Howard Homecoming off to Inauspicious Start – Sarkodie Delayed, Yardfest Disrupted

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Howard Homecoming, Sarkodie, Yarfest

(ed: 10/29 – the show has been rescheduled for November 2)

I blogged earlier in the week about a slated Friday night performance by Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie in conjunction with Howard University’s homecoming.  Sarkodie was a no show, missing a flight from Ohio.  However, I meet the promoter of the event (a really cool and down to earth guy) with roots in Sierra Leone and Liberia and he promised that Sarkodie would reschedule for next Friday.

I met some ladies who had traveled to DC for the weekend from Michigan and they informed me that the trademark event of Howard’s Homecoming, Yardfest, was cancelled, although according to the Washington Post it was merely delayed.

No one responded to my tweet asking me to Review the Nigerian – American film Mother of George (featuring a Zimbabwean Zombie hunter), so I shall hold my peace.  I did however see the film with a friend who was quite perturbed by one of my recent blog posts.  I hope she’ll be motivated to write a rebuttal.

Togolese and Ghanaian Pop Musicians in DC/MD Clubs this Weekend

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African Student Associations, Ghana, Howard Homecoming, Nectar Lounge, Sarkodie, Togo, Toofan, Vita Lounge

Howard University’s Homecoming is this weekend.  There appears to be an enormous range of festivities associated with the event, and befitting an institution of its stature, with one of the oldest African studies programs in the US, several events billed as affiliated with the Homecoming feature African performers.

The ‘official’ after party of the Howard University Homecoming Yard Fest is billed as taking place at Vita Lounge, this Friday, October 25th, near the DC Convention Center.  It features one of the best known acts to come out of Ghana, Sarkodie, and is brought to us by the Howard and University of Maryland African Student Associations (the Maryland Association really seems to like their African music, I remember they sponsored a recent Iyanya show).  However, the incorrect spelling of the performer on the poster above doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

The same day, just across the DC outer limits in MD, Nectar Lounge brings us a performance by TooFan, a Togolese group, and the Lounge’s Facebook page is also referencing Howard’s Homecoming.  I don’t know TooFan from Fan Ice (a delicious snack found in Togo), but judging by this song, they’re a lot of fun.