"The good times of today are the sad thoughts of tomorrow.” – Bob Marley
The 14th Annual Peoples’ Festival, a tribute to the late singer, songwriter and philosopher Bob Marley, aims at more than just “sad thoughts” with the message of unity and one love, always positive and inspiring.
The Peoples’ Festival offers “great entertainment on a conscious, positive level,” said organizer Genny Pitts.
The festival has always included great music -- previous performances include Nappy Roots, The Abysinians, and all of Marley’s sons, Ziggy, Damian Jr. Gong, Steven, Kymani and Julian Marley, who performed together for the first time in Delaware at the 2005 Peoples’ Festival.
Headlining this year’s event is KRS-One, a legend in the hip-hop community, which marks his first Wilmington performance. Performing since 1983, KRS-One received Black Entertainment Television’s 2007 "I am Hip Hop Icon” Award. Other notable musicians include The Image Band, Jr. Lion and The Meta Band.
But it’s not just about music.
There’s a children’s crafts center, and children under 10 get in free. In addition, there is a bamboo rain hut for patrons to cool off in, Caribbean and vegetarian foods and many other types of performances.
The Wilmington Skate Project, a group dedicated to funding Wilmington’s first free skate park under Route 495, will put on a skateboard show. The Kirkwood Highway-based school Vai Capoeira will be performing the Afro Brazilian art form, combining elements of dance and martial arts, and the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble comes from Camden, N.J. to perform.
Founded in 1984 by Robert and Wanda Dickerson, The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble combines forms of African drumming, dancing and masquerade. They “strive to be sensational and electrifying with their amazing Stilt Walkers, Dancers, Drummers, and Ground Masquerade,” according to the performer’s web site.
Marley lived in Wilmington for more than 15 years, where he met Ibis and Genny Pitts, who have been organizing the festival since 1994. This year, the festival will also honor Marley’s mother, Cedella Marley Booker, who died in April. Mamma “B,” as she’s known, founded The Cedella Marley Academy at the church of Nine Mile, St. Ann, Jamaica.
The Peoples’ Festival takes place July 26, 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. at Tubman-Garett Riverfront Park in Wilmington. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Save $5 until 4 p.m. by bringing a school supply to benefit The Cedella Marley Academy. Visit www.peoplesfestival.com or call (609) 247-4656 for more information.
Israeli Film Festival
The Israeli Film Festival, in its second year, is going on now and celebrating Israel’s 60th anniversary.
“We want to show the beautiful parts of Israel, be it holidays, films or places,” said Anat Shteinberg of the Jewish Federation of Delaware.
The film festival is part of the Federation’s program that works to build a bridge between Israel and the U.S., said Shteinberg. Emassaries or schaliah come from Israel for one to two years to work with and educate the Jewish and non-Jewish community.
All films are free and start at 7:15 p.m. at the Bernard and Ruth Siegel Jewish Community Center, 101 Garden of Eden Rd., Wilmington.
The July 30 film is a 2006 piece entitled, “Aviva My Love.” This Academy Award nominated film is about the conflict between a woman’s dreams and her family obligations, and won 6 Israeli Film Academy Awards.
On August 6, the 1995 film “Passover Fever” will be presented. It is the story of a middle class Israeli family’s reunion for Passover which finds them feasting on a smorgasbord of dysfunction.
