PRESERVING
OUR HISTORY
ONE STORY AT
A TIME.
Unifest was more than a festival; it was a cultural movement, an annual gathering that transformed Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE into a space of Black joy, economic opportunity, and artistic innovation.
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OUR HISTORY
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Formed nearly 20 years ago by Union Temple Baptist Church (UTBC) under the leadership of Reverend Willie Wilson, the festival showcased emerging music legends such as Rare Essence, Destiny’s Child, and Tyrese Gibson, while providing local vendors, entrepreneurs, and artists with a platform to thrive.
However, despite Unifest’s historical and cultural significance and being led by UTBC (one the largest religious staples in Anacostia) its story has never been fully documented...
UNTIL NOW!
INTRODUCING THE
UNIFEST STORIES PROJECT
The archival collection aims to embody a representation of the dynamic intersection of race, politics, social justice, and artistic expression that shaped the lives of African Americans in Washington, D.C. The UNIFEST festival space was a reflection of the larger social fabric. The musicians, vendors, organizers, and audience members all contribute to a collective narrative.
This project aims to document personal memories, institutional histories, photographs, event recordings, and artifacts tied to UNIFEST’s history.
BEGINS SPRING 2026
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
The archival collection is collecting everything about the history of the collection (papers, artifact, video), everything that documents its existence.
