Sweetwater's Annual Mavuno Festival Kicks Off Friday in Sewickley

The 16th annual MAVUNO Festival will kick off in cultural style with an opening reception Friday at Sweetwater Center for the Arts in Sewickley.

Sweetwater presents the 16th annual MAVUNO Festival of African-American Art & Culture, which runs through November and is set to bring a wide range of performances, workshops, visual art and more to the regional celebration. 

MAVUNO is translated as "first fruit" in Swahili and begins every year at the start of the fall harvest season. The festival celebrates the African-American voice and vision of the region. 

Check out the following links for everything you need to know and more about the upcoming festivities: 

First Fruit XVI: Tending Our Mothers' Gardens

Sept. 21 - Nov. 2, 2012 

Reception: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, Sweetwater Center for the Arts.

The reception features live music by Joy Ike from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and coincides with the Sewickley Fall Gallery Walk. Reception includes complimentary wine, refreshments and light hors d'oeuvres. FREE.

FREE MAVUNO Children's Two-Day Workshop

4:30 to 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 1 and Tuesday, Oct. 2 at Sweetwater Center for the Arts. 

Sweetwater will host a free two-day art workshop for kids during MAVUNO. Learn to make your own felted flowers and vines from wool and decorate them with brightly colored beads. FREE, pre-registration required.

Lecture: Tending Our Mothers' Gardens

6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Exhibition Curator Elizabeth Asche Douglas, retired Professor of Fine Arts & Humanities, will give a lecture surveying work of the pioneering African-American women who inspired the work of the exhibiting artists. The lecture will focus on shared and universal cultural and humanitarian interests and issues. Refreshments, wine and light hors d'oeuvres will be served. 

One World Tribe Performance

3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh (following the African American Heritage Day Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh.)

Little Fish recording artist One World Tribe is a musical feast whose flavors delight even the most exotic tastes. This Afro-pop, Funk, Latin, Reggae, and Hip-Hop extravaganza is a true multicultural ensemble.

More information about the August Wilson Center is available at AugustWilsonCenter.org or by calling 412-258-2700. *In addition to One World Tribe's public performance, they will also perform for children and youth attending Ambridge Area High School, Cornell School District and Sto-Rox Elementary School as part of MAVUNO's outreach goals.

Sewickley Sings

7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Sewickley Sings is an event to gather Christian singers regardless of race, age, gender or denomination to express love for contemporary gospel and Christian music in a public concert setting. 
$3 Suggested Donation.

For more information visit www.sweetwaterartcenter.org/mavuno-festival

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