Digital Collection
2015.008.177

U-Matic

African Fest "1989" Piece

U-Matic tape containing "The Museum of African American History Presents 'The African World Festival, '"about the 1989 African World Festival in Hart Plaza, held between August 18th and 20th. The video is broken up into sections, each introduced by an on-screen title, highlighting different aspects of the festival. After a brief gap, the recording is followed by material shot for the 1990 Media Day video, "E.T. Tourist, 'The Visit.'"

The video begins with an introductory text crawl and narration, which notes that over three-hundred thousand people attended the event. The narrator then continues to provide an overview of the festival over footage the Omowale Drummers and Dancers performing at the event.

The first section of the film deals with the event's lecture series. A lecture is shown underway in one of Hart Plaza's enclosed underground rooms.

The "Arts & Crafts" segment of the video shows a wood carver working on a piece, finished sculptures, vendors, children making paper masks in a crafts area, and a hair stylist at work on a woman's hair.

The "History" segment shows exhibit panels concerning the fight against apartheid in South Africa displayed in one of Hart Plaza's underground rooms, while the narrator mentions the recent release of Nelson Mandela from prison in South African.

The narrator uses this to segue into the "Performance" section, where he mentions appearances by South African musicians such as singer Letta Mbulu. Several shots in the section also feature attendees to the event dancing, and shopping.

In the video's conclusion, the voice over discusses the Museum of African American History, over footage of some of their displays and of the festival.

Following a brief gap, the tape then contains several takes of Robert Darmanin's close-up scenes from the 1990 video "E.T. Tourist 'The Visit,'" where he portrays a man abducted by aliens in order to serve as a tour guide to Detroit's points of interest.

Date
1989
Collection
Media
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