“Discover, connect, explore and celebrate” African American heritage at the African Heritage Festival. Both the state of Tennessee and Metropolitan government of Nashville have proclaimed September as African Heritage Month. Enjoy your Labor Day eve with an evening of elegance, cultural display and giving back to Africa. The Heritage Parade kicking off the Festival is open to all nationalities and anyone with a heritage and proud of showcasing it. Experience the thrills of a high-energy parade filled with international music, costumes and food as the celebration continues on Labor Day. The events are designed to help educate and celebrate African culture and promote cultural tolerance among various groups. This is the ongoing mission of the Bridges 2 Africa Foundation, a Nashville-based non-profit that promotes African Heritage through hands-on events and educational opportunities.

Coming all the way from Ghana to join in the celebration is the ‘Denzel Washington of the African movie industry,’ actor John Dumelo.

Activities include the African Heritage Ball on Sunday, August 31, at 6 pm, and the African Heritage parade and festival on Monday, September 1, at 10 am. Both events will be held at the Global Event Center at the Global Mall at the Crossings (formerly Hickory Hollow Mall), 5252 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Antioch, Tenn.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to discover and explore Africa from the right source,” said Gina Inkum, president of Bridges 2 Africa and a native of Ghana.

“Everyone, particularly African Americans, owe it to themselves and generations to come to make the connection to Africa and possibly even make the life changing pilgrimage to Africa. There is a disconnect between what the African continent is and what is has been portrayed to be over the years. As a foundation, our mission is to bridge that gap,” said Inkum.

Anyone interested in participating in the festivities and connecting to the African Heritage Festival is encouraged to visit www.AfricanFestivalNashville.com.