Articles for iFest

Standout acts at iFest ANDREW DANSBY Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle The Houston International Festival begins its second weekend Saturday. It's as stacked as last week's lineup, particularly today. The Neville Brothers and Shemekia Copeland — both Saturday performers — are plenty well-known. Even the Lowrider Band (also Saturday), if not a household name, kind of is — psst . . . it's mostly WAR. Taj Mahal's the big bopper for Sunday. Here are five other Sunday acts worth... [More Info]

IFest sizzles with LaVette, Carolina Chocolate Drops Africa may be the anchor of this year's edition of the Houston International Festival -- but a pair of stateside artists proved powerful highlights during Saturday's edition of the two-weekend event. To these ears, the day belonged to Michigan-born Bettye Lavette, the alternately prickly and polished soul dynamo who spent more than 40 years in obscurity before being truly discovered; and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, an exciting,... [More Info]

One weekend of iFest is down and one to go. If you didn't make it out to iFest last weekend, this is your last chance to be a part of the city's official cultural arts celebration. Join iFest on three amazing journeys Out of Africa! Explore mankind's earliest roots and follow the remarkable cultural passage outward into the Caribbean and the Americas. Six entertainment zones. Hundreds of performers and arts vendors. New and improved zone for kids. iFest is an entertainment bargain that... [More Info]

iFest Fan Quiz 1. Of the world-famous performing artists in this year’s lineup who is a return visitor? 2. Which of these countries has NOT been spotlighted: Turkey, Spain, Germany, France, Ireland, Thailand? 3. Which of the following artists have NOT performed at iFest: Richard Thompson, Youssou N’Dour, Emmy Lou Harris, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Penguin Café Orchestra, John Lee Hooker, Ramsey Lewis, George Plimpton, George Clinton, King Sunny Ade, the Staple Singers, Paco de... [More Info]

The Dean’s List Top 10 Can’t Miss Extramusical Attractions at Ifest By Jim Austin President, Houston International Festival 1. Church of Lalibela: So, European colonists brought Christianity to Africa, right?… Wrong. Very wrong. Emperor Lalibela carved 12 churches out of existing mountains in Ethiopia in the 12th century. Well, maybe he had his folks do the actual carving. Anyway, we’ve created an amazing replica of the most famous of the churches to with the cultural and... [More Info]

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America The U.S. Civil Rights Movement ranks as one of the most profound watershed events in world history. While there is much in the areas of race relations and social reform to be accomplished, no informed observer can... [More Info]

Fly out the door today and get your iFest ticket for only $8.50 – at any H-E-B or buy online at www.ifest.org and print your tickets at home. Special Early Bird ticket discount through midnight today, Wednesday, April 16. Tickets will be $12.50 after today and then $15 at the gate; Target Kids Free: all children 12 and under are FREE. Join iFest on the three amazing journeys Out of Africa! Explore mankind’s earliest roots and follow the remarkable cultural passage outward into the... [More Info]

Out of Africa Roots and Branches of American Music By Rick Mitchell Director of Performing Arts Houston International Festival Genealogical Narrative The urge to make music seems to be central to the human experience. All cultures have developed some form of musical expression, from the simple sound of the human voice, blowing through hollow reeds and clicking two sticks together to finely-tuned orchestral timbres and mathematically precise rhythms and meters. But no... [More Info]

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS TO 1900 PART III Research prepared by Naomi Carrier for the Houston International Festival 2/17/2008 RISE OF ZULU – Nineteenth Century The Zulu state developed as a consequence of the economic and political upheavels that foreign trade brought to adjacent regions. The influx of trade goods weakened the established order of livestock exchanges and marriage alliances which had previously maintained the political and economic stability of the region,... [More Info]

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS TO 1900 PART II Research prepared by Naomi Carrier for the Houston International Festival 2/17/2008 AXUM - ETHIOPIA - 4th – 10th Century AD Rugged escarpments overlooking the Sudan, and desert plains in northeast Kenya, separate the highlands of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa from the rest of the continent. The state of Axum, as it became known to the ancient world, boasted urban centers; its own form of writing; coinage in gold, silver and... [More Info]

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS TO 1900 Research prepared by Naomi Carrier for the Houston International Festival 2/17/2008 INTRODUCTION Africa enjoys a long and lively history. Its people have made an impressive contribution to man’s general mastery of the world. They have created cultures and civilizations, evolved systems of government and systems of thought, and pursued the inner life of the spirit with a consuming passion that has produced some of the finest art known to man. ... [More Info]

War was a multicultural American funk band of the 1970s from California, known for the hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed in 1969, War was the first and most successful musical crossover, fusing elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin music, R&B, and even reggae. The band also transcended racial and cultural barriers with a multi-ethnic line-up. The band's diverse musical influences have made it an enduring influence, one that has sold nearly 25 million... [More Info]

Houston celebrates all things African, with 4 days of art, food and world-class music By CARY DARLINGStar-Telegram staff writer Jim Austin is used to his adopted hometown of Houston being sold short in the world of tourism. As the president of the Houston Festival Foundation, which oversees the four-day spring tradition called the Houston International Festival, he knows he's up against long-held stereotypes. Click here to read the complete article at the Star-Telegram... [More Info]

The Director’s Cut By Rick Mitchell Director of Performing Arts Houston International Festival In filmmaking, the Director’s Cut refers to the version of the film the director wanted everyone to see, before the inevitable edits were made for commercial reasons. The Director’s Cut restores the scenes the director did not want you to miss. That is pretty much the idea behind this list, except we have not cut anything for commercial reasons. We assume you already know about the... [More Info]

iFest has partnered with students from Yates High School to create the stage backdrop for the WaMu Center Stage which will host the National Dance Theater of Ethiopia. The mural was organized in collaboration with Community Artists Collective who recommended local artist Emineah to work with the students designing and painting the piece. The mural represents a range of images from the African Diaspora and reflects the many areas of African and African-American history that are covered in... [More Info]

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In honor of Black History Month, iFest appeared on KPFT's Open Journal program to discuss in depth this year's Festival theme, Out of Africa: The Three Journeys. Jew Don Boney, iFest board chairman, and Rick Mitchell, iFest education coordinator and performing arts director, are joined by a panel of distinguished guests for an informative and interesting discussion. Click here to listen to the program

The Houston International Festival, also known as iFest, has announced the lineup for its 37th annual edition, set to take place April 19-20 and 26-27 on nine stages spread across downtown. Instead of spotlighting a specific country this year, its theme “Out of Africa: The Three Journeys,” encompasses music, dance and other cultural traditions...click here to ready the full story at houstonpress.com

iFest Artist Karina Nistal, in Billboard and onstage in NYC We're only a couple of months in, and it's already been a great 2008 for Karina Nistal. The Houston superstar-in-training is featured in this week's Billboard magazine (as part of their NowHearThis feature), was spotlighted in URB's Next 100 and saw her sexy tune Solido used for a Dodge Avenger promotion. She's also lined up sets at the 2008 Houston International Festival and SXSW. Click here to read the full story at... [More Info]

One of the events I look forward to most in Houston every year is the International Festival. This year's iFest (the 37th edition) aims the spotlight on Africa, and it's scheduled to take place April 19-20 and April 25-27 in downtown Houston. Rather than focusing on one country this year (as is typically the case), diverse performances and activities are planned to highlight the "three journeys of Africans"...click here to read the full story on cereal's blog