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A F A R W E L L T O H A R A M B E E
U J I M A B L A C K A R T A N D

C U L T U R E A S S O C I A T I O N ’ S

F O U N D E R A N D P R E S I D E N T ,
B R O T H E R B A G U M B A L O W E R Y

A NOTE FROM OUR CHAIR

BY GEORGE HOGAN
I ’ve been an artist all my life. So when

Bagumba, a person from my own
Community of Homewood said to me, I trust to say Bagumba’s leadership can be
“George, we must call the Harambee and get simply stated, “we are a part of a team
the Black Arts Festival back up and running effort, there is no “I” in neither team nor
again! This was back in 2001 and the festival together.” His tenacity to draw a line
had not functioned for a decade. I reflected against racism over the past 17 years has
back to when I was about twelve, when the keep Harambee Black Art Festival on
Harambee, a “sibling” of the Black Power course. I believe I speak for the entire
Movement of the 60s, first called the Association’s board in saying, Thanks, MY
Pittsburgh Community together. At about 17 BROTHER, for your call to the community,
years of age I was asked by the Together, “To come together!!” The Harambee
INC Committee to make a poster for the breathes life into America, reminding us
Black Arts Festival. When I was in the 11th how well we are as a people. Harambee
grade I joined the Harambee Art Movement. Ujima has brought a model of pride and
Bagumba explained, “Our children have dignity to American Black Culture. Building
never seen the Harambee tradition.” And I the Association’s capacity has reminded
remember, as a kid, that this was the only everyone that Black Lives Do Matter!
festival in Pittsburgh, at the time and I
zoomed all over Homewood. We are not sure on how to say “Good Bye”
to Bagumba because at Harambee there are
Today the Harambee Festival is boastfully no “Good Byes” since social responsibility
rated as being the 3rd largest black festival is a Life Time commitment. This is a
in the nation! Bagumba points out, “The heartfelt “Thank You” for your service to
Harambee Black Arts Festival is legendary the community. It is good to know that,
because it creatively accentuated how Black although many of our youth had never seen
folks worked collectively, taking a Harambee, they are beginning to take
responsibility for their own lives. over the planning and execution of the Arts
He sent out the call, “Now is the time! Festival. Brother, we, too, will follow your
Together we must take on the responsibility leadership and join you shortly in
to show our children the Harambee spirit!” retirement – coming to the festival and also
Consequently, in 2001 Bagumba founded the sitting on our lawn chairs. Because
Harambee Ujima Black Art and Cultural Yesterday brought the Beginning,
Association and an all-volunteer board was Tomorrow brings the End. And, somewhere
formed. After serving 11 years as chair, in the Middle we all became the best of
Bagumba became President in 2013. friends. Peace, Brother Bagumba!