Jackson, MS — The National Folk Festival is pleased to announce that Thabi Moyo has been selected as the Local Festival Manager for the National Folk Festival during its residency in Jackson, Mississippi. Moyo was selected from a field of over 50 candidates who applied for the position.
In this role, Moyo will work closely with the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the organization co-producing the event with the City of Jackson for its three-year residency beginning November 7-9, 2025. Moyo will oversee all administrative elements of the festival, supervise fundraising and marketing, and will manage local operations, from vendor relationships to volunteers. Her work will require Moyo to serve in multiple capacities while maintaining a keen eye for detail, from representing the festival to writing grants and communicating with media outlets. She will work closely with the NCTA, the Festival’s Executive Committee, and the City.
A Jackson native, Moyo brings over 15 years of experience managing large-scale events and fostering cultural engagement to the position. Previously, she worked for the Mississippi Film Office as the Production and Workforce Manager. In this role, she oversaw film production across the state, including managing location and crew. Moyo is also the co-founder of Magnolia Sunset Markets, a monthly market featuring small businesses in Jackson.
“I am so thrilled to welcome Thabi as our Local Manager for the National Folk Festival,” said Ebony Lumumba, chair of the Festival’s Executive Committee. “I know Thabi’s work from her previous projects. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position, and will help ensure the festival is a resounding success during its time in Jackson.”
The prestigious National Folk Festival is the nation’s longest-running traditional arts event, a free, three-day, outdoor multicultural celebration of music, dance, and traditional arts. A traveling festival, the “National” has been presented in nearly 30 cities across the country since its inception in 1934. The NCTA partners with communities across the nation to present the National Folk Festival, free to the public, for three years with the understanding that the local host community intends to continue its own festival once the National’s residency ends. During its three-year stay in Jackson, the National Folk Festival will draw over 330,000 visitors to downtown, generate over $60 million in long-term economic impacts for the city and the region, and lay the groundwork for a locally produced festival to continue after the National moves on to its next site. Jackson will be the home of the National Folk Festival from 2025-27.
The National Folk Festival is a partnership of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Jackson, Visit Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, the Community Foundation for Mississippi, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Humanities Council, Visit Mississippi, and the National Park Service.