WIDAFest opens amid renewed calls for unity after recent vandalism in Lanspeary Park

African Festival kicks off amid racism concerns and hate graffiti. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru has the story.

The rhythmic beat of African drums and the aroma of Caribbean spices are filling Lanspeary Park this weekend as the Windsor International Diaspora African Festival (WIDAFest) returns for its third year.

For festival president Christopher Alexander, the annual celebration is about far more than music and food — it’s about unity.

“This is about showcasing our culture and the personality of who we are,” he said. “We’re loving people, really and truly. We welcome everybody.”

Alexander says the event reflects the diversity of Windsor’s African and Caribbean diaspora, from Nigeria to Ghana, Ethiopia to Uganda and beyond. This year, he hopes to attract visitors from across Essex County, the GTA and even nearby U.S. cities like Detroit and Chicago.

“It’s going to explode one day — but for now, it’s about building something strong and welcoming for everyone,” he said.

That welcoming spirit was tested less than a week before the festival’s opening, when a video obtained by CTV News showed two young men throwing a WIDAFest promotional sign to the ground.

The couple who filmed the video said the vandals also shouted homophobic and racial slurs.

Britt Leroux, who recorded the video from inside a car while her partner, John Reh, was driving, said she believed the vandals may have assumed they were targeting Windsor’s Pride community because the sign featured rainbow colours.

The video was filmed Aug. 9 — one day before the Windsor Pride Parade, which saw multiple incidents of hate-motivated graffiti discovered by organizers and prompted a Windsor police investigation.

“It doesn’t matter who they thought it was aimed at — it’s still hate. Hate in all forms,” Leroux said.

Alexander said safety is always a priority for organizers, who work closely with Windsor police.

“We plan for the worst and look out for the best,” he said. “If we see something suspicious, we report it. But this weekend is all about family, fun and culture.”

On-site security guard Theophilus Tony, a 22-year veteran of the industry who leads a three-person team at the event, said visibility is key.

“When the space is active, people who are here to do no good disappear,” Tony said. “We greet people, make them feel welcome, and keep the area busy.”

The festival runs through Sunday and features local and international performers, cultural dance demonstrations, a parade showcasing elaborate African costumes and a variety of food vendors representing countries across the African and Caribbean diaspora.

Alexander said the festival’s growth is intentional, keeping the number of vendors manageable so each can succeed and return in future years.

“We’re taking our time with it,” he said. “We want the vendors to be successful. If they are, there’ll be more vendors and more people next time.”

For attendees, his message is simple: “Come out, see the culture, feel the culture, taste the food, enjoy the music. This is a place for everyone.”