Unveil the female organizer of Philadelphia's longest-running African American street event, Odunde
**Celebrating Five Decades of African Heritage: The Legacy of Bumi Fernandez-West**
The city of Philadelphia is gearing up for the golden anniversary of the Odunde Festival, a vibrant celebration of African heritage and spiritual tradition that has been a staple in the community for five decades. At the heart of this cultural institution is Oshunbumi "Bumi" Fernandez-West, the organizer who has been steering the festival since 1992.
Bumi Fernandez-West's connection to the Odunde Festival began when she was just 22 years old. Her mother, Lois Fernandez, co-founded the festival in 1975, and Bumi was born as a result of her mother's courageous decision to continue her pregnancy despite being urged to terminate it due to potential health risks. Lois Fernandez was a social worker who dedicated her life to anti-gang-violence work in Philadelphia recreation centers in the 1970s.
Over the years, the Odunde Festival has grown exponentially, expanding from a small one-block gathering to a festival that now spans 16 city blocks, making it the largest and longest-running African American street festival in North America. Under Bumi Fernandez-West's leadership, the festival has not only grown in size but also in significance, serving as a platform for healing, resistance, and cultural reclamation in the African American community.
Bumi Fernandez-West's work extends beyond the festival. She is a businesswoman, holding degrees in human biology and anthropology from Temple University and a master of business administration degree from La Salle University. Her dedication to business and community work has contributed to the sustaining and expanding of Black cultural spaces and entrepreneurial opportunities in Philadelphia.
One of her most notable initiatives is the I AM B.U.M.I. mentorship program, which she created in 1998. This program aims to empower young women, teaching them the basics of financial responsibility alongside entrepreneurship. The Odunde365 program, funded by a city anti-violence grant, requires students to open bank accounts and learn about financial literacy.
Bumi Fernandez-West's legacy is also carried forward by her sons, Adeniyi Ogundana and Abayomi Ogundana, who serve as the festival's chief operating officer and creative digital director respectively. The festival's most meaningful moment for Bumi is the annual procession to the Schuylkill River to honour the Yoruba goddess.
Running the Odunde Festival is a demanding task, and Bumi Fernandez-West often finds herself sacrificing time with her family. She is a mother of five in a blended family, raising four sons and a daughter. After the festival, she typically takes off work for at least a month to recover.
In conclusion, Bumi Fernandez-West's legacy is marked by her leadership in growing the Odunde Festival into a major cultural institution and her dedication to business and community work that uplifts African and African American heritage and identity in Philadelphia. This legacy embodies celebration, cultural education, and community strength rooted in African traditions.
- Bumi Fernandez-West's lifestyle is a blend of business and community work, as she holds degrees in human biology and anthropology, and has a master of business administration.
- The Odunde Festival, under Bumi's leadership, has become a significant platform for fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and personal-growth exhibitions within the African American community.
- Bumi Fernandez-West's relationship with her family, particularly her mother, Lois Fernandez, played a critical role in her connection to the Odunde Festival.
- With her sons, Adeniyi Ogundana and Abayomi Ogundana, in key positions within the festival, Bumi ensures that the family heritage is passed on to future generations.
- Pets may not be directly related to Bumi's story, but the festival, with its vibrant celebrations, undoubtedly brings joy and delight to countless animals in the community.
- Travel, education-and-self-development, and career-development opportunities have been indirectly fostered by Bumi's work in the festival, as it empowers the community and provides a platform for cultural exchange.
