Odunde Festival draws thousands to a celebration of African culture
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Women play the sekere, or shaker, a traditional instrument of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, as they make their way toward the South Street Bridge during a procession at the Odunde Festival. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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The procession nears its destination, the South Street Bridge, where in the Yoruba tradition, people will make an offering of fruit and flowers to Oshun, the goddess of the river. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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A woman carries offerings for Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of the river, during a procession to launch the Odunde Festival, a 39-year tradition in Southwest Center City. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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Musicians play before the start of a procession to the Schuylkill River during the Odunde Festival. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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Kim Hopson (yellow dress) tosses fruit into the Schuylkill River during the Odunde Festival. Hopson says the offerings are a way of giving thanks for the blessings of the past year and a way of asking for more in the coming year. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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Fruit and flowers are offered to the Yoruba godess of the river from the South Street Bridge during the Odunde Festival. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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Offerings of popcorn, peanuts, honey and other foods accumulate on the corner of 27th and South streets during the Odunde Festival. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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Dante Thompson of the Crowd Pleaserz group break dances at the corner of Bainbridge and Grays Ferry Avenue during the Odunde Festival. The festival blends African cultural heritage with modern African American culture. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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A dazzling array of colorful oils and perfumes are available for purchase in the marketplace at the Odunde Festival, including the Niki Minaj scent, at far right. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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The Carribean Pot food stand serves up Jamaican dishes like curry goat and jerk chicken. The majority of food vendors sold Carribean and American soul food in many forms. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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An array of hand-carved wooden statues and figurines are on display in the marketplace at the Odunde Festival. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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Nigerian born Addie Olutola displays her clothing line, D'iyanu, which is made in Philadelphia. Inspired by African traditional clothing usually worn only on special occasions, the clothes combine African fabrics with western looks, Olutola says. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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The African Heritage group from Washington, D.C., plays a traditional drum call during the Odunde Festival. Founded by Melvin Deal (not pictured) the group has performed at every Odunde Festival with varying members throughout the years. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
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Odunde Festival crowds number in the thousands. The festival covers 12 blocks and is billed as the largest African American street festival in the country. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)
A woman in a flowing yellow robe and head scarf leans over the South Street Bridge and flings a handful of fruit into the Schuylkill River. This is the beginning of the Odunde Festival, a 39-year tradition in Philadelphia.
A woman in a flowing yellow robe and head scarf leans over the South Street Bridge and flings a handful of fruit into the Schuylkill River.
Others join in. Bananas, apples, oranges, yams, and an array of colorful flowers sail down to the water below. Many pour honey into the river.
This is the beginning of the Odunde Festival, a 39-year tradition in Philadelphia. Founded by Lois Fernandez, the event was built around the traditions of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
Each year, on the second Sunday in June, the festivities begin with a procession and offering to Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of the river.
It is a celebration of the new year, said Kim Hopson. The offerings are a way of giving thanks for the blessings of the past year and a way of asking for more in the coming year.
There follows a block party that is billed by its organizers as the largest African-American street festival in the country. Two stages and hundreds of vendors cover 12 blocks in southwestern Center City.
The food, music and wares represent the many cultures of the African diaspora.
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