LEGISLATIVE  RESOLUTION commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Inter-
national African Arts Festival
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping  with  its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those organiza-
tions  which  foster  ethnic  pride  and enhance the profile of cultural
diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities  of  New  York
State; and
  WHEREAS,  Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly  proud  to  commem-
orate  the  40th Anniversary of the International African Arts Festival,
to be celebrated on July 1-4, 2011, at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn,
New York; and
  WHEREAS, This year's theme is "AROBAINI", which means "forty"  in  the
Swahili language; and
  WHEREAS,  The  International African Arts Festival (IAAF) is dedicated
to the preservation of art forms, traditions, and cultures of Africa and
its diaspora; the IAAF perpetuates all the artistic traditions that stem
from African cultural practices throughout the world; and
  WHEREAS, The mission of the IAAF is to bring together traditional  and
contemporary  arts of African Diaspora by creating a venue that provides
programs for  artistic  expression,  entrepreneurial  economic  opportu-
nities,  and  shares  cultural  experiences  with  a diverse audience of
patrons; and
  WHEREAS, The IAAF began in 1971 as  the  African  Street  Carnival,  a
PTA's  block  party  fundraiser for an independent school in the Bedford
Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn with local entertainers,  about  20  arts
and  crafts  vendors,  along  with  food prepared by the parents; almost
2,000 people came to the event and it was a success; and
  WHEREAS, The IAAF has been part of Brooklyn's cultural  landscape  for
40  years;  each  year  a  committed team of Board members, consultants,
part-time seasonal staff and volunteers, work together  to  transform  a
city  park into an outdoor African cultural oasis that celebrates tradi-
tional and contemporary  expression  of  various  African  cultural  art
forms;  today,  the  IAAF  is a community-based, non-profit organization
that produces an annual event attracting an estimated  75,000  attendees
from Brooklyn and all around the world; and
  WHEREAS,  In  2001 the IAAF relocated to Commodore Barry Park which is
the third transition to a larger venue to accommodate its growing  audi-
ence;  the  original  lineup  of local folk arts entertainment which has
included dance companies such as Dinizulu African Dancers and  Drummers,
Marie Brooks Pan-Caribbean Dancers, emerging singers like Martha Redbone
and  many  others,  continues  to be an important part of the Festival's
programming; and
  WHEREAS, Over the years, the stages  of  the  Festival  have  featured
renowned  artists  such as Blue Magic, The Mighty Sparrow, Fela Anikula-
po-Kuti, KRS-1, Lauryn Hill, and India Arie, artists who grew to achieve
national and international acclaim; the small vendor  market  has  grown
into  an  African  Marketplace  with  over  a  hundred  micro-enterprise
vendor/small business membership database of entrepreneurs; and
  WHEREAS, The marketplace offers an array of one of a kind,  handcraft-
ed, original designs of merchandise ranging from jewelry, urban fashion,
t-shirts  and body oils to imported African fabric, artifacts and furni-
ture, original paintings, hand-carved marble  sculptures  and  more;  in
addition,  the  outdoor  Food  Court  offers  the  community an array of
talented cooks and chefs preparing a wide variety of cuisines; and
  WHEREAS, Savory flavors range from  traditional  soul  food  to  spicy
Caribbean  dishes,  to African, Latin, vegetarian food, seafood and even
gourmet style raw foods; a true asset  to  society,  the  IAAF  provides
family entertainment and essential resources for the community; and
  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown  a
long  and  sustained  commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause  in  its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  40th  Anniversary  of  the  International African Arts
Festival; and be it further
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Akosua K. Albritton, International African Arts Festival.