2024 Day of the Ancestors:
Festival of Masks
Bese Saka, Our Wealth
is Our Togetherness
Celebration: Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 12 pm
Leimert Park People's Street
Join us to experience an active connection with cultures rooted in Africa, through drumming, dancing, chanting, mask making, food and healing arts and, to find the sense of wholeness and well-being.
Be affirmed and find community as we come together to honor those who have passed on with art and performances that reflect their spirit and cement their legacy as ongoing guides for positive living.
Saturday, May 4 Kick off- Bese Saka Day
Location: Peoples Street and KAOS Network
12-12:30 Bese Saka Themed Art Activity with Maria Elena Cruz/Sign ups for workshop reminders
12:30 Drum and Song Opening
12:45 - 1:30 Community Discussion Circle
1:30-2pm Art Activities/Workshop Reminders
2-4pm KAOS Kids
Community Workshop Saturdays
Connect with the Ancestors - body, mind, spirit and community
Every Saturday from May 11 - June 29, 2024
African and Diaspora Dance
King Daunté "Nabi" Fyall and DAANSEKOU
Leimert Park People's Street
11:00 am-12:00pm
Join King Daunté "Nabi" Fyall in an African Dance workshop where you learn and experience the healing powers and cultural wisdom intrinsic in African Dance.
Daunté "KINGTAE" Fyall works closely with inner city youth while also maintaining corporate private and individual group sessions. He promotes the development of Ancestral knowledge through love, tradition, family, community, unity, and movement. With an affinity for cultural education, "KINGTAE"is on a quest to empower others to discover a great self awareness through light, love, and positive energy.
Ancestor Mask Making
Ronieka Pinkney, Maria Elena Cruz, and Aiysha Sinclair
Leimert Park People's Street
12:00-2:00 pm
Make masks and headpieces that are infused with culturally relevant stories from the past, reflections from the present, and visions of the future. Maria Elena Cruz, Ronieka Pinkney, and Ayisha Sinclair lead this journey to imagine and create art that will be featured in the annual day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks at the Leimert Park Art Walk.
West African and Diaspora Family Music, Song, and Sound
with Mama Nene
Rene Fisher-Mims
The World Stage
2:00-3:00 pm
Join Mama Nene, or Rene