The Legends Celebration is an NBAF Signature event that pays tribute to the lives of artists, historians, critics and politicians who have made important and enduring contributions in their field and to our culture. This year’s Legends Celebration honored individuals for their accomplishments in music, theater, dance, film, visual arts, and literature; while celebrating 25 years of NBAF.
The 2013 NBAF 25th Anniversary Legends Celebration honorees are:
- Michael Lomax – Vision Award
- Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade – Living Legends of American Dance
- Woodie King, Jr. – Award-winning Theater director
- Pam Grier – Film actress, star of Coffy, Foxy Brown, Jackie Brown and The L Word
- Amiri Baraka – Poet and Scholar
- Faith Ringgold – Visual artist, writer, speaker and performance artist
- Third World – Reggae Ambassadors
Actress Anna Maria Horsford (Antiguan/Dominican) hosted this special evening, with music direction by Grammy-nominated musician, Russell Gunn. The Legends Celebration offered a special opportunity to to close out the 25th Anniversary National Black Arts Festival by paying tribute to the honorees and in celebrating 25 years of NBAF.
Special Appearances by Carrie Mae Weems, Charles Dutton, Lizz Wright, Stephanie Hughley, Ed Spriggs and Ayuko Babu. With performances by Kathleen Bertrand, Julie Dexter, Dionne Farris, Rhonda Thomas, Les Nubians, Jessica Care Moore, Okorie Johnson, Third World’s Stephen “Cat” Coore, Amiri Baraka, Axam Dance Theater Experience and Youth Ensemble Atlanta.
