The Afro Solo Festival IV winds down this weekend in San Francisco with performances by local Black solo performance artists as well as concerts, a symposium and master classes.

Aug. 22 at 8PM will feature three solo performances at the ODC Performance Theatre (3153 17th St.). Azel Jones performs The Black Lotus, a journey of meaning, enlightenment and understanding, exploring the idea that even fellow Buddhists are not free of racism. Rhodessa Jones directs.

Alison Wright follows in A Lesson Learned, a humorous story about the discovery of self worth and racial identity as a black lesbian. Jones also directs, with Adele Prandini.

Brian Freeman concludes the evening with Confessions of Walter R., a play adapted from a 1940's study of the correlation between physical traits and sexual identity.

Writer, actor and director Philip Walker will lead Building a Solo Performance Work, Aug. 23 from 10AM-1PM, a free workshop at the Z Space Studio. The festival will close Aug. 24 with a family matinee at 3PM, at the ODC Performance Theatre. Bekee examines poverty, rescue and the effects of the African Diaspora in three humorous stories, The American Dream, Knight in Shining Armor and Tears.

Lonnie Ford follows in Chaza, a participatory play about the options available for dealing with racial, sexual and economic oppression.

In The White Zone (for the Loading and Unloading of Passengers Only), Norman Gee explores racial identity as a young man stuck at the airport curb. Manu Mukasa directs.

Afi-Tiombe A. Kambon finishes the evening with An Extra Jar of Molasses, the story of an African queen's attempt to end the Atlantic slave trade, interwoven with a slave girl's tale of her mother's attempt to save her from slavery.

For more information on Afro Solo Festival IV and to make a reservation for the workshop, call Thomas at (415) 346-9344. For performance tickets call (415) 621-7797.

--By Laura MacDonald