Pamoja Women Organize the First African Cultural Day.

Pamoja Women celebrated African Cultural Day for the first time ever in Rochester.

The co-founders of the group intend to make it an annual event because it was such a success.
The diverse African groups gathered at Rochester’s Peace Plaza for a celebration that was accompanied by food, music, and laughter.

People were greeted by the aroma of traditional African food as soon as they stepped foot in the square.
Six distinct traditional African dances were performed on stage throughout the day.
“Pamoja Women serves these communities, and it’s amazing how that when we needed them, they came through,” said Khadija Ali, a co-founder of Pamoja Women.

The organization works to support and uplift Rochester women and girls of East African descent.
Khadija Ali remarked, “You would see all kinds of ladies who are like, you know, entrepreneurial minds, that actually came today and sold stuff that they did not have the confidence to do at first.
Women and girls in vibrant traditional clothing may be seen all around the plaza as you go around.
Some of them participated in the Sudan fashion show, and one woman even got married.

“We had a wedding ceremony that is known as a ‘jerteg,’ which is kind of peculiar in Sudan. According to Alaa Ali, who organized the Sudan Fashion Show, the bride “wears all red and kind of a gold hat.”

Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia had the three largest cultural representations, but Pamoja Women expects that next year there will be even more.
Khadija Ali remarked, “I just hope every year it becomes better and better and better.
Pamoja Women would like to extend their gratitude to the people of Rochester, each of their sponsors, and the various African communities that attended in order to make the event a success.

Content courtesy of ABC 6 News & NFH