ACANA, which stands for the African Cultural Alliance of North America, was founded in 1999 and offers social, health and legal services for the African immigrant and refugee community in Philadelphia.
CEO Voffee Jabateh said the event has grown over the years, not just in scope but in representation at the annual festival.
“When we first came here almost 18 years ago… we just thought that it was bringing artists together to have a nice time,” Jabateh said. “As we moved deeper and deeper into other years of the production of the African fest, we realized that this was about exhibiting continental African culture and music.”