[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2396]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE BENEDICT COLLEGE HARAMBEE FESTIVAL

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                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 3, 2014

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Benedict 
College Harambee Festival, in Columbia, South Carolina, in my 
Congressional District. One of the largest college-sponsored festivals 
in the nation, the Benedict College Harambee Festival will celebrate 
its twenty-fifth anniversary on February 22nd. As we observe Black 
History Month, I believe it is important to highlight this special 
event for its expression of multiculturalism, inclusion and advocacy of 
African American Southern history and culture.
  In 1988 Benedict College led by Dr. George A. Devlin, Chair of the 
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, revived its efforts to 
create a series of events to celebrate and study Black History Month. 
Originally called the African American Bazaar, the free event was 
designed to unite the community. The Harambee Festival weathered much 
adversity in its first few years. Initial attempts in 1989 were 
``snowed out.'' Extreme cold and rain in 1991, and again in 1992 
greatly affected Festival attendance records.
  Organizers have likened lessons of African American history to the 
Harambee Festival because it teaches that after struggle, success is 
possible. The Festival has prospered and is today one of the biggest 
college-sponsored festivals in the United States of America with an 
average attendance of over 6,000 people. A success story of Benedict 
College, the Harambee Festival now includes a bake contest, fashion 
show and a number of live performances alongside historical 
presentations, as well as community-oriented service activities.
  Since 2010, the Harambee Festival Community Choir has performed 
annually at the Festival, preserving the rich musical tradition of 
gospel music. The Choir is composed of members of the Benedict College 
Gospel Choir as well as great singers from choirs in the Midlands, the 
Pee Dee, and other regions of South Carolina. A number of performers 
have showcased their talents over the Harambee Festival's twenty-five 
year history, including national recording star Ms. Angie Stone, Mr. 
Dwayne Johnson, Jr. from Soul-food Jazz and (former) world champions 
Double Dutch Forces.
  Since its inception, the Harambee Festival has been inclusive in its 
efforts to bring the community together. A testament of its success, 
the Harambee Festival sees people and organizations coming back again 
and again, year after year. The hard work and dedication of Benedict 
College and all participating organizations, exhibitors and vendors 
continues to sustain a long-lasting legacy of commemoration and 
celebration of Black History Month through the Harambee Festival.
  An integral annual event, the Harambee Festival unifies the community 
and provides an opportunity not only to celebrate but also contribute 
to a wealth of African American history in our Nation. I sincerely 
thank the Benedict College Harambee Festival for its commitment to 
remembering the past while looking to South Carolina's future.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in paying 
tribute to all who have contributed to the success of the Benedict 
College Harambee Festival over the past twenty-five years. It has been 
a great asset to South Carolina and the broader African American 
community.

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