Photos and story by Victoria Leuang / Contributing Writer
In celebration of various cultures and heritages, the ‘Boro International Festival allowed people of all backgrounds to lose themselves in traditional food, music and art from countries all around the world.
Co-founders of ‘Boro International Festival Tena Bailey and Linell knew they wanted to create an event honoring different cultures, and that’s just what they did, putting together a festival that represented groups from China, Laos, Africa, Panama, Thailand, Iran, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela and other countries.
“It took us three years to come where we are today,” Bailey said. “And here we are today, year two.”
Family and Community Outreach Coordinator Jolene Radnoti said the ‘Boro International Festival gives Murfreesboro an opportunity to learn and better understand cultures different from their own.
“We just need to learn about each other,” Radnoti said before suggesting that everyone, regardless of background, belongs to the human race.
The festival began with a Children’s Parade of Flags that showcased over 20 countries during a community sing-along to “We Are the World.” Here, attendees and students had the opportunity to understand and expand upon a more global worldview.
Free to the public, the family friendly event offered activities for all ages, such as origami-making and international board games. There were also live music and traditional dance performances that reflected the diversity of Murfreesboro and the world.
Cultural booths present offered a variety of exhibits and historical items to represent their respective heritages. Additionally, arts and crafts vendors provided an assortment of cultural displays, crafts, music, art and more, which attendees were able to purchase and partake in.
“One thing I think is so important about this event and the growth of this event is that it does showcase that we can live in harmony,” Bailey said. “And we belong in harmony, we belong here, together.”
‘Boro International Festival is sponsored by Murfreesboro City Schools in partnership with MTSU, Confucius Institute, International Affairs and more. The festival will return to Cannonsburgh Village next year on Oct. 20.
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Primarily, I would like to draw attention to this article with the notion that it portrays an extremely important event to this community. Some may not consider it so, but I personally think that bringing different culture into our lives makes us more educated as a human race. Not only does instilling varied cultural values assist in opening the mind of children but it also teaches adults values that they can pass down to their children that can create a domino effect of a future more accepting of different races and their unique cultures.
As it is stated in the article, the event was a chance for community members of all ages to explore the attributes particular to specific cultures. This event was so much more than that as it instilled in children’s minds that the world doesn’t run on one type of person; one race; one lifestyle. It shows that the world goes around with many races, and cultural values contributing. It also serves to show children and uninformed adults that there is so much out there in this world to learn and be curious about because in curiously there is knowledge and the beauty of being open to new experiences. The article states cryptically multiple times that is was difficult for this event to even be out into place. This fact concerns me as the people I see around me cling to their own values and stubborn ideals their whole lives without even thinking of what else is all out there and presenting old fashioned beliefs.
To conclude; the thing that i find the most important and enriching about this event is that it promotes cultural equality. AS children explore the cultures of different races, they learn to not judge someone by their skin color or religion or specific way of life that they choose to lead. when children learn this at a young age by exploring and seeing this all for themselves at this festival the future becomes more promising in terms of racial acceptance and spreading peace. It also doesn’t hurt for adult community members to learn all this as it seems a stereotypical quality of the south is holding onto old values that don’t apply to the free ever changing world around us .