“We need to bring the ‘Guinea’ back to the Guinea Jubilee,” said Melissa Ashe, giving a renewed emphasis to and appreciation of the cultural traditions that set this festival apart from similar community celebrations.
Ashe, Nick Bonniville and Fran Bonniville sat down last Thursday at the Buck’s Store Museum in Bena to discuss plans for the festival which returns next month after being sidelined the last two years due to the Covid pandemic.
Mr. and Mrs. Bonniville, Melissa Ashe and her brother Ryan, have served as chairmen of the Guinea Jubilee Committee since 2020, but this will be the first time the four will be in charge of one.
The 41st Guinea Jubilee (or 43rd, depending on how you do the math) returns Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 24. This year’s jubilee is just one part of a monthlong Guinea Heritage Month, which includes the Miss Guinea Jubilee Pageant on Sept. 10, Guinea Heritage Day on Sept. 11 and a “Singspiration” featuring the gospel music of the Kellum Family Singer...