Heritage

The Savannah Black Heritage Festival explores cultural and artistic contributions of African Americans from Bebop to Hip-Hop.

Savannah State University and the city of Savannah's Department of Cultural Affairs present the Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival throughout February.

The festival will begin Sunday, with "Five Men on a Stool," an Atlanta-based group of musicians who combine rhythm and blues, jazz and poetry. The show will begin at 7 p.m. at the Lucas Theatre, 32 Abercorn St.

Other musical performances include an evening of jazz and blues at 7 p.m. Monday at the Lucas Theatre. Jazz aficionados will enjoy the Teddy Adams Septet, featuring inspirational singer Huxsie Scott, while blues fans will enjoy guitarist Bernard Allison, son of the late blues legend Luther Allison.

The high point of the month-long festival is the Grand Festival Day, Feb. 8, packed with family-oriented activities.

A 1 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony will officially open the festival village, which will include vendors selling arts, crafts, ethnic foods and more throughout the afternoon and evening. Also at 1 p.m., Savannah State professor Farnese Lumpkin will conduct a basket-making workshop where participants will learn Lowcountry basket techniques and styles. The three-hour workshop is free, but space is limited. To reserve a seat, call (912) 356-2506.

The musical performances of the Grand Festival Day will begin at 5:30 p.m., with entr'acte performances by Spitfire Productions, a local spoken-word group that was launched two years ago. Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa will perform modern African music inspired by the traditional music of Yoruba land that is presented with the sounds and technology of today.