The community lined up to support the 2024 Nigerian Independence Flag-raising Celebration at City Hall. Hosted by FunTimes Magazine, the 65th anniversary flag-raising & awards event returns this year, marking Nigeria’s freedom from Great Britain on October 1 at 3 p.m. EST at City Hall.
Photo courtesy of FunTimes.
“This tree must be falling for me, as soon as I sat under it, it dropped its leaves.”
— Charmaine J. Forde, poet/ short-story writer
Fall is the perfect season to cuddle up with a great book. This week’s column focuses on authors and the power of the written word, as well as America’s upcoming 250th birthday. So, book up your calendar with these mostly free events, as September hands off the baton to its relay partner, the month of October.
City to proclaim ‘Nigerian Independence Day in Philadelphia’
Wednesday, October 1, 2025. It will be a day of pride and patriotism. FunTimes will proudly and passionately celebrate “Nigerian Independence Day in Philadelphia,” with a local flag-raising and leadership awards ceremony, followed by a reception outside of Philadelphia City Hall. The program will feature performances by a masked masquerade and drummers along with formal remarks by City officials Charlie Elison Director for Immigrant Affairs, Tunji Ogunmola, Associate Pastor, RCCG Living Spring Miracle Center; Jannie Blackwell, Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs; Dr. Azubuike Ezeife, Member of the Diaspora Advisory Council, and Dr. Eric Nzeribe, publisher of FunTimes Magazine — the program’s organizer. FunTimes’ multimedia host Lavonne Nichols and Dr. Juliet Njoku will be the event emcees. Three community champions of Nigerian descent will be honored for their achievements: Dr. Brenda A. Allen, President of Lincoln University, Dr. Odiraa Nwankwor, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Laolu Senbanjo, a musician and multi-disciplinary artist. FunTimes will also officially kick off the Oral History Initiative, an exciting multiyear project documenting first-person accounts of the African and Caribbean diaspora in the Delaware Valley and globally. Since 1960, October 1st has officially marked Nigeria’s independence from Great Britain. Communities in the Greater Philadelphia area freely wave the vertical bands of green, white, and green annually. Nigeria is considered to be the “Giant of Africa,” with its large population and economy. Nigeria is the welcoming home of more than 250 ethnic groups and Philadelphia is populated by at least 4,000 residents of Nigerian descent. Free, registration is encouraged; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST Flag-raising/ Awards Ceremony: City Hall/ north side; Reception, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST: City Hall Courtyard, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd. E-mail: info@funtimesmagazine.com, 215-954-6300 or funtimesmagazine.com
Tribute To Spread The WURD
Friday, October 3, 2025. WURD, one of the U.S.’s few Black-owned independent radio stations, will celebrate the Founder’s Day Gala in a great tribute to owner Walter P. Lomax Jr., M.D., and community awards ceremonies. WURD Radio will unveil “Freedom Journeys: Celebrating the Lives of 250 Phenomenal Philadelphians.” To mark the Semiquincentennial – the U.S .’s 250th birthday – WURD will feature 250 iconic Philadelphians in the 250 days leading up to July 4, 2026, the official 250th birthday of the nation. WURD will launch the “Phenomenal Philadelphians” series with a presentation of Dr. Lomax’s achievements, acknowledging his stellar medical career, entrepreneurial efforts, real estate prowess, philanthropy, and commitment to community empowerment. Enjoy a cocktail reception, live music, a DJ dance party, Community Impact Awards recognizing five accomplished Philadelphians, and the main event – the tribute to Walter P. Lomax, Jr., M.D. Individual tickets: $150; 6 p.m. EST to 10 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m. EST.) Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, 100 N. Horticultural Dr. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-wurd-radio-founders-day-gala-tickets-15529176…
Get On The Books
Saturday, October 4, 2025. The goal is to connect and showcase readers to Philadelphia’s Latino authors, illustrators, writers, and designers in the community. And that’s exactly what The 7th Edition of the Book of the Latin American Book Fair does. Just in time to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through October 15, avid book lovers can meet and get their hands on books signed by the more famous and also lesser-known voices and scribes of the community. They can buy and enjoy monolingual and bilingual books. Free admission, 11 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST. Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad St. 2025 Philadelphia Latin American Book Fair, or https://www.latinbookfair.com/
Top left: U.S. Navy ROTC Midshipmen and at right: ”The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.
Born in the U.S.A.
