AmeriMasala to fill Perry Square with celebration of Erie's culture, diversity
Jennie GeislerAmeriMasala will start Saturday at noon at Third and State streets with a rumble of drums, flashes of red-and-white costumes, and roughly 20 women singing in a band called Batala, leading a parade of giant puppets and world beats to Perry Square, where revelers will enjoy cultural activities drawn from around the region.
"We are fighting racism by providing unity but not just blending in, but by celebrating the beauty of African culture and African people throughout the diaspora not just in Brazil, but globally," said Deinya Phenix, leader of New York City-based Batala and a sociologist.
Batala specializes in a Brazillian form of music and dance Phenix calls "samba reggae," pronounced "heggay" in Portuguese, the national language of Brazil.
"Many cities in the U.S., including Erie, have this mix of people for so many reasons," she said. "The expectation is about blending them. With AmeriMasala, our differences are celebrated and every person and culture is cherished for what it is."
Batala:Bringing the beat
Local artist Lynn Johnson, the festival's coordinator and founder, said Phenix summed up the mission that drives the festival, which he said first came together in 1996 and took place every year until 2006. Then it took a 12-year hiatus while Johnson pursued other interests. He brought it back in 2018.
The first new AmeriMasala festival took place that year and included a parade of giant puppets, multi-ethnic bands and representatives from multi-cultural organizations such as the Erie Asian Pacific American Association. The event also took place in 2019, although not since then due to the coronavirus pandemic.
2018 festival:Drummers, puppets highlight Erie's Amerimasala parade
Johnson said this year the parade will return, including its signature giant puppets made by him and other organizations around town, as well as some from the Parade of the Circle, a similar multi-cultural festival that takes place in Cleveland, Ohio.
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The party starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. in Perry Square, where revelers will find food trucks serving dishes from many cultures, including Thai, Dominican, Middle Eastern, soul food, Southern baked goods, Mexican and Puerto Rican.
"I think people will come just for the food, and that will create more connections with our refugee and immigrant populations," Johnson said.
He also promised performances of Indian dance, hip-hop and ballet.
Batala won't be the only band in the parade or performing after. There are four musical acts, also including Tam Tam Magic, a Senegalese group from Cleveland; One World Tribe, whose Facebook page describes it as afro-beat, funk, Latin and world beat founded in Pennsylvania; and Buffalo's 12/8 Path street band.
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Johnson said the name of the festival, "AmeriMasala" combines the words "America" and "masala," an Indian word that means "blend of spices."
"I’ve always been with social justice activities since college," he said. "I’ve seen how important it is to make a conscious effort to create an environment in which people could socially interact across racial lines."
If You Go ...
AmeriMasala, a festival celebrating Erie's diversity, takes place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Perry Square. It includes a parade at noon from Third and State streets to Perry Square, where revelers will find cultural performances, food trucks serving cuisine from around the world and vendors. The event is free. For more information, visit bit.ly/amerimasalaerie.
Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNgeisler.