Celebrating Black Culture: Grady Austin Previews Festival Sundiata on The Day With Trae
A cherished Seattle tradition is returning to the Seattle Center, promising an expansive celebration of Black art, love, and community resilience. Grady Austin, Executive Director of Festival Sundiata, recently appeared on The Day With Trae to talk with host Trae Holiday about what attendees can expect from the festival’s upcoming 46th annual iteration.
A Reunion of Mentorship
Before diving into the festival details, Holiday revealed a poignant connection: Austin was one of her own foundational mentors during her childhood.
"When I tell you that you pouring into somebody else could truly change their life, I am an example of that from the ways that he poured into me," Holiday said to him.
Austin shared in the sentiment, expressing immense pride in Holiday's growth into a prominent media voice. “You never know who you're speaking to when you're dealing with a child,” he said. “I am so godly proud of you and thankful that I got to be a part of your early journey.”
The "Family Reunion" of Seattle Center
Originally stepping into the executive director role during the challenging, remote-heavy years of the pandemic, Austin has spent his tenure focusing on team synergy and preservation. Though originally from Buffalo, New York, Austin has been rooted in Washington state since his time in the Navy in 1984.
The upcoming two-day event, taking place across the historic 74-acre Seattle Center campus, will feature overlapping cultural experiences. Attendees will be greeted by the infectious sounds of Black music, spanning reggae, blues, R&B, funk, and hip-hop, across two performance areas: the Armory Stage and the Mural Stage.
The sensory experience continues with "The Taste of Sundiata," showcasing a wide variety of entirely Black-owned food trucks and marketplace vendors. Furthermore, a dedicated focus on families returns through a three-year partnership with the Seattle Children’s Museum, which will offer free admission and specialized programming throughout the festival weekend.
Historic Lineup and Inaugural Features
This year's lineup places a heavy emphasis on regional excellence alongside national legacy acts. On Saturday night, local artist Draze will take the spotlight as the evening's headliner. On Sunday, the festival will welcome national funk icons Morris Day and The Time to close out the weekend.
Grounded in Collective Love
When asked about the underlying force that keeps volunteers dedicated year after year, Austin attributed it directly to the foundational power of Black community and love.
"In this country, Black love is what sustained this country," he said, giving particular reverence to the historical impacts of Black women and the Black church in keeping community ties unbroken. "We celebrate the foundations that allow us to be here."
Austin closed the segment by giving a grand shout-out to his hard-working volunteer board at the Sundiata African-American Cultural Association.
Event Details
Festival Sundiata will take place on Saturday, August 22nd and Sunday, August 23rd, running from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. both days.
The event is hosted at the Seattle Center. Attendees are highly encouraged to utilize public transit, taking the light rail and connecting via the Seattle Center Monorail to avoid downtown traffic.
Complete scheduling, artist lineups, and volunteer opportunities can be found at the official website, festivalsundiata.org.
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