U-Matic

African American World Festival 1989
Tape 4

U-Matic tape number four from a series of seven shot at the 1989 African World Festival in Hart Plaza. This tape features footage of a reggae band, a fashion show, the crowd, an exhibit area, the Miss Carnival Queen 1989 beauty pageant, vendors and artists, jazz pianist Kenny Cox, and South African singer Letta Mbulu.

The tape begins with a reggae band performing on the main stage, continued from tape 2015.008.182. During a portion of this part of the concert they are joined by two toasting deejays. As the band finishes the camera zooms out for a wide view of the state and crowd.

Two brief shots follow of the Renaissance Center and the Dodge Fountain at night.

After another cut, the camera films a fashion show in Hart Plaza's underground area in which the models performing an African market place-themed skit. Each model is introduced at the end of the performance.

Next, children are filmed dancing to conga music in Hart Plaza in the day time. Several crowd shots, and a brief shot of the stage and the sound engineer follow.

The camera then films exhibit panels on display in Hart Plaza's underground area. The panels deal with American Civils Rights leaders and the struggles in South African and other African nations.

Then the winners of the Miss Carnival Queen 1989 pageant are presented in front of the stage. In addition to Miss Carnival Queen, Miss Barbados, Miss Bahamas, Miss Jamaica, and Miss Haiti are also present.

Several silent shots follow of Dodge Fountain, the Renaissance Center, and American flag, young people dancing, vendors, and attendees.

The sound returns for a scene showing a woodcarver sculpting a piece. The camera pans around to also capture his finished works.

The tape goes silent again for shots of the Hart Plaza sign is shown, with the movable text reading, "Welcome African World Festival," and of the crowd.

The sound returns again for more footage of the woodcarver at work, then vanishes again for more footage of the crowd, vendor booths, and boats passing on the Detroit River.

After a brief test pattern, the video resumes with Kenny Cox and his band performing on Hart Plaza's stage. After the first song, the Cox talks about Charlie Mingus and the band then performs his "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." Cox then brings out a woman to sing.

The rest of the tape is devoted to the first portion of the performance by Letta Mbulu. This recording includes the songs "There's Music in the Air," and "Genocide." Her set is continued on tape 2015.008.184.

The video is on a 3M UCA-60 U-Matic tape with a handwritten 3M label on its top. The tape is housed within a black plastic latching case with a matching label on its cover.