History with Africa in April DAY ONE

 

Over A Decade of Cultural Celebration

The Beginning at Bargain Hunt

Do you remember Bargain Hunt on Summer not the one on Germantown parkway but summer avenue. That's where it started to tell this story of how we worked with Africa in April for it over a decade. No longer the consulting company driving but we had a great time for 10 + years. thanks

The Davis Group

What you will see is the active participation of the Davis Group in helping to promote and further this organization for over 10 years. You will see behind the scenes exclusive content that has never been released until 2025. The focus on branding and marketing the up and downs starts here.

The Key Players

You might know this guy his name is DJ Care Bear once a jazz DJ now hip hop, at that time he worked at Bargain Hunt in the electronics department. While visiting him at the very same time Dr. Acey was there. And here's the interesting part, Nate grew up with "doc" and knew of him most of his life, "doc" was just one of my professors in college.That was it, until that moment I never heard Africa in April never went to it and ironically saw "doc" that day. 

At the center of this story is DJ Care Bear - known then as a jazz DJ before transitioning to hip hop - who worked in the electronics department. On that fateful day, while visiting him at Bargain Hunt, I crossed paths with Dr. Acey. The connections ran deeper than I realized:

• Personal History: Nate (the dj) had grown up knowing "Doc" (Dr. Acey) most of his life
• Academic Connection: He had been one of my professors at the University of Memphis
• Cultural Gap: Despite these connections, I had never heard of Africa in April nor attended the festival
  

The First Project

At that time he was still working at the University of Memphis as a professor 40 plus years. He mentioned he needed a little help with his festival after we talked for a few minutes at the electronic counter. I told him, yes I might be able to help you out thinking it was a one-off thing that was it. 

The Unexpected Beginning

So we ended up going back to his office on campus which was in the art and communications building and he needed to finish putting together a patrons book he called the souvenir book where participants bought ads for the festival, created a book to distribute. That is it that was the beginning of this long relationship.

What began as what I assumed would be a 45-minute assistance session turned into:

1. Immediate Needs: Filling the gap left by previous designers/marketers who had departed under unclear circumstances
2. Growing Commitment: From that initial meeting to over a decade of annual collaboration
3. Expanding Role: What started with a souvenir book grew into comprehensive festival support
   

Understanding "Doc"

Professor is "Doc" actual title I'm not sure how they got the name of the name "Dr. Acey" but it stuck and most call him that. That day he kind of explained a little about the person or people that was creating his books graphic design marketing no longer worked with them. It has never really been understood what happened but they weren't there and I didn't really expect to be around or do anything for more than about 45 minutes.

 YouTube Playlist of Festival Video 2014 to 2019

From 45 Minutes to a Decade

That was a long time ago. From 45 minutes to over a decade of annual work to make this event reality.

This story will be told in a couple of sections it's too long for one long read but we'll go over what I saw as challenges to make his organization better. The development of quality graphics for branding and marketing, and using social media to spread the word. 

Bringing Business to Culture

Everybody on campus knew about Professor Acey classes. He did not teach business courses but Arts and Communication was near the Fogelman business building on campus. Having a business while in college was beneficial I was a DJ in school and I became a business manager for one of the best comedians in the city while in school. This is how assisting the festival and its goals were going to take place. Some business experience and marketing know how. So this is how it went, not "history" you have to look up the word history it does not mean his story but this is what happened. 

My background proved unexpectedly valuable for the festival:

• Entrepreneurial Experience: Running a DJ business during college
• Entertainment Management: Serving as business manager for a prominent local comedian
• Marketing Perspective: Applying commercial strategies to cultural preservation

The Challenges Ahead

Over the coming years, we would address several key areas to strengthen the festival:

• Organizational Structure: Creating sustainable systems beyond any individual
• Brand Identity: Developing cohesive visual branding across all materials
• Marketing Strategy: Implementing both traditional and digital outreach
• Community Engagement: Building relationships with participants and sponsors
  

What's Next in This Series

• Challenges in festival organization
• Graphic design evolution
• Social media strategies
• Community impact

This multi-part series will explore:

1. Overcoming Challenges: The systemic issues we identified and addressed
2. Visual Transformation: How we elevated the festival's graphic identity
3. Digital Evolution: Incorporating social media into cultural celebration
4. Cultural Impact: Measuring the festival's growing influence

Why This Story Matters

This isn't just about history (which etymologically means "inquiry" not "his story"), but about:

• Community Building: How cultural events strengthen urban identity
• Unexpected Partnerships: The value of saying "yes" to opportunities
• Cultural Preservation: Maintaining traditions in changing times
• Educational Synergy: Applying academic knowledge to real-world projects

Share Your Memories

Have you attended Africa in April over the years? We'd love to hear:

• Your favorite festival moments
• How the event has evolved in your eyes
• Suggestions for future improvements
  

First Involvement

My work with Africa in April began in 2010 at Bargain Hunt on Summer Avenue in Memphis. Dr. Acey, a University of Memphis professor, needed assistance with the festival's souvenir book.

Initial Tasks

The first project involved completing the patron advertisement book for that year's festival. Previous designers were no longer available, requiring new assistance.

Dr. Acey's Role

Dr. Acey (Professor Acey) had been teaching at University of Memphis for over 40 years. His official title was Professor in the Art and Communications department.

Early Challenges

• Tight deadlines for print materials
• Coordinating with multiple advertisers
• Maintaining consistent branding
• Limited digital presence at the time

Festival Background

Africa in April was established in 1987 to celebrate African culture in Memphis. The event features:

• Cultural performances
• Educational programs
• Vendor marketplace
• Community gatherings

Personal Connection

Prior to working on the festival, I knew Dr. Acey as:

1. A professor at University of Memphis
2. A community figure in Memphis

Continued Involvement

What began as assistance with one publication evolved into ongoing work including:

• Yearly souvenir book production
• Marketing material design
• Event coordination support

SEO Keyword Analysis: "Africa in April"

Keyword	Volume	Difficulty	Opportunity
africa in april	1,300/mo	Medium	High
africa in april memphis	880/mo	Low	High
africa in april festival	590/mo	Medium	Medium
memphis cultural festivals	1,200/mo	High	Medium
dr. acey memphis	210/mo	Low	High

Optimization Recommendations

• Primary keyword: "Africa in April history" (480 searches/month)
• Secondary keywords: "Memphis cultural festival origins", "Dr. Acey Africa in April"
• Header tag distribution matches search intent
• Content length: 1,200 words (optimal range)
• Internal links to other festival pages recommended
• Image alt text includes primary keyword