TUSCUMBIA-The North Alabama African Heritage Association will host the 14th Annual North Alabama African Heritage Festival on Friday and Saturday, June 6th and June 7th, 2014 at the Willie Green Recreation Park in Tuscumbia.
The festival begins on Friday at 11 a.m. with a special presentation by the Cinnamon Travelers of Atlanta, Ga. The Cinnamon Traveler 
Heritage Trust is a private organization that conducts heritage tour excursions and independent research and specializes in curriculum development and public history programming, for groups of all ages. Cinnamon Traveler has participated in domestic and international Archival Processing Projects, Architectural History Surveys and Urban Farming educational workshops domestic and abroad. The “Travelers” will present a program on illiteracy in the Black Community.
After the presentation, “Music on the Lawn” will be provided the 1102 Band, featuring Shirley Rowell. On Saturday, the festival will resume at 11 a.m. with African singing, drumming and dancing. There will be performances by local musicians in multiple genres 
including, gospel, R & B and more. There will be special performance by the Uhuru Dancers of Atlanta.
The local nursing chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. will conduct health screenings and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. will have a voter registration drive.
The local chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will provide multiple activities for children and the general public throughout the day on Saturday. The ladies of crimson and cream will work with the Festival’s Board of Directors, the local Alabama Cooperative Extension staff and Home Depot to conduct youth coloring contests, simple home improvement projects, adult and youth nutrition and face painting. The Deltas will also offer jewelry-making demonstrations at their booth. At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, the documentary, “The Contradiction of Fairhope” will be available for adult festival attendees to view. This project was co-produced by Shoals Area native, Rockell Metcalf. The documentary examines a little known aspect of American history, when newly freed slaves, throughout the South formed benevolent societies to respond to abject hunger and illness. The film sets the stage in rural Alabama prior to emancipation and traces the development, struggles, contributions and gradual loss of traditions of one of the last remaining African American benevolence societies known as The Fairhope Benevolence Society. The film provides an unprecedented look at the contrast between the complex and morally indigenous world and worldly pleasures. The annual program takes place in September and originally focused on the biblical ritual of foot washing. This film is just another piece of African American history that will be shared during the festival.
Susann Hamlin
Susann Hamlin, executive director of the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said the annual festival is a great time for residents to renew old friendships and make new ones. “I am looking forward to this year’s festival. It is always entertaining and informative.”
There will be numerous vendors on hand with food, clothing, African attire, paintings and a variety of 
other items. Also, the Cinnamon Travelers will return on Saturday with African books and fabrics.
Some of the featured stage acts include The Malone Brothers, James Street Entertainment, Kush Reggae Band of Huntsville, Billy Allen and more (see program line-up for complete list). All festival events are provided free by the Association with the help of city of Tuscumbia and local Shoals area merchants. For more information call 256-335-2911.
2014 Program Schedule
Friday, June 6th
Presentation/Commentary……………..………………….…………………………….… 11:00 a.m.
Guest: Cinnamon Travelers1
Lunch Break
Music on the Lawn …………………………………………………………………….….. 4:00 p.m.
With The 1102 Band featuring Shirley Rowell
Saturday, June 7th
Opening Ceremony……………………………………………………………………………… 11:00 a.m.
Welcome: Wallace D. Ricks, President
Introduction of Board Members
MC’s Ms. Cynthia Pollard & Ms. Katernia Cole
Introduction of Public Officials
Prayer: Norris Ricks
POZA African Dance Troup ……………………………………………………………….. 11:30 a.m.
African Heritage Youth Drummers w/ Charlene Carter …………………………………… 12:00 noon
F.L.O.M.O.T.I.O.N. featuring Eric Jones ………………………………………………….. 12:30 p.m.
The Malone Brothers ……………………………………………………………………….. 1:00 p.m.
Muscle Shoals Twirlers …………………………………………………………………….. 1:45 p.m.
Rapper Boss Staxx ………………………………………………………………………….. 2:05 p.m.
James Street Entertainment ………………………………………………………………….. 2:25 p.m.
Uhuru Dancers (Decatur, GA) ………………………………………………………………. 2:45 p.m.
R & B Singer Charlie Brown, (Huntsville, AL) ……………………………………………… 3:45 p.m.
Dorothy Cole (as Tina Turner) ………………………………………………………………. 4:00 p.m.
Citizen of the Year Award and Announcement of Contest Winners ………………………….4:30 p.m.
Documentary (Inside) ………..…. “The Contradiction of Fairhope” ……………………………..4:30 p.m.
Kush Reggae Band (Huntsville, AL) ………………………………………………………… 5:30 p.m.
Old School Dance Contest, Door Prizes ………………………………………..……………. 6:30 p.m.
1102 Band featuring Billy Allen ………………………………………………………………7:00 p.m.
Visit: https://www.cinnamontraveler.org/
MEDIA RELEASE/North Alabama Heritage Association, Inc.
