​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​2025 Africana Arts & Humanities Festival

March 13-15, Register
​​African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC)

​Free cultural festival celebrates the Harlem Renaissance

The Africana Arts & Humanities Festival (formerly known as the South Florida Book Festival), is multi-day event featuring music, author engagement and community conversation. With "Renaissance," AARLCC celebrates the rich cultural and artistic legacy of the Harlem Renaissance, which saw a rebirth of African American artistic expression that was centered in New York City's Harlem neighborhood during the 1920s and 1930s.

Africana Arts & Humanities Festival Schedule

Thursday, March 13, 7-8:30PM - Jazz Concert featuring Nicole Yarling/Free
Join jazz vocalist/violinist Nicole Yarling and her sextet in an unforgettable evening of music, featuring the compositions of one of the greatest composers of American music, Duke Ellington. Presented in partnership with the Broward Cultural Division.

Friday, March 14, 6-7:30PM - An Evening with Jonathan Escoffery/Free
Bestselling author Jonathon Escoffery discusses his acclaimed debut, If I Survive You, a collection of eight interlinked short stories that follow the struggles of a Jamaican family who build a new life in Miami, Florida.

Friday, March 14, 7:30-9:30PM - Eat. Drink. Read. The Speakeasy Edition/$75 admission; ages 21 and over
Experience the thrill of a night on the town in 1920s Harlem during this special reception celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, featuring performances from vocalist LaVie and poetry by The Art Prevails Project. This is a ticketed event presented by the Friends of AARLCC. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. You must be 21 years old or older to attend.

Saturday, March 15, 11AM-6PM -2025 Africana Arts & Humanities Festival - Renaissance/Free
A free day of events and activities for all ages celebrating the culture, art and literature of the Harlem Renaissance. It features cultural performances, creative activities, visual arts and the opportunity to interact with writers focused on Black history and culture.

Featured guests and presentations include:

• Jeffreen Hayes: Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman, a biography of American sculptor Augusta Savage, whose work was associated with the Harlem Renaissance. 11AM-12:30PM
• Dr. Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer: The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families, which reprises the groundbreaking children's book created by W.E.B. DuBois in 1920. 11:30AM-12:30PM
  
• Laura Helton: Scattered and Fugitive Things: How Black Collectors Created Archives and Remade History, which explores the emergence of African American archives and libraries in the early 20th century. 2-3:30PM
• Stories Unveiled: Local Authors Panel, an open discussion where local writers talk about their work and creative journey. 3:30-5:30PM

Register: Eventbrite/Africana Arts & Humanities Festival

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The Africana Arts & Humanities Festival is generously funded by JM Family Foundation and Bank of America, Visit Lauderdale and the Friends of AARLCC. Partners include Broward Cultural Division, Urban League of Broward County and Island SPACE Museum.

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