CHICAGO (June 11, 2009) -- The African Diaspora explodes in Chicago over the 4th of July weekend at the 17th annual African Caribbean International Festival of Life Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5th in Washington Park, 55TH Street & Cottage Grove Avenue.  Headlining the 3 day festival are some of the nation’s leading roots & culture  performers -- Trinidadian Soca King Machel Montano, International Reggae recording artist Gregory Isaacs, Roy “GRAMPS” Morgan of internationally renowned reggae group Morgan Heritage, Boukman Eksperyan, a mizik rasin band from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Trinidadian Oscar B, former lead singer  with Byron Lee & Dragonaires,  Brigadier Jerry, Jamaican dancehall reggae deejay and classic and contemporary R&B performers Slique and The Legendary Drifters.

Daily admission is $10 adults and youth 12 and over; $5 for children under 12 and seniors 70 and older; free to kids under 7.  Advance tickets are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.com or 312-559-1212 and at Martin's International Culture.  For more information, call 312/427-0266 or visit the website at www.festivaloflife.biz  or www.martinsinterculture.com.  The official hotel for the Festival of Life is Chicago’s South Loop Hotel.  For reservations, call 312-225-7000.  To be a sponsor, exhibitor or to advertise in the official festival program book, call 312/427-0266.

The internationally renowned headliners will be joined by over 50 acts on two stages – the International and the Gospel/Educational stage – for the best of Reggae, Calypso, Soca, Latin, African, Haitian, Gospel, Jazz, R&B and other world-beat music.  Other featured performers include Indika Reggae Band, Latin/Hip Hop performers RPM, Jamiah “On Fire” and the Red Machine, Reggae performer Derrick Irie, Raw Sylk, Carl Brown, Public Announcement, Devon Brown & Dub Dis, Sax Preacher and Tropical Steel Band, among others.

More than two hundred vendors will replicate the flavors of the Caribbean and Latin America through an international food court, arts & crafts, textiles, jewelry, ceramics and other cultural items from around the world. 

The African Caribbean International Festival of Life is presented by Martin’s International Culture in association with NBC5 Chicago, Gatling Community Development, Inc and Chicago Park District.  Media sponsors include Power 92, Soul 106.3, 102.3, WDCB 90.9, African Spectrum, Afrique and Am.  The festival is being held in honor of President Barack Obama and is dedicated to Health Awareness.  The theme of the festival is “Bringing Nations Together.”

Digital images available upon request.

PRESS CONTACT:
Barbara Kensey, 773-288-8776
Kensey & Kensey Communications
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