In 2022 during the Omicron Lockdown, the African Union Mission in Washington DC hosted the premier edition of the Black History Festival. The event was hosted for 5 days in a row with the Permanent Representative of the AU to the USA opening and closing the Festival. The Festival attracted more than 6 Ambassadors, Government officials from Africa, SMEs from Africa and Attendees from over 11 nationalities from 21-25th February 2022.
There was a curated tour for attendees and delegates at the African-American Museum for History and Culture to learn more about the history of the people of African descent in the Americas. The first edition had the African Union Mission to the USA, the Wilson Center, the Jacob Abbey Global Institute of Leadership Studies, the Embassies of Ghana, Sierra Leone, etc. as partners.
The Black History Festivals (BHF) 2022, held from 21st to 27th February in Washington, DC, celebrated the strong ties between the USA and African Union member states. Hosted at the African Union Mission to USA at Georgetown, Washington DC, the event featured a variety of activities including a diplomatic dialogue, the ‘Made in Africa Expo’, and a special youth day celebration. The festival highlighted African heritage, arts, culture, and innovation, promoting exchange and collaboration. It also included a fashion show, cultural performances, and a tour of the District of Columbia and the Martin Luther King Memorial. The BHF was organized by YALI TV and other partners, including the African Union Mission to the US and several Ghanaian governmental agencies. The festival offered opportunities for exhibitors from Africa and the USA, with provisions for virtual participation.