Thursday, October 9 to Thursday, October 16, 2025. Most of the American military branches were born in Philadelphia. So, it is fitting that to mark America’s celebration of its 250 years of independence, the U.S. Navy and Marines are on board with a week of events that will make you feel patriotically proud. Homecoming 250 Navy-Marine Corps will honor veterans and current military personnel. It will salute 250 years of service with events, ceremonies, parades, aerial demonstrations, exhibitions, and educational programs featuring historic buildings, ships, museums, and waterfront sites in Philly and Camden, NJ. Enjoy the “Victory at Sea” concert on Independence Mall in Philadelphia’s historic district featuring the Marine Band and the Navy Band, followed by fireworks. Check out a replica, and active-duty ships representing the Navy from the Revolution era up until now. See aviation displays by the Blue Angels, historic Navy, and Marine aircraft. The Marines will show off their landing craft and equipment, and the Navy SEALs and Leap Frogs Parachute Team will also participate. Philadelphia Museums will showcase the storied history of the Navy and Marine Corps. Most events are free; 9: a.m. EST to 6 p.m. EST. Various venues will include Cherry Street Pier/ Penn’s Landing; Philadelphia Navy Yard/ South Philadelphia, & Independence Hall, 6th and Chestnut streets. https://www.homecoming250.org/
Meet an Accomplished ‘Black Panther’ novelist
Saturday, October 11, 2025. As part of the fantastic Free Library Author Series, meet Ibi Zoboi, the New York Times Bestselling author of books for children and teens. She has authored American Street, a National Book Award Finalist, Pride, a modern remix of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and the Walter Award and LA Times Book Prize-winning Punching the Air, co-written with Exonerated Five member Yusef Salaam. In case you can’t tell by now: The Haitian-born Zoboi has enough literary awards to fill a book. Zoboi is a two-time Coretta Scott King Author Award honoree for The People Remember, her debut picture book, and Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler. She is the recipient of the 2024 CSK Author Award for Nigeria Jones. She is the editor of the anthology Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America and has written Okoye to the People, a Black Panther novel for Marvel. Free but pre-register, noon, Greater Olney Library, 5501 N. 5th St. (5th St. and Tabor Rd.) https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=TZTYd2oxlUWo3VojTtG- or https://www.ibizoboi.net/
Shonda Rhimes
Get Shonda On The Books
Monday, October 13, 2025. Just say ‘yes’ to Shonda. It’s TV powerhouse Shonda Rhimes’ Year of Yes, 10th Anniversary, a follow-up to her best-selling memoir. Rhimes offers an expanded edition of her New York Times bestseller with new stories and reflections about personal and professional growth including her experiences of stepping out of her comfort zone. The life-changing premise is that the TV creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Bridgerton, and other shows agreed to welcome all opportunities in her journey. Today, after a decade of opening her life to all possibilities, meet Rhimes, as she shares her wisdom about overcoming her fears and the results of approaching life with a wide-open mind. Individual tickets: $69 to $101.36 (comes with a free Year of Yes 10th Anniversary book); 7 p.m. EST. Kimmel Center/ Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St. 215-893-1999 or https://my.ensembleartsphilly.org/syos/performance/59063
Rising Musicians Can Keep In Tune at Networking Confab
Saturday, October 18, 2025. Emerging musicians and music-industry professionals can ‘Do the Hustle” at a networking and educational event, Inside Hustle Fall 2025 by WXPN radio station. The get-together will feature two panels: “The Musician Hustle: A Three-Part Journey” and “Networking.” Get in-person access to experts in Philadelphia’s fast-paced music world. New artists can pick the brains of seasoned industry managers, marketing-PR professionals, representatives from radio stations, as well as booking agents from local venues, studio producers, musicians, podcasters, and lawyers. Talk shop about artistry and commerce including finding your voice, connecting with audiences, navigating local venues, and understanding the business basics. Moderated by Bruce Warren of WXPN, the lineup will include industry insiders from WXPN, WMMR, Rising Sun Presents, Fallser Club, Philadelphia Music Alliance, Grammy U, The Recording Academy/Philadelphia Chapter, Mixtape Media, Yo! That’s My Jawn (Podcast), Rock To The Future, Milkboy Studios, Lesser Matters Management, Mellomanic, 100X, Ground Control Booking, and others. Inside Hustle Fall 2025 is produced by Philly Music Fest and WXPN. The event includes snacks and drinks. Free but pre-register, noon. REC Philly, 901 Market St. / Suite #2120. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inside-hustle-fall-2025-tickets-1661187399229?aff=oddtdtcreato
