Today: Fiesta Cultural and Femi Kuti

Fiesta Cultural

Today you have the chance to attend a cultural festival whose mission is to celebrate cultural and artistic diversity while raising much-needed funds for Inter-American Magnet School. Fiesta Cultural is a bilingual, family-friendly event that showcases Latin America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage with live music and dance performances, a savory food fair, children’s art displays, artisan bazaar and children’s art activities. The line-up for this year’s event includes performances from the Chicago Children’s Choir, Aztec Dance with Ms. Bravo, IAMS International Folkloric Dance Group, Old Town School Brazilian Ensemble, Nica Dance Group, Ngoma Alegre, Jarochicanos, Los Vicios de Papá, and Soul & Duende. The event will take place at Inter-American Magnet School (851 W. Waveland Ave) from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are  $10 adults, $5 children. Family tickets for two adults and their children will be available for $25. Free parking is available at the Addison/Halsted public lot and at the Lakeview Lutheran Church lot at 835 West Addison.

Femi Kuti & the Positive Force

Later tonight, don’t miss the chance to see a legend of Afrobeat, internationally beloved recording artist and son of famous Nigerian musician, composer, and pioneer of Afrobeat music Fela Kuti. Femi never felt just satisfied with being the Afrobeat King’s heir. He freed himself from his father’s legacy in 1985 by putting together his own band, The Positive Force, and thereby working to find his own voice. His new album, “Africa For Africa” goes back to the roots of his music, and was recorded at Decca Studio, the premier studio in Afrobeat’s history. He will tour North America this spring in support of the album. More than just a simple musician, the 48-year old composer has become a true African Ambassador, in its most honorable sense. Femi was in Johannesburg to sing for Africa during the opening ceremony for the Football World Cup. There he sang one of his hits “Beng Beng Beng,” and took the opportunity to meet a few of the anti-Apartheid heroes. Here is a video clip of this song: