Tanzanians gear up for Annual Soka Festival on Sundayin Greenfield, MA

By Jasmine Mutuku and Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News, posted July 1, 2011

GREENFIELD, Mass._Hundreds of Tanzanians will come together this Sunday at 10a.m to celebrate their annual Soka festival, in Greenfield, MA.

The event which is in its 10th year, promises to be a culmination of a decade of festivities.

 At the same time, hundreds of Kenyans began descending   on Patterson, New Jersey today for a weekend long 4th of July celebrations that will end on Tuesday, July 5th July 5th, while others head to Virginia for the Annual KCFA conference.

 In Greenfield, Massachusetts, the hard to reach Tanzanian Community has thrown a party that will provide top notch entertainment ideal for the whole family featuring, Soccer matches, Basketball, Swimming, Netball for women, music, fashion shows, trivia questions and many more.

A special match will be held between Kenya and Tanzania communities.

Speaking to Ajabu Africa, the chairman of the newly registered New England Umoja Foundation, Mr. Stephen Tomi said they expect close to 400 people this weekend. Guests will be arriving from as far away as Canada, Nevada, Alabama, California and other states.

The menu will feature the popular East African delicacy Nyama Choma (a whole cow has been purchased!) and other traditional foods. “Everything is free. We welcome people from every ethnicity to come and see first-hand what we are about.  The best way to learn about Africa and its people is from the Africans themselves. So come out to Greenfield and have a free first hand experience of Tanzanian culture and its people,” said Mr. Tomi.

In New Jersey, the annual Kenyan 4th of July   celebration is mainly an adult event dubbed the Street Bash 4.0.

 Started several years ago, the 3 day and 4 night event attracts Kenyans from all over the USA.

 Among the artists expected to perform at the event includes Jaguar, a Kenyan music sensation with a top selling hit, Kigeugeu. More about the Street Bash here.
In

In Harrisonburg Virginia, the 21st Annual Kenyan Christian Fellowship in America (KCFA) started today and will continue through Tuesday July 5th at the James Madison University.

The event brings together Kenyan christians from all over the USA for a weekend long family based conference that has been immensely popular with many believers.(website)

The three events by communities of the two neighboring East African Nations hope to give guests a good dose of entertainment, review of their faith and plenty of Nyama choma that is revered in both communities and opportunities to meet up and get to know one another on a relaxed summer weekend that is also full of other festivities.

As part of its vision however, The NE Umoja Foundation will collaborate with local Non- Profit Organizations to do development work in Tanzania.

For more info and to find out how you can be involved please visit http://www.newenglandumoja.net

http://www.newenglandumoja.net

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