FLASHBACK: Display of talents during the annual ODUNDE festival in Philadelphia
Odunde African-American street festival

The 33rd annual Odunde (pronounced oh-dune-day) Festival takes place this weekend in Philadelphia. Odunde is a celebration of traditional African-American culture, and it expands from a one day to become a three-day series of events.

The festival, whose concept originates from the Yorba people of Nigeria, West Africa, celebrates the coming of another year for African Americans and Africanized people around the world.

It is an occasion highlighted by a colorful procession from 23rd and South Streets to the Schuylkill River where an offering of fruit and flowers is made to Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of the river.

Odunde, which attracts over 500,000 people annually and is one of the largest community- based street festivals held in the country, is also known for its authentic African marketplace featuring vendors from around the world selling merchandise from many African nations, the Caribbean and Brazil.

In 2007, over 300,000 people attended the festival and this year's three-day event promises to have even bigger crowds. The annual festival brings more than $2 million for the city, reports say.

The big River Procession takes place on noon Sunday. The popular African Market Place will also be on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on South Street between 21st and 23rd Streets extending to Grays Ferry Avenue and Christian Streets. Admission to the African Market Place is free.

For more information on the festival, please click this link: http://www.odundeinc.org/Index.htm