GhanaFest Florida salutes African culture

The first GhanaFest comes to South Florida from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the African-American Research Library. The festival, which promoters hope will become a tradition, features seminars, exhibits, a traditional baby-naming ceremony, a concert and a parade.

"We are aiming for it to be the largest and most spectacular African (not to be confused with Caribbean) cultural festival in Florida," officials said in a statement.

The festival theme is "Ghana -- Closer Than Ever" and it will be in two parts. The first part is free and runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The second part features the concert and runs 2:30 to 5 p.m. There is a $20-per-seat charge for the musical presentation, which includes Ghanaian performers, drummers, singers and dancers as well as a "royal parade." A Ghana kids village will keep the little ones occupied between 2 and 5 p.m.

Everyone is invited to get into the swing of things. Preferred dress is traditional African. Or, said Sandra Adubofour, president of the Ghanaian Association of South Florida, if you don't have the African threads just put something together from your own closet. "Tie a piece of fabric around your head or waist," she said.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit malaria prevention in Ghana, the library and the planning of next year's event. For more information call 954-261-5341.