MOJA to celebrate arts, music, food, more Sept. 24-Oct. 1

Charleston’s streets will fill with bright smiles, beating drums, soulful songs, delectable tastes and more during the city’s annual MOJA Arts Festival, which kicks off for eight days starting Sept. 24.

The eight-day festival across the city brings together music, visual art, food, poetry and other events highlighting Black culture and artists.

MOJA artistic director Charleton Singleton will also perform a swing concert with friends Sept. 26 | Photo by Alice Kenney

“We are energized by the continued momentum of the MOJA Arts Festival and remain committed to expanding its visibility, elevating its artistic excellence and raising the bar each year to reflect the creativity, innovation and world-class spirit that define both this extraordinary festival and the city of Charleston,” said Charlton Singleton, the world-renowned trumpeter who is the festival’s artistic director.

Rochelle Riley, director of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, said many people at this year’s festival will be energized by a tribute to familiar songs from albums that debuted 50 years ago.

“People are going to go wild for albums celebrating their golden anniversary,” she said. “They were all recorded in 1976. The most familiary of those was Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life.”

The event, “Wonder at 50,” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St. Performing will be Demetrius Doctor.

Another exciting show planned for this year’s festival is the Oct. 1 finale, which will offer spirited versions of songs from other albums that turned 50 this year.

The show, curated by nationally-recognized producers Ray and Vivian Scott Chew, will feature touring and national performers who offer songs from Wonder, Parliament-Funkadelic, Earth, Wind and Fire, and more. Local food trucks and artisans also will be on hand during the Hampton Park event, which starts at 6 p.m.

Festival-goers also will enjoy this year’s Food Truck Cookoff on Sept. 25 with three finalists serving Gullah-inspired dishes near the Rose Pavillion at Hampton Park. Celebrity judges will crown a winner, who will get a $1,000 prize.

The MOJA Arts Festival opens 11 a.m. Sept. 24 at Marion Square with a free celebration that includes a picnic and bands from Burke, Timberland and Woodland high schools, who will also face off in a drumline battle. The event also will pay tribute to cultural celebrations of Barbados, Gullah-Geechee culture, Jamaica and Sierra Leone.

Other events during the festival, in chronological order:

Sept. 24, 7 p.m.: MOJA Community Heroes Gala. A black-tie dinner at the S.C. Aquarium, 100 Wharf St.
Sept. 25, noon: Launch of the MOJA Arts Festival Juried Art Exhibition. This year’s exhibition juror is artist Arun Drummond, who will appear at a 5 p.m. reception at the City Gallery, 34 Prioleau St. The show lasts through Oct. 25.
Sept. 25, 6 p.m.: Reggae Block Dance. The event will feature Kenyatta “Culture” Hill, son of legendary reggae artist Joseph Hill. Hampton Park.
Sept. 26, 9 a.m.: MOJA Fitness, a morning wellness event. Hampton Park.
Sept. 26, 8 p.m.: New Jack Swing. A concert with Singleton and friends, who will perform a repertoire of a defining swing genre of the 1980s and ’90s. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Sept. 27, 4 p.m.: MOJA Gospel. This spirit-filled music series will celebrate men of gospel at Greater St. Luke AME Church, 78 Gordon St.
Sept. 27, 7 p.m.: Black Frequencies: Poetry, South and Vision. Poets Marcus Amaker and Asiah Mae, the city’s current poet laureate, will offer an immersive evening exploring memory, ancestry, joy, resistance and imagination. Cannon Street Arts Center, 134 Cannon St.
Sept. 29, 7 p.m.: Jazz at MOJA. Chart-topping artist Jazmin Ghent and her band will celebrate “the unique styling of Charleston jazz.” Opening is Seth Gaillard. Dock Street Theatre.