Lois Fernandez

Lois Fernandez (1936 – August 13, 2017) was a political and cultural activist, best known for founding the Odunde Festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The festival celebrates African and African-American heritage. It has continued for more than forty years, expanding from one block long to a dozen, and drawing as many as 500,000 people to South Philadelphia. She was publicly recognized during Women's History Month, March 2009, by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. Her memoir Recollections (part one) was published in 2016.

Fernandez lived in the South Street area of Philadelphia, one of the oldest communities of free African-Americans in the United States, dating back to the 17th century.

Fernandez struggled with ill health during her life. She suffered from rheumatic fever as a child. Later in life she fought rheumatoid arthritis and breast cancer. After hip and knee replacements she had to use a motorized scooter for mobility.

Forming Odunde

Fernandez had met Nigerian practitioners of the Yoruba religion as early as 1963.

After returning to Philadelphia, Fernandez and her friend Ruth Arthur organized the first Odunde Festival. It took place in April 1975, as the "Oshun Festival". The second year, they were awarded a $5,000 grant by Councilman John Anderson.

In 1983, South Philadelphia-based ODUNDE Inc. was formed to support local cultural activity. The name ODUNDE comes from a Yoruba language word meaning “Happy New Year”. Oshunbumi Fernandez was a year old when her mother led the first ODUNDE festival. and one of the "largest and longest-running African American street festivals" in the United States. It was released in 2016 with signings at the Mayor's reception room in Philadelphia City Hall, and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Several hundred people attended her "home-going service" at the Universal Audenried Charter High School. They included musician Kenny Gamble, radio personality Patty Jackson, City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and state Representatives Bob Brady and Jordan A. Harris.