UPDATE (5/27): On Friday afternoon, event organizers said the opening ceremony for the Umoja Festival and all of the free Friday activities are canceled. The ceremony will now take place at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 28.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Grammy-winning artist Chaka Khan will headline this year’s UMOJA festival, which will be held from May 27-29 this year at Portsmouth’s Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion.
Khan will perform Friday night at 8 p.m.
The UMOJA festival combines entertainment from contemporary and ancient art forms to celebrate African American culture and heritage. UMOJA is Kiswahili for “unity.”
IMGoing President Ken MacDonald said back in January during the announcement that he expects this to be one of the most successful years ever for the pavilion because there is a pent-up demand for concerts. The venue hasn’t had a full season since 2017 due to structural issues and the coronavirus pandemic.
City Council spent $4.4 million to complete the repairs to the venue, which included a new mast and canpoy, re-flooring and new paint, new curtains, electrical work, and more.
There are also many free performances throughout the course of the weekend, as well as a ticketed event called 70s Soul Jam at the pavilion on Sunday. The Stylistics, The Legendary Blue Notes (formerly Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes under the late Harold Melvin) and Heatwave will perform.
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