KUUMBA FESTIVAL HISTORY
Shadidi Amma - Kuumba Festival Founder

Born January 21, 1956 in the country sides of Georgia, Stephanie “Shadidi Amma” Bryant was raised with a very spiritual upbringing that stressed the importance of family and helping your neighbor.

Shadidi’s interest in social activism developed as a very young teenager when she was met with a challenge of identity posed by her older brother when he asked the question, “Who are you?”

She answered, “colored?” “No,” he replied.

“Negro?” “No,” he said. “You’re black.

Back then "Black" was a negative to her. But she listened. In her own words, “I always listened to my big brother, and what he said just stuck with me. I researched and I met others who helped me understand what being 'black' was all about.”

She began to develop self-pride and love for who she was. This was something she wanted to share with others. She became active with a cultural center in Jacksonville, Florida, where she performed with others through the center’s programs on many occasions, as well as many other locations as the years went by. It was at the cultural center that she gained her love for theatre. She also began to write poetry during those years. Later, in a quest to know more about the African American holiday of Kwanzaa, she became a part of  an organization called Some Positive People. It was SSP and another culturally conscious organization that sponsored the first community Kwanzaa celebration some 25 years ago. She learned how to interpret self, society and the world. She learned many different ideologies but most comprehensively to the ideas of Kawaida, developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga (creator of Kwanzaa), which played a very important role in developing her understanding of all around her.

Through Kuumba, Shadidi went on to found the Youth Link Project, a cultural arts youth program which she directed, in conjunction with the Eastside Theater Production Company. She continued the mission for cultural integration within many schools, churches, community centers, festival, etc., performing and teaching about African Heritage.

In 1995 she worked as a program assistant with Operation S.T.R.E.E.T.S. There she worked with youth ages 6 - 16 developing rites of passage programs and an african dance theatre group made up of kids known as S.T.R.E.E.T. Kid Dancers who performed throughout Northeast Florida. After the end of the Operation S.T.R.E.E.T.S. program in 1998 the group changed its name to the Rhythm Dancers, continuing performances all over the region. Shadidi loved working with youth. She believed that if we are going to touch the hearts and minds of our community to move in a more positive and productive direction, "we have to begin with our youth."

Shadidi will long be remembered for her hard work, commitment, and passion for integrating African culture, the arts, and pride at a time when little to nothing was available for black/African youth in the South.

Thank you Shadidi from the community of Jacksonville! We will always love you and keep your Vision in motion.

KUUMBA FESTIVAL OUTLOOK

The Kuumba Festival of Florida was established to promote cultural and entertainment-based programs and events important to Florida’s first coast community and rich African heritage.

First introduced in 1988, the festival included The Great Kings and Queens of Africa Parade, a variety of general, merchandise and food vendors, along with professional workshops covering African dance, health-related issues, motivation, empowerment and a lecture series.

The 2010 Kuumba Festival will continue to fill the gap in cultural and educational events concerning African Americans and descendants of Africa throughout the Diaspora.This year the Festival will feature a youth tent and community rally, fun games, guests speakers, plus entertainment featuring local and national talent.

The Kuumba Festival has grown from a crowd of 2,000 patrons in 1988 to well over 10,000 throughout the years. It is time to recapture the magic in a new millennial way.  This year the event will continue with pre-festival activities and creative performances.