CELEBRATE THE PRIDE, CULTURE, AND HISTORY OF AFRICA AT THE WAKANDA 4EVER CELEBRATION
4th Annual celebration is back post-COVID with more events and activations
MOUNT VERNON, NY -- After a brief hiatus due to COVID, the Wakanda Celebration, a non-profit organization, is back for its 4th Annual Celebration of African culture. Held on September 4th from 10 am-10 pm, the outdoor celebration will be welcomed by Luangisa African Gallery Founder, Rose Luangisa, key speakers, stellar artists, musical guests, and much more.
Free tickets are available here and donations will be accepted at the entrance of the celebration to support the event and our non-profit.
Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a plethora of activities centered around Africa such as enjoy an African fashion show, savor the cuisine of Africa, enjoy music, such as drumming, dancing, community, and incredible shopping -- featuring handmade goods made by African artisans.
Rose Luangisa said, “Wakanda Celebration is a time for family, community and culture! Last year was a very challenging time for all of us, and we are excited to offer our event again to the community in Mount Vernon, NY -- and beyond! -- can come together and experience live entertainment, African fashion and art presented by Luangisa African Gallery, performances by artists and creators, authentic African food, lots of fun, and of course, social distancing. Can’t wait to see you on September 4th!”
Save the date: September 4th (10 am-10 pm) Wakanda4Ever Celebration, Luangisa African Gallery, 374 Hawthorne Terrace, Mt. Vernon, New York. Visit: www.wakandacelebration.org/
Event at a Glance (subject to change):
- Share our history long before slavery.
- Wakanda Fashion Show
- Honoring the life of Chadwick Boseman
- Shopping featuring curated selection from Luangisa African Gallery featuring home decor, African art, hand-woven baskets, fashion, and jewelry
- Extraordinary line up of stellar Artists, Designers and Creators of African descent
- Live African Band Drummers & Dancers
- Children’s Message & Storytelling
- Black Panther Characters
- Crafts for Kids
- African & American Food, and more!
The event will adhere to all social distancing safety procedures and will include the following for guests and staff members:
- Temperature checks upon arrival
- All adults and children wearing masks, based on CDC guidelines
- Social distancing in place for fashion show and vendors
- Limited entry
- Sanitation and cleaning for COVID will be in place
About Our Creative Founder:
Born in Bukoba, Tanzania, Rose Luangisa came to the U.S. in 1987 and earned both a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and an MBA from IONA College. She got her start at the African Family Day at Memorial Park in Mount Vernon (her U.S. hometown) and opened Luangisa African Gallery in 1996. Over the past 25 years, she’s showcased artifacts and other crafts at those fairs, festivals and museum events which are symbolic of Africa’s rich cultural heritage, including: Afropunk, International African Arts Festival and Dance Africa! in Brooklyn; Essence Music Festival in New Orleans; Capital Jazz Fest in Maryland, African Festival of the Arts and Arts and Crafts at the DuSable Museum, both in Chicago, African World Festival in Detroit, Newport Jazz Fest in Rhode Island, the Harlem Fine Arts Festival in Harlem, the Zora Festival in Florida and many other venues.
For more information about the event, sponsorship opportunities, or how to volunteer, please visit: https://www.wakandacelebration.org/
Wakanda Celebration Chapter 2
Celebrating 23 years of showcasing beautiful art and jewelry and fabulous handcrafted treasures from Tanzania to cities across the United States, Luangisa African Gallery will host a !Celebrate Wakanda Chapter 2! gala on Saturday, August 31. Starting at 12 p.m., gallery founder Rose Luangisa will be welcoming longtime supporters, guests and potential new friends during the day-long festivities ranging from African fashion and food to drumming and dancing, plus an emporium full of irresistible shopping.
“With Celebrate Wakanda Chapter 2, our core mission is to highlight and enhance the essential experience of African culture through art, fashion, music, peace, poetry, love, history, and tradition, says Rose Luangisa. “Through our celebration, we also strive to capture the spirit/essence of the Wakanda Kingdom —Tanzania—a place for us and by us, where everyone in the diaspora has a place she and he call home.”
An article in Vogue magazine reminds us that “the Luangisa African Gallery was founded by members of the Luangisa Family from Bukoba, Tanzania, which stands for fair-trade, modern African art, crafts, home décor, and jewelry.” And certainly, during Celebrate Wakanda in Mt. Vernon, loyal customers are looking forward to seeing what Rose has in store—literally and figuratively—in her creative environment. As she notes, “I am totally committed to working directly with artisans to develop distinctive new products that bring to the world the finest, most authentic African accents in the art for the home and wearable art for the body.”
Rose also reminds us that the Gallery’s handmade artifacts reveal slight variances in size, shape, color and finish. She is proud that no two items are exactly alike and that the sales of all artifacts directly benefit the artisans who created them, helping many in providing the essentials and making a difference in the quality of life for their families and communities.
Save the date: August 31 (12 p.m. to 10 p.m.) to !Celebrate Wakanda Chapter 2! at the Luangisa African Gallery, 374 Hawthorne Terrace, Mt. Vernon, New York. Visit: luangisa.com.
Luangisa African Gallery at a Glance
Creative Inventory:
- Makonde Sculptures from Tanzania is one of the main focuses of our gallery. The sculptures are made of premium Ebony hardwood from Tanzania.
- Decorative pillows are designed and produced on unique fabric and textile made of 100% Tanzania cotton.
- Colorful Tie and Dye Scarves/Wraps are made of 100% Tanzanian cotton.
- Extensive line of fine beaded Jewelry and wearable art for the body is inspired by the Maasai tribe made out of original Maasai glass beads.
- Home Décor encompasses authentic Kuba wall motifs, bedspreads, pillow covers, ottomans, throws, lamps and lampshades; Iringa baskets.
- Zanzibar chests, birthing chairs, and tables
- Batik Wall Hangings, Shadow boxes, Tinga Tinga Paintings and much more… one simply must stop by the Gallery for the experience!
Our Creative Founder:
Born in Bukoba, Tanzania, Rose came to the U.S. in 1987 and earned both a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and an MBA from IONA College. She got her start at African Family Day at Memorial Park in Mount Vernon (her U.S. hometown) and opened Luangisa African Gallery in 1996.
Over these 22 years, she’s showcased artifacts and other crafts at those fairs, festivals and museum events which are symbolic of Africa’s rich cultural heritage, including: Afropunk, International African Arts Festival and Dance Africa! in Brooklyn; Essence Music Festival in New Orleans; Capital Jazz Fest in Maryland, African Festival of the Arts and Arts and Crafts at the DuSable Museum, both in Chicago, African World Festival in Detroit, Newport Jazz Fest in Rhode Island, the Harlem Fine Arts Festival, the Zora Festival in Florida and many other venues.
Rose’s mission has always been to make both artisans and customers happy, to preserve African art, culture, heritage and traditions, and to empower and connect its people across the world. All are invited to make connections and enjoy live African music, drumming & dancing, various entertainment, an accessory fashion show and refreshments while commemorating Celebrate Wakanda Chapter 2 — A celebration of black excellence!
Contact:
Rose Luangisa
Luangisa African Gallery
Tel: (914) 664-3681
Cell: (914) 720-7179
Email: info@luangisa.com
www.luangisa.com