March 9, 2002 – Wednesday's Harbour Night festivities will showcase the dancers and drummers of Frederiksted's Karamu Afi Cultural Arts program.
Founded in 1998 to promote the study of African culture through the arts, Karamu Afi offers dance and drumming classes on Saturday afternoons at St. Gerard's Hall in Frederiksted. Adults and young people, beginners to advanced, participate in the classes and join in performances. The group has appeared at the St. Croix Millennium Celebration, the University of the Virgin Islands and the 2002 Agricultural and Food Fair, in addition to Harbour Night.
Linda Lacy is the artistic director of Karamu Afi, and Dion Rivers is the musical director. For information about the group, call 772-2079.
Also performing for this week's Harbour Night will be scratch band musician Jamesie Brewster, Dem Boyz, Junie and the Jungle, and Willard John's Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies.
Harbour Night celebrations are held in downtown Frederiksted on alternate Wednesday nights, when the cruise ship Victory is in port. Hours are 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. In addition to guests off the ship, which has a capacity of 3,400 passengers plus crew, the events typically attract a large local turnout.
As usual, more than 50 vendors will be offering local food and drink, arts and crafts and more. Fund-raising activities to benefit not-for-profits groups — Caribbean Fusion Band, St. Croix Animal Shelter and St. Croix Deaf Coalition — are sponsored by Divi Carina Bay Casino, International Asset Management, Kapok Management, The Lost Dog, McDonald's of St. Croix and Motown Bar and Restaurant.
Harbour Night is presented by the Frederiksted Economic Development Association, Centennial Wireless, Budget Rent-A-Car, Dalton Associates and the Tourism Department. Parking on Strand Street is prohibited from 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday; vehicles found there will be towed at the owners' expense..
