By Dave Sargent,Special to the Sun Journal

LEWISTON – Food, fun and fraternity marked Saturday evening’s third annual Africana Festival at the Multi-Purpose Center.

The building was filled with color, a dazzling array of bright dresses and scarves worn by dozens of women. Groups of family and friends gathered and conversed in a variety of languages, and many longtime L-A residents socialized with their new immigrant neighbors.

Organizers of the celebration of cultural diversity in the Twin Cities said this year’s event was the biggest of the three. A crowd estimated at nearly 2,000 filled the gymnasium and adjoining dining halls.

Speakers paid tribute to joint independence days – Somalia’s independence from Italy and the United Kingdom on July 1, 1960, and America’s Fourth of July.

The African Immigrants Association and the cities of Lewiston and Auburn sponsored the party, which features traditional food representing mostly the northern countries of Africa from Somalia and Togo to the Sudan and Ethiopia.

“This is definitely the biggest festival we have had,” said the president of the African Immigrants Association, Said Mohamed, as he watched long lines of people move toward the tables of food.

About a dozen members of the local Somali community had spent many hours preparing dishes that feature rice with spices and onions, chicken, goat and sambusa, which is ground meat and beans in a triangular eggroll pastry.

The food was plentiful and free. A $2 donation was requested to cover some of the costs.

As Gov. John E. Baldacci mingled with visitors, he said, “I’ve always been impressed by the way diversity strengthens community. To me, this is wonderful, and it’s a great turnout.”

In remarks to the crowd, Baldacci said, “Lewiston-Auburn and all of Maine is growing in population and diversity. It is needed growth for Maine. It is welcome growth for Maine. We welcome you all who have recently come to Maine. You have learned what many of us have known all our lives – this is a great place to live, work and raise families.”

Omar Ahmed, organizer of the Africana Festival, said: “Diversity is not only found in the workplace, it is to be all one family.”

He said, “We have a great opportunity in L-A to achieve a better society if we choose to embrace the diversity of the people who live here.”

The crowd was almost equally divided between people of African descent and those of white races.

There also were representatives of Native American, Asian and Hispanic families. Besides African food, there were tables with African art and crafts and African clothing.

Katherine Yomoah, executive director of the African Immigrant Association, said: “We are hoping to attract other nationalities” in addition to a core membership of Somalis. “It’s not easy because people are busy working. With events like this, we hope to attract others.”

Welcoming remarks also were given by Lewiston City Councilor Norm Rousseau and Auburn Mayor Normand Guay, who wore a loose, light-colored shirt of African design, which he said was given to him by a friend from Togo, who lives locally.

Speeches were followed by poems and comments from some young people, including students from Montello Elementary School in Lewiston and Auburn Middle School.

Five girls in flowing red-and-white dresses danced a a traditional African number.

Among the displays was a table where the benefits of international health care services and interpreters were explained by Muluka Dawid.

This year’s celebration also included a children’s room with entertainment.

The later evening hours were filled with music and dance for the public.

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