(Berkeley, CA) July 18, 2010 –
Join Habitot Children’s Museum on Sunday, July 18 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm in a fundraising event for a new African village exhibit at the Museum. Vendors will be selling authentic African arts and crafts, and a silent auction will offer the chance to bid on African masks, clothing, carvings, and instruments. Delicious East African cuisine from Tamutamu Kitchen will be served from 12:00 pm– 2:00 pm.

Habitot is collaborating on the event and exhibit with Jiji la watoto, an organization founded by moms Annette Ruah and Catherine Ndungu-Case, who draw on their experiences growing up in Kenya to teach children about African culture through adventure and play.

"Taste of Africa" is a family friendly event. Children can participate in face-painting and traditional African games throughout the afternoon, as well as enjoy performances from Jiji la watoto (who also teach weekly dance classes at Habitot), Kiasili Dancers, and Julia and the Chinyakare Ensemble from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. The African design creations of Wawi Amasha will also be shown off in a fashion show from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

Advance tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children age 1-18. Call 510-647-1111 x33 for advance purchase. At the door, tickets are $30 and $15. All tickets include Museum admission.

About Habitot:

Habitot Children's Museum is the East Bay's award-winning hands-on discovery museum for young children, recently nominated "Best Museum" in the Bay Area in Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect.com’s 2009 Parents’ Pick Awards. In 2008, Habitot won “Best Museum for Little Kids” in the San Francisco Bay Area in the same contest.

Through early childhood learning, parenting education, and community outreach, Habitot helps parents and caregivers raise curious, creative, and confident children. More than 850,000 people have enjoyed Habitot’s interactive exhibits, art programs and classes since the museum’s opening in 1998. Habitot ensures its accessibility for all Bay Area families with its Family and Community Partnerships Program, which brings more than 10,000 low-income and at-risk children into the museum every year through scholarships, subsidized memberships and free admissions days.

For more information please visit http://www.habitot.org