davis and Stanley Clarke.

Accenting the festival with African dance and drumming was Tye’Himba Drum and Dance Ensemble and Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble. Tye’Himba opened the festival, drumming to a dance by three Camara Arts dancers, including founder Angela Sadio Watson.

Each dancer performed a solo piece in addition to some in unison. Moving elaborately, with expressive arm gestures, hip movement and steps, they worked valiantly to usher in the spirit of the motherland.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl, when Frank Jones and Dave Richardson collaborated to make this neighborhood better,” said Sonya Dennis, a Germantown resident who danced and sang along throughout the festival. “I come every year because I want my people … to enjoy our lives, not hate our lives. This is our music.”

Zumbi Soweto of the Tye’Himba ensemble said he appreciated the festival for preserving African-American and African culture.

“We’ve lost contact with our culture and history. To a great extent, African-American people all over the world have lost the [connection] to African culture,” he said. “The festival continues [our] history. It’s beautiful.”

(Article reproduced from Philadelphia Tribune website.) Original article on philadelphiatribune.com