Lois Fernandez facts for kids

Lois Fernandez (1936 – August 13, 2017) was a special community leader and activist. She is most famous for starting the Odunde Festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This festival celebrates African and African-American culture and history.

The Odunde Festival has been held for over forty years. It grew from covering just one city block to twelve blocks. Today, it brings together as many as 500,000 people in South Philadelphia. Lois Fernandez's work was praised in the United States Congress in 2000. She was also honored by the Pennsylvania General Assembly during Women's History Month in 2009. Her book, Recollections (part one), was published in 2016.

Lois Fernandez's Life Story

Lois Fernandez grew up in a large family. She was one of ten children. Her mother was the first Black woman to hold a political role in Philadelphia's Democratic party. Lois went to South Philadelphia High School for Girls.

Early Work and Activism

Lois's first job was as a clerk typist. Around this time, the Black Power movement was growing. This movement encouraged Black people to be proud of their heritage. Lois became very active in fighting for civil rights and fairness for everyone. She showed her pride by wearing her hair in an Afro. This was a bold choice back then, and some co-workers did not understand it.

Lois lived in the South Street area of Philadelphia. This area has a long history of free African Americans, going back to the 1600s. In 1963, Lois bought her own house there.

In 1966, Lois and some family members and friends opened a store called the Uhuru Hut. It sold Afrocentric clothes, jewelry, and art. They wanted the store to help people learn more about Black culture. At the same time, Lois and her friend Ruth Arthur started thinking about a community gathering.

Fighting for Change

In 1967, Lois became a single mother. She took legal action to remove the word "illegitimate" from birth certificates in Pennsylvania. She won her case, which was a big step for many families.

In the 1970s, Lois worked for the Department of Public Welfare. She helped reduce violence among street gangs in South Philadelphia. Throughout her career, she worked in various roles helping people. She was a social worker, helped place children in foster care, and counseled parents.

Lois believed in learning throughout her life. She earned several degrees and certifications. She even taught at Lincoln University.

Helping Seniors in Her Community

In the 1990s, Lois saw that older people in her neighborhood needed affordable housing. She worked hard with city leaders and builders to get support and money. Thanks to her efforts, Osun Village opened in 2010. It is a four-story building for seniors with lower incomes. City Council President Anna C. Verna said that Osun Village would "never, never have become reality" without Lois's constant effort.

Lois also faced health challenges throughout her life. She had rheumatic fever as a child. Later, she dealt with rheumatoid arthritis and breast cancer. Even after hip and knee surgeries, she used a motorized scooter to get around.

Creating the Odunde Festival

Lois Fernandez first met people who practiced the Yoruba religion from Nigeria in 1963. In January 1972, Lois traveled to Oshogbo, Nigeria. There, she was inspired by the Oshun Festival of the Yoruba people. She visited the Osun River and thought of doing something similar in Philadelphia.

The First Odunde Festival

After returning home, Lois and her friend Ruth Arthur organized the first Odunde Festival. It happened in April 1975 and was first called the "Oshun Festival." Their goal was to bring the community together. They also wanted to help people feel proud of Black history and culture.

The first parade started from Lois's house. A Yoruba priest led the ceremony. Lois also invited choreographer Arthur L. Hall and his dance group to join.

Many people doubted Lois's idea at first. Some thought the city would never let a Black parade stop traffic. Others worried about gang violence. But the first event was very successful and peaceful. Lois remembered: "They came out and looked at us coming up their streets because we had the drummers. We were making noise... It wasn't a big crowd. I don't know, maybe it was, like total maybe 50 of us. But there we come in their neighborhood with our drums, with our African clothing on, singing. ..."

In its first year, the festival received a small amount of money from a local community group and some neighborhood donations. The next year, it received a larger grant. From then on, the festival grew quickly.

Protecting the Festival's Roots

As Odunde grew, some people wanted to move it because it was too big and loud. Lois strongly fought to keep the festival in its original neighborhood. She believed it was important for Odunde to stay close to its cultural roots. She pointed out that other parades, like the Mummer's Parade, were allowed to stay in their original white neighborhoods. Lois saw the attempts to move Odunde as unfair.

By creating Odunde and keeping it in South Street, Lois helped make the area a very important place for Black culture. The Odunde Festival has helped keep African and African-American traditions alive and visible. Lois said in 1996: "The story of ODUNDE is part of a larger struggle for cultural resistance and survival that is in many ways the narrative of our time."

In 1983, ODUNDE Inc. was formed to support local cultural activities. The name ODUNDE means "Happy New Year" in the Yoruba language. Lois served as the president of ODUNDE Inc. for many years. Her daughter, Oshunbumi Fernandez, became the executive director. Together, they worked to record and protect African American art and culture from South Philadelphia.

In 1996, Lois passed on the leadership of the ODUNDE festival to her daughter, Oshunbumi. Oshunbumi was only one year old when her mother started the first festival.

Odunde Traditions

The Odunde Festival is held on the second Sunday in June. It is now the largest African celebration on the East Coast of the United States. It is also one of the longest-running African American street festivals in the country.

The Procession

The celebration begins with a procession. It usually starts from Twenty-Third and South Streets. Participants walk over the South Street Bridge to the Schuylkill River. There, people throw fruit, flowers, honey, and other offerings into the river. This is done to honor Oshun, a Yoruba river spirit.

People often wear white or traditional African clothing. Drummers, dancers, and vendors join the procession. After the river ceremony, the procession returns to a festival area. This area looks like a Nigerian market. There is music and other entertainment. Famous artists, like drummer Babatunde Olatunji, have performed at the festival.

Lois Fernandez's Book

Lois Fernandez worked with folklorist Debora Kodish to write a book about her early life. It is called Recollections (part one) and was published in 2016. The book shares stories from her childhood in South Philadelphia in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Book signings were held at Philadelphia City Hall and the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

Death

Lois Fernandez passed away peacefully at her home on August 13, 2017. Hundreds of people attended her memorial service. Many important community members, musicians, and politicians were there to honor her life.