When Chi Ezekwueche founded the Pan African Festival in 1996, the main stage was a flatbed hitched to the back of a pickup truck.

“We felt like we had made it,” she said. “The dream had come true. We had a great time.”

Saturday launched the 15th annual festival at Tattnall Square Park, with artists from around the state performing on a large stage with speakers and lights, surrounded by vendors selling food, clothing and jewelry.

“We can all embrace music, dance, the arts, and we can definitely embrace food,” said Anita Ponder, director of education and outreach for the Tubman African American Museum and the coordinator of the event.

While the festival celebrates the African diaspora around the globe, Ponder said the Georgia festival also keys in to “how it relates to us right here in Bibb County.”

Ezekwueche agreed.

“My hope is that people realize that we are all connected,” she said.

Under the principles of love, peace, unity and hope, the festival included live musical entertainment -- from gospel and R&B to reggae and rap -- spoken word, dance groups and a comedian.

“(Events like this) bring an array of people together to do something positive,” said

Gail Dumas, a first-time festival attendee, was there to support her friend Pilar Wilder, owner and director of the Hayiya Dance Theatre, which was preparing to perform.

“It brings the whole community together to celebrate the culture,” said Emmanuel Brew, a Ghana-native who is no stranger to the festival.

Since moving to Macon a decade ago, Brew said he has been to several of the annual events.

“I was here last year and we loved it,” he said as he exited the petting zoo with his daughter, Naima. “It gives us a chance to get out and it’s really good for the children.”

That attention to children -- the festival hosts a children’s village complete with a petting zoo, games and bounce house -- is no small thing, Ezekwueche said.

The family friendly environment is key to the festival.

“I hope that people encourage the young people to dig down into their roots,” she said. “We need to understand and share the culture, no matter what that culture is. ...and the history. A story that is not told is not a story. It’s dead.”

Day two of the festival begins Sunday at 1 p.m., with a performance from the Beulahland Children’s Choir. This year also included the first ever Pan African Festival Easter egg hunt at 3 p.m., due to the annual event landing on Easter for the first time in its history. The festival’s Unity service begins at 4 p.m.

For more information on the festival, visit tubmanmuseum.com.