LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Marafiki Center's Swahili Day celebration was held Saturday and there were several vendors selling a number of things. Vice Mayor Dan Wu also made a special announcement at the event.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Swahili Day event celebrated African culture through a number of ways. There were vendors with people selling food and clothes. There was also music that people were dancing to

  •  The Marafiki Center organized the celebration. It is an organization that works with the African community in Lexington

  •  Albertina Ramazani had the opportunity to display her clothing that she sells through her online store, Splendid 100

  • Vice Mayor Dan Wu announced on behalf of Mayor Linda Gorton that June 3, 2023 is the city's Swahili Day

Among those who had a booth set up was Albertina Ramazani, who runs an online clothing store called Splendid 100.

“We design clothes and all of the fabric, everything is made from back home in Tanzania,” said Ramazani. “That’s where I have a facility, a small factory where they make clothes for women.”

Ramazani has been in operation for about a year and is planning to sell clothes for men and babies soon.

She was born in Tanzania and raised in a refugee camp in Malawi. Because of war, her family left Africa and arrived in Lexington about 10 years ago when Ramazani was almost 13-years-old.

“We came here by the bless of God, I mean we are here and everything’s going great so far,” said Ramazani.

She feels that Lexington has been a welcoming place for her and her family, and believes that events like the Swahili Day celebration are important for the community.

“I never thought I would be able to kind of just bring my shop out here, which I also do my shop online, but I never thought I was going to be able to kind of just bring it out here for everyone to be able to come by and see who is behind the designs,” said Ramazani.

The Marafiki Center, an organization that works with the city’s African community, put the event together. Pablo Emedi, who is on the board of directors, thinks the celebration is crucial for visibility.

“What we are trying to do is really creating a promotion and awareness of the language and encourage people to understand what Swahili is all about and also build bridges for integration of the Swahili-speaking community, mostly immigrants, in the life of Lexington,” said Emedi.

There were a variety of things being sold by different vendors, which included food and clothes. 

Vice Mayor Dan Wu attended to make a declaration.

“I, Dan Wu, Vice Mayor of Lexington, on behalf of Mayor Linda Gorton, do hereby declare June 3, 2023 Swahili Day in Lexington,” said Wu.

This is just another step that the city has taken to show its acceptance toward refugees and immigrants. Emedi says this is not just important for those who speak Swahili, but is important for all Africans residing in Lexington.

“We’re not only advocating for the language Swahili, as a language, but for the people of Africa, their representation at whatever level possible,” said Emedi.

He hopes that the event will continue to grow in the years to come.

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