An African Marketplace in L.A.
Eleven years ago, the African Marketplace was just a little street fair, with fewer than a dozen vendors and one small stage for performers, which drew an audience of a couple of hundred people. This year, the African Marketplace and Cultural Faire offers six stages of entertainment (featuring about 75 performers, including Sonya Santos, Afro de Manatza, the Jamaricans Dancers and others), a children’s village with rides, games and entertainment, and dozens of vendors. The entertainment stages are broken down into categories, including African, American (jazz, blues and zydeco), Caribbean (reggae and Brazilian), and Pan American.
New this year will be an encampment set up by the Buffalo Soldiers (a troupe that does reenactments based on African American U.S. Cavalry members).
The festival runs Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and includes a film festival, Reggae Independence Day Festival and Concert. Rancho Cienega Park, 5001 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles. Admission, $3; ages 10 and younger, free. (213) 734-1164.
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