Benedict College will present the 2015 Harambee Festival on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at their campus in Columbia. The event will include exhibits, displays, performances, and other cultural opportunities. SC Humanities supported this event with a Mini Grant in December 2014.
“Harambee” is a Kiswahili word which means “all for one” and is used to describe people coming together for the greater good. The 2015 Harambee Festival will be the 26th anniversary of the event in Columbia.
The day-long festival includes many cultural and entertainment opportunities, including a children’s village, where children have hands-on cultural and technical opportunities. Additionally, there will be performances by the African drumming group NGOMA, the Jubilee Choir, and the Benedict College Gospel Choir.
In addition to the cultural programming, the event has a strong emphasis on health and wellness, and attendees are offered free health screenings for diabetes, prostate cancer, and HIV/AIDS. Complimentary booth spaces are provided to exhibitors from nonprofit organizations and churches to showcase health and wellness initiatives and to provide empowerment specifically to African American males.
The 2015 Harambee Festival will be the culmination of cultural programming offered by Benedict College during Black History Month. More information about the Harambee Festival and other events can be found on Benedict College’s website at http://www.benedict.edu/cms/?q=node/992.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.
