ESSENCE OF NEW ORLEANS EAST FESTIVAL 2026

The Essence of New Orleans East Festival, aka NOLA New Orleans East Essence Festival Evolution starts Thursday July 2, to Sunday July 5, 2026 (4 days, July 4, 2026 weekend) is newly formed under our already established organization Queens of Africa United International Foundation USA 501c3. The Essence of New Orleans East Festival aka NOLA New Orleans East Essence Festival Evolution Mission is to "celebration with a purpose," our event that celebrates African and NOW African American culture, Black American culture, indigenous Black American, with focus on local Artists music, self -improvement, culture ancestry storytelling, opportunity for local and afar vendors to exhibit their arts, crafts, foods at affordable prices, locals and tourists engage with the New Orleans East Community and surrounding Greater New Orleans areas.

New Orleans Louisiana minimum wage is currently $7.35 per hour when our city brings in 90 million tourists annually.

Our locals put in the hard work, therefore, they should enjoy more of the profits and decent wages. Come support us in Essence Festival of New Orleans East Festival.

New Orleans East is the Community that holds all of New Orleans together. Without New Orleans East, New Orleans would fold. We are the cream of the crop in New Orleans East.

Our core purpose is to Celebrate in Unity, Love, with a purpose and a mission. Come start your ancestry healing journey or continue your healing journey, celebrate our 50 plus shades of beauty, continue education on culture awareness, enjoy local and afar talent, and empower the community through various workshops and discussions, foster connection among attendees, and promote economic development in New Orleans East. It provides a space for African NOW African Americans, their descendants with any percentage of Black and Albino ancestry to celebrate their heritage, connect, be inspired, and contribute to the local New Orleans East economy since little has been done financially to rebuild since Hurricane Katrina.

*Our 50 plus shades of Black is Beautiful!

Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with the following

Caroline Wanga has stepped down as the President and CEO of Essence Ventures, the parent company of the Essence Festival. The announcement, made on August 28, 2025, comes months after public criticism of the 2024 Essence Festival and after Wanga had been on health leave. Essence Ventures, and its parent company Sundial Technology & Media Group, released a statement expressing gratitude for her leadership and contributions to Black women and culture.

*We are Queens of Africa United International Foundation USA 501c3 registered with Louisiana Secretary of State that are presenting our own version named Essence of New Orleans East Festival, NOLA New Orleans East Essence Festival Evolution.

The Founder and CEO is Ms. Adjoa Alaina, native born New Orleans that confidentially knows her Africa NOW African American Ancestry History attended Holy Redeemer Elementary, (Abramson for Summer School), Xavier Preparatory and Dillard University

If I deny my Ancestry I am lost. If I deny my Ancestry I deny myself. Thousands came to New Orleans for the prior Essence Festival to enjoy our culture, dance, food, music and traditions. What you love and enjoy so much was established by our African Ancestors moreso West Africa and NOW us their African American aka Black American descendants.

*The fancy feet work second line we named it influences are from Senegal Gambia and Ivory Coast West Africa

*Beignet Donuts origin recipe is from Senegal West Africa

*Gumbo derives from West Africa, moreso Nigeria they call it Okra stew

*Jambalaya aka Jollof influences origin is Senegal West Africa

Therefore, if you by any chance are offended by the name Africa originally named Alkebu-lan, meaning "mother of mankind" or "garden of Eden." The name Alkebulan was used by the Moors, Nubians, Ethiopias and other indigenous people. If you are offended by our Ancestors being from Africa, offended by African print Kenté Cloth etc., well this not the event for you to attend because we acknowledge our positive ancestors and greatly appreciate the path and free labor they were forced to do in order for us to enjoy their culture and NOW our culture in New Orleans and America. Some movements are very bitter, hurt, and angry causing great division and to gain their own profit.

We are Kingdom Builders for Almighty God Yah restoring New Orleans East after (some appointed Bureaucratic white supremacy) destroyed our combined districts 20 years ago (several hours) after Hurricane Katrina had already passed, booms were heard like bombs that burst the water Levy's in the Lower Ninth Ward, excessive and deadly flooding and damaging flooding in New Orleans East. Watch Spike Lee Movie on Netflix.

(Who was the current President during Hurricane Katrina?)

This was mainly done to destroy our African Ancestry prints and culture in New Orleans.

Do you know your true DNA by salvia?

Ask yourself this: Have you traveled to Africa to see it's a continent of 54 countries with beautiful people of different shades, and shapes that resemble us in America?

*America is North Africa broken off that formed the Great North Western America

*Have you traveled to Africa and studied with authentic elders that can storytell our ancestry history?

*Why does the Liberia flag resembles the United States of America Flag? Liberia's connection to the U.S. stems from the American Colonization Society, founded in 1816, which established Liberia as a settlement for free African Americans in West Africa starting in the 1820s. Liberia's founding documents, including its constitution, were modeled after the U.S., and its capital was named Monrovia after then-President James Monroe.

After slavery ended, many African Americans wanted to return back to Africa, therefore colonizers made a peace treaty with Liberia to receive our African Americans ancestors for their settlement.

New Orleans Louisiana reigns mainly the ancestors spirits of Haiti, Nigeria, Ghana, Bantu, Ivory Coast, Congo, Mali, Togo, SenegalGambia, Camaroon, Benin, Uganda and Kenya.

Many that live in New Orleans have different percentages of the above DNA. Many that love to visit New Orleans is due to your percentage of Africa DNA from your prior African NOW Americans ancestors and their descendants.

If you are one of those people afraid to know your DNA or in denial about learning your ancestry DNA or think it a conspiracy. Here is some correct knowledge, if you desire and love coming to New Orleans, that's your positive ancestors energy communicating to you their reign in New Orleans.

Finally, what is your existence and purpose on earth?

*Civilization aka life started on the cradle of Ethiopia Africa and Egypt Africa which is now Israel

*WE ARE NOT A BITTER HATE MOVEMENT!

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾The Fleur de lis that thousands use, wear and profit from, origin is a Sankofa Adrinkra Symbol. It is a visual symbol that represents concept, Proverbs, and aphorisms. These symbols originated from the Akans of Ghana 1700s or before. The Fleur de lis is the symbol of a Chicken foot which means mercy, nurturing and discipline. The Roman Catholics copied it and named it as the Trinity. During slavery many ancestors were branded on their flesh the symbol to identify where they came from. This symbol is on the gates and homes in Ghana and Nigeria. Thousands

flaunt this Ghana West Africa symbol in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, profit millions off the symbol and don't know it's origin.

We are nurturing and cultivating aspiring Artists, Entrepreneurs in New Orleans and others from afar that wants to participate.

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Host or Publisher NOLA Krewe of West Africa