Cincy AfriFest 2021

Returning for its sixth year, African Professionals Network, or APNET, hosted its annual AfriFest this past Saturday in Burnet Woods near the University of Cincinnati. AfriFest is a festival dedicated to celebrating the many influences of African cultures. The goal of APNET is to enhance the experience of those within the African diaspora by encouraging professional growth, engaging with the community, and to provide access to business resources . 

The festival was free and open to the public between the hours of 1 PM and 7 PM, with an after-party hosted at Amigos bar and patio located in Downtown Cincinnati. The Festival featured several businesses ranging from African fashion accessories and apparel to restaurants and healing services all within the city of Cincinnati and its surrounding neighborhoods.    

I spoke with Planning Committee Leader, JaJa Stoudemire who says that, “We’ve been doing this for about six years or so now but it’s always been way out in the suburbs. This was my first year helping with the planning and I wanted to help bring it to the city.” 

APNET wanted to cultivate a space where vendors could come out and interact with the community. “This way people know these vendors and businesses exist. This will help strengthen their businesses too”, Stoudemire says. 

When asked if this is where (Burnet Woods) the festival will stay Jaja hopes not, “We hope it’ll be bigger than this. Eventually, we’d want to be somewhere as big as Washington Park. We'd love to fill that space.” As far as the upcoming year, APNET hopes to host in Clifton again.

The African Professionals Network was created to provide support to those of African descent and their families, however membership is open to anyone and everyone who wants to join. 

Vendors and their Instagram Accts. From AfriFest include: 

KeySpot 

Sugar Loft Events, @Sugar.Loft.Events

SeneGrill, Senegalese Cuisine @Sene_Grill 

Bi-Okoto Cultural Institute  @Biokoto 

Priceless Culture  @Pricelessculture 

The Intuitive Emporium LLC., A Mobile healing Emporium  @theintuitiveemporiumllc

Eurie Realty

Here are some photos from the event. Be sure to check out APNET on Instagram to volunteer, join, or stay updated on events around the city! 

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