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By Edith L. Dixton, Contributing Writer for Andnews.org Posted to the web 14 May 2008
There are few events where one can go and leave so well entertained in such a variety of ways.
But year-after-year, the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) has blazed a trail some would find hard to follow by providing –top notch entertainment with ethnic food, culturally unique fashion and award designs, African dance, an imported singer and a dynamic live band of the area’s most talented African immigrants.
The action took place at ACANA’s annual Awards Banquet and Fashion Show held last Saturday night at the Hilton Hotel, 10th Street and Packer Avenue.
It was perfect setting to showcase the assets of this dynamic Chester Avenue organization founded by Voffee Jabateh which provides social services, arts and cultural education, economic and community development services to refugees immigrants, asylees and all other residents in metropolitan Philadelphia.
After listening to the Safari Jazz band, the hostess for the evening Alicia Burbage introduced R. Rose Brown who opened the evening by singing the Black National Anthem before the more than 200 people who attended. After dining on homemade delicacies from Africa and the Caribbean, the audience heard a rousing speech by Burbage boss State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, who was the keynote speaker for the event. Williams was clear on his message of instilling morals values in our community.
Following the crowd was thrilled by the drummers and dancers of Troupe DA-DA, musical selections from Gebah Swaray and Joanne “Tigress” Rowley-Green, a sultry Trinidadian singer who flew in to sing at the event. On hand to monitor things were Miss Liberia USA, Mamawa Fofana, Miss Liberia PA, Mawata Dunbar, and Miss Sierra Leone Masiray Kamara.
Following the musical entertainment, was a colorful African themed fashion show, complete with celebrity models, Sharif Street, son of former mayor John F. Street, and Yeadon Borough Councilwoman Penny MacDonald, aide to St. Rep. Ronald G. Waters.
However, the main event was yet to come with some of the areas most prestigious individuals being honored for their accomplishments. Those receiving awards included Josephine Blow, board member of ACANA and president of the Chester Avenue Business Association who received the Excellence in Community Service Award; Camara Jordan, who works in community impact development for the United Way and earned the Excellence in Charitable Contributions Award; Jasinth C. Scott-Friendly of the Department of Human Service, who was given ACANA’s the Youth Crime Prevention Award; St. Rep. Waters, who received the Excellence in Governmental Services Award, and last but not least, the prestigious Carter G. Woodson Excellence in Cultural Preservation Award which went to Yeadonite Barbara Johnson, of Apple Transportation Co., Inc.
The entire ACANA event was organized by Tamara Staley and David Barnes. Brown’s Family ShopRite was a major sponsor.
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