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ANNAPOLIS, MD [September 9, 2026] – The 36th Annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival (KKHF) returns to Annapolis on Saturday | September 26, 2026, bringing thousands of festivalgoers together at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (12:00 PM – 7:00 PM) for a celebration of African and African American culture, history, art and community.
Presented by Kunta Kinte Celebrations, Inc. under the 2026 theme ‘Our Roots. Our Story,’ this year’s festival marks the milestone ROOTS 50 commemoration. The event honors the 50-year cultural legacy and global impact of Alex Haley’s landmark novel Roots and the enduring story of Kunta Kinte —Whose historic arrival at the Annapolis City Dock continues to inspire conversations around lineage, identity, perseverance and ancestral pride.
"For nearly four decades, the Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival has served as a living archive and a joyful home for our community," says Cynthia 'Cyndy' Guillen, Board President of Kunta Kinte Celebrations, Inc. "This year, as we honor the 50th Anniversary of Alex Haley's Roots, we aren't just reflecting on history — We are actively building health, economic vitality and multi-generational connection through our artists, young entrepreneurs and community partnerships."
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS & PROGRAMMING
- Headlining Performance by MuMu Fresh: Renowned Grammy-Nominated Soul & Hip-Hop Artist MuMu Fresh will headline the KKHF Main Stage. The stage will also feature West African Mandinka traditions from Amadou Kouyate, Afro-Cuban dance with Rueda De Casino, Reggae|GoGo Artist Ras Lidj, gospel heritage with the Singing & Praying Band, Clones of Funk and Pock3t.
- Inaugural KKHF Farmers Market & Fresh Produce Giveaway: For the first time in festival history, KKHF is partnering with six local Black agricultural growers to address food sovereignty and community health. To directly support festivalgoers, the market will distribute free 1-lb bags of fresh produce to the first 100 participants.
- Youth Entrepreneurship Zone: Partnering with Tree House Project, Inc, the Youth & Young Adult Engagement Zone will feature a dedicated Youth Entrepreneurs Vendor Marketplace, providing emerging business leaders under 21 with a platform to showcase and sell their products to thousands of attendees.
- Interactive Community Stage: Hosted by Eric ‘Buddy’ Davis and Comacell Brown, Jr, the Community Stage offers wellness workshops, a healthy cooking demonstration with Priority Partners MCO, comedy from Sergio Swagg, a men's mental health panel led by licensed counselors and an interactive West African drumming workshop with Jabari Exum.
- Expanded Marketplace: Over 100 visual artists, craftspeople, dry goods merchants and food vendors will fill the stadium footprint.
- Children’s Tent: Young families can explore hands-on cultural crafts, plant potting, free book distributions and interactive educational displays presented by the Chesapeake Children's Museum.
KKHF FEATURES AT A GLANCE
36th Annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival | KKHF 2026
Saturday | September 26, 2026
12:00pm Noon – 7:00pm
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium | 710 Taylor Ave | Annapolis, MD
* Free Family Friendly Festival | Open to the Public
* KKHF 2026 Theme | ‘Our Roots. Our Story.’
* KKHF Entertainment Stages: Main Stage & Community Stage
* KKHF Marketplace | 100+ Vendors
* KKHF Farmers Market | 6 Local Farmers providing FREE fresh produce
* Children’s Activity Tent by Chesapeake Children’s Museum
* Information & Updates | www.KuntaKinte.org
MEDIA & INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
On-Site press credentials, backstage access, photo-pit passes and advance broadcast and print interviews are available with key spokespeople, including:
* Cynthia “Cyndy” Guillen — Board President | Kunta Kinte Celebrations, Inc. (Festival Operations | Community Impact & Youth Empowerment)
* Bill Haley — Grandson of Alex Haley (Family Legacy | ROOTS 50 Commemoration & Ancestral Honoring)
* Chris Haley — Director of the Study of the Legacy of Slavery at the Maryland State Archives & Alex Haley Nephew (Maryland African American history | Genealogy & the Alex Haley-Kunta Kinte Memorial)
* Featured Main Stage Performers & Local Farmers Market Growers
To schedule news features or advance interviews, please contact Tamiko@PlatinumImageEntGroup.com. To apply for KKHF 2026 press credentials, please visit www.KuntaKinte.org/press and complete and submit the KKHF Media Credential Form.
SPONSORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS
KKHF 2026 is made possible through the generous support of our community partners and sponsors, including the City of Annapolis | Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum | Chesapeake Children’s Museum | Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis | Reese & Sons | Bread & Butter | Tree House Project, Inc. | Priority Partners | Power Home Remodeling.
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