Showcasing Africa

By Angel Roy, aroy@lowellsun.com

Lowell Vighoti Tifah plays an African drum at Lowell's Sampas Pavilion yesterday during the eighth annual African festival. Sun photos/ Bill Bridgeford

LOWELL -- The melting pot of Lowell brimmed with samosas, plantains and jollof rice. Clinging to the breeze were hints of curried goat. With the Merrimack River playing the role of the Nile, Sampas Pavilion became home to the Taste of Africa. At yesterday's eighth annual African Festival, Nancy Kibuthu, a Kenyan native, lifted the lid of a metal chafing dish to stir the githeri, a traditional blend of maize and red beans. "This is first thing my grandmother taught me how to cook," Kibuthu said, donning a t-shirt emblazoned with the Kenyan flag and the words "Vision Group Kenya," an organization that the Lowell resident is a member of, which raises money to send Kenyan students to high school. Her group was selling Kenyan delicacies yesterday.

From left, Njeri Gitatha of Lowell and Jane Kinyua of Nashua serve up Kenyan delicacies yesterday. food as a fundraiser.

"Its a big continent, so we do not know what is usually eaten in other countries," said Monica Swaida, a Nigerian native who now lives in Westford. Traditional cuisine from six African countries were spotlighted at the festival.

"There are a lot of Africans in the area, and this is one way to come together and share our culture with people," said Swaida, a planning committee member from Lowell's African Cultural Association who orchestrated the event.

Swaida's hair was swept up in a black and green floral print scarf. According to Swaida, it is a tradition for Nigerian women to tie their hair back as a gesture of respect for men.

"No matter what, we try to keep up with our traditions," Swaida said.

"Its a wonderful opportunity to bring kids to this festival who weren't born in Africa, we are bringing Africa to them," said Fru Nkimbeng, a Lowell resident and Cameroon native, who serves as a board memberfor the African Cultural Association.

Nkimbeng said the ACA was created to "give all Africans the opportunity to explore and create a fellowship with one another." "Our identification is in our culture." Nkimbeng said. "Its so important to pass on to next generation.

Amadou displays an African musical instrument, a gourd covered with cowry shells. Sun/ Bill Bridgeford

This article appeared in the Lowell Sun on Sunday, June 22, 2008