Years ago, after a trip to Jamaica for Reggae Month, the Commissioner of Miramar, Florida, Alexandra P. Davis wanted to take a piece of the experience back to her constituency. This is what gave birth to the Afro-Carib Festival. “I wanted to bring the Black History Month celebrations and the Reggae Month celebrations together in a festival,” Commission Davis recalls.
Born in England but raised in Jamaica, Commissioner Davis is no stranger to the vibrant island culture that gave birth to Reggae. Her stint as a public servant began in Jamaica. After completing her BSc. Degree in zoology and chemistry at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus, she worked for the country’s Ministry of Agriculture. The lifelong public servant would also work for the capital tax office in London, England, before settling down in South Florida as an indispensable agent of change.
While the Afro-Carib Festival began in 2019, the Commissioner’s efforts at fostering community across the African diaspora began more than a decade earlier. In 2003, she created the non-profit organization Caribefest, Inc. to better cater to and integrate the city of Miramar’s rapidly booming Caribbean population.
As it is for many Caribbean residents, Afro-Carib Festival is an extension of Commissioner Davis’ culture. The festival synthesizes an experience that pulls from the Caribbean, Africa, and the unique offshoots that can only be found in cultural centers such as the city of Miramar. Commissioner Davis and her team of organizers bring it all together to form a one-of-a-kind, inclusive experience of art, music, and food.
The third annual Afro-Carib Festival will be held on Saturday, February 25 from 5-11pm at the Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater.
