African diaspora cultural festivals draw crowds in Maryland and Frederick

Multiple cultural festivals celebrating the African diaspora took place in the United States over the Labor Day weekend.

In Maryland, the Afro Plus Fest drew an estimated 120,000 attendees to Northwest Stadium in Landover. The event featured over 100 food vendors, apparel shops, and Black-owned businesses, alongside art installations and a carnival. Maryland Governor Wes Moore presented founder and Executive Producer Michael Awosanya with a governor’s citation during the festivities.

In Frederick, the second annual AfroFlavour festival brought together African communities and local residents to celebrate food, music, fashion, and entrepreneurship. Organizer Yewande A. Oladeinde noted that the event was designed to provide a broad experience of African life rather than focusing on a single country, aiming to establish the festival as a recurring economic and cultural fixture in the region.