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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday, 3 July 2022, the Funtopia Youth Initiative Foundation will be hosting MOKO FEST the first-ever of its kind, an Afro-Caribbean festival that brings the Moko Jumbie and the Art of Stilt Walking to the forefront in St. Martin. This event was inspired by the worldwide growing popularity of Afropunk culture, which is a fusion of fashion, food, music, and entertainment that is heavily influenced by artists of the African diaspora and creatives in celebration of the lived black experience.
The event will be hosted at the Emilio Wilson Park, which is a prominent cultural location that has strong historical heritage roots in St. Martin. Once a former slave plantation and burial ground now a recreational park. The location has a strong spiritual and cultural influence on the community. The general community is encouraged to dress in their African, Afro Caribbean, and Afropunk wear. Special prizes will be given to the best-dressed persons at the event.
The highlight of the event will be the 100 Soualigan Giants who are students and young adults from the stilt walking afterschool and young professionals community program that will be showcasing their learned skills. These programs have been supported by UNESCO Sint Maarten and R4CR Trust fund funded by the World Bank for the establishment of a Moko Jumbie Culture in St Maarten.
MOKO FEST is an all-day event and experience from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. The park will be completely transformed into a cultural village with food vendors offering a rich and diverse fusion of food from various Caribbean countries. Locally made and hand-crafted selections ranging from but not limited to health and body products as well as Art. Alston Lourens aka Big Al will be the master of ceremonies to keep the public informed about the program throughout the day.
In the morning people can enjoy an early morning yoga session with C. Piper, Afrobeat Zumba sessions with Nico, and a live Capoeira demonstration by Soualiga Capoeira Group. The official opening of the event starts at mid-day with an award ceremony for the winning contestants that participated in the logo and poetry competition. A mini-parade will follow which will be led by GNSTM Drum Band with the students from the Junior walkers from the Moko Jumbie Afterschool Program with their youth leaders.
There will be live poetry performances by Faizah Tabasamu, Magueda Jackson, and Melissa Fleming, in addition, to live musical entertainment by Dj Vybz, Dj Batko, Maat King, Ebony Empress, King Vers, De Connection Group, Injection Band, Shawn J, and Souleymane Camara & The Djembfollete. Special presentations will also be given by dancer Dashaun Prince and specially invited guests from Trinidad and Tobago (Daddy Jumbie and Russel Grant) award-winning and internationally recognized Moko Jumbies.
Families are encouraged to come out in full numbers and enjoy the entire day at the park. Free stilt walking demonstrations for children and adults will be taking place on sight. In the Kids, Funzone area children can enjoy bouncing castles, trampolines, face painting, and special games.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or at participating schools of the stilt walking program (at a reduced rate only). Entrance is free for young children under the age of 5, children from 5 to 17 pay $10, and adults 18 and older pay $20. Funds generated from this event go towards the continuous development of the foundations programs for the community.
We are hoping to expand our portfolio to reach more young persons by offering programs in performance art, life skills, and other Informal education Programs that highlight alternative career options. For more information about this event contact us at mokofestsxm@gmail.com or follow us on facebook.com/FYIFOUNDATION.