Kickin’ It: 2014 BAM DanceAfrica Festival

bam-festival-dance-africaThis weekend I celebrated my Memorial Day by soaking in the sun and sights at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Dance Africa festival in Brooklyn. If you’re an old school fan of LoveBrownSugar you probably remember my post about the BAM Festival in 2011.

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It’s one of my absolute favorite street festivals in NYC. It takes place every year at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and in addition to live dance performances there is a HUGE outdoor bazaar with food vendors, clothing, beauty products, jewelry and everything else under the sun. Check out the sights from the BAM Dance Africa Festival:

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First off, I always go on a hunt for really pretty ankara print pieces. There are always a number of vendors at the festival that sell handmade dresses in different prints, shapes and sizes.

shorts-african-print-stellahs-groove-vintageI spotted these fun tailored shorts at a booth by Tribal Groove. They had some really fun pieces from skirts to shorts and even these deconstructed cutoff shorts:

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There are always really creative and unique vendors at BAM, it never fails.

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Next I slipped by the Global Batik booth. They’re a collective that houses some really great artists and craftmakers from various parts of west Africa. The paintings above are from an artist named Joseph Amedokpo out of Togo.

fabric-portfoliosWhile I was there, I picked up one of these fabric-covered portfolios. So chic! I’ll be using these to decorate my home office.

leather-backpack-ankaraI then stumbled on a really unique booth featuring leather goods with mixed mudcloth interwined. How dope is this backpack?

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Loved these colorful beaded bangles and cuffs as well. These are the perfect compliment to a summer weekend outfit.

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And of course it wouldn’t be a Brooklyn outdoor festival in the summer without some amazing natural hairstyles. This girl’s kinky twists gave me life.

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Loved the prints in her outfit too. She had some great accessories – including those shades.

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Maxi dresses were of course a festival style staple. This fashionista rocked her vertical striped black & white frock with a pop of color in her handbag.

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Also her twistout was on point. I had to stop and stare. Do you see those curls?

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Nothing like a simple graphic tee and a pair of cutoffs.

twist-out-on-short-natural-hairThis girl’s defined twistout was super cute. Accented by great shades of course.

natural-hair-friends-bam-festSpotted these curly friends right before I left. Love their hair!

me-cadence-dance-africaI brought Cadence along for the ride. This was her first outdoor festival ever. Of course we were matching in red, white and blue.

memorial-day-cadence-meOutside of being annoyed with the sun, she enjoyed herself. I’ll have to buy baby girl a pair of shades of her own, right?

How did you spend your Memorial Day? New Yorkers, have any of you attended the BAM festival?

 

 

Christina Brown

Lifestyle influencer and digital mompreneur Christina S. Brown is a New York native, LA resident, and the founder of LoveBrownSugar.com and BrownGirlsLove. She's an award-winning storyteller, a motivational speaker and an advocate for confident millennial black women.

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