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Howard University鈥檚 101st homecoming weekend kicked off on Friday with Yardfest 2025.
This year, the homecoming’s theme is where the university will showcase its uniqueness, pursuance of service and its unity, according to its website.
The music festival, which in the past has featured Jay-Z, Ludacris and The Notorious B.I.G., packed Howard鈥檚 legendary “yard” with current students and alumni, such as Kenny Harris from the class of 2012.
鈥淲hat makes this weekend so special is that it’s a family reunion,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where you can come as who you are and leave as who you want to be.鈥�
Another alumni who made their way back home was Pat France. The member of the class of 1986 said back in her day, they didn鈥檛 call it Yardfest.
鈥淚t was still the same energy,鈥� France said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 gotten a lot more professional. We just hung on the yard.鈥�
France said what makes returning to Howard so special is the love, the energy, the warmth and the continued academic excellence.
A student photographer who was working around the yard taking pictures of both students and performers was sophomore Winston Owens.
“The artists will literally come out and just have a normal conversation with you,” Owens said. “The connection is probably my favorite part of Yardfest.”
Of course, music is a big part of Yardfest, but so is fashion, as freshman Azariah Powell made clear.
鈥淚 picked out my outfit on Oct. 1,鈥� Powell said.
The Atlanta native noted she had to choose another outfit last minute because the outfit she ordered didn’t arrive on time.
Fellow freshman Akeelah Shaw, who is from New Jersey, said she was excited for her first homecoming weekend.
“I’m looking forward to having just a good experience, the community of Howard and the Bison love. I’m so excited for it,鈥� Shaw said.
The Howard Bison are taking on the Morgan State Bears on Saturday, and Harris made a prediction that a few Bisons would say is wrong.
鈥淲e’ve never lost. We never lost a party,鈥� Harris said with a laugh.
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