Welcome to Seattle Center
Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest took place on July 14: 6pm-9pm, July 15 & 16: 12pm-9pm at the Armory Food & Event Hall and Mural Amphitheatre. The festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series. It is free and open to the public.
Seattle Center Festál is a year-round series of 24 free cultural festivals, produced in partnership with community organizations. In 2022, Festál celebrated 25 years of stories and traditions, ushering in a new era of hybrid programming. Learn more about Festál and subscribe to the newsletter for updates.
The festival boasts a family reunion atmosphere with fun for visitors of all ages. It celebrates Black culture and educates the community on the contributions of African Americans who form a melting pot of cultures. This year, guest artists from across the country will convene in Seattle, including Lakeside, Stokley, Angela Winbush, Glenn Jones, Binky Womack, Kalimba, and many other local musicians. Other activities feature an art gala, youth drill, and dance teams, free entry for children to The Seattle Children’s Museum, and African drum circles.
View the 2023 highlights below:
OVERVIEW
Seattle Center Festál presents Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest in partnership with Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA). The festival focuses on intergenerational activities and promotion of traditional and contemporary African American heritage, showcasing local entertainment, photography, food merchants, historical exhibits, and more!
HISTORY
Festival Sundiata (pronounced: Soon-jah-tah), is the longest running African American festival celebrated in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle, holding its first festival in 1980. The festival is named in honor of the Sundiata Keita, the historic and legendary Mansa (King of Kings) of the Mali Empire in West Africa. King Sundiata rescued his people’s griot and created one of the most significant cultural and economic kingdoms in Africa.
