COLUMBUS, Ind. — For people such as west African native Rita Kotor, plenty of cultural sharing comes through food, such as her fried plantains specialty.
For people such as band Huckleberry Funk, cultural sharing comes through soul music.
They represent just two elements of the host African American Community and its theme “Passport to Freedom” for the annual Ethnic Expo international festival unfolding from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at First and Washington streets in downtown Columbus.
The free gathering was launched by the late city first lady Barbara Stewart in 1984 to help international residents feel more at home in Bartholomew County and to highlight cultural diversity, and has drawn thousands.
This year marks its first full celebration since 2019 — before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the sometimes-crowded gathering. Including food booths, bazaar booths and more, more than 30 nations are represented, organizers said.
“The best thing about all this focus (on African Americans) is that it is definitely a collective effort,” said Bishop Johnnie Edwards. “But this also allows all of us to come together as a whole (wider) community.”
Edwards is president of the Columbus/Bartholomew County Chapter of the NAACP and a member of the local African American Pastors Alliance. Those are just two of five organizations that have joined the city Expo planners to highlight their specific African American culture. Other organizations are the African American Fund of Bartholomew County, Cummins Black Network and the Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Organization.
“We’re hoping that everyone is very excited that we’re back to full force,” said Jody Coffman, Community Development communications and events coordinator for the city of Columbus that presents Expo.
For a preview of the event and more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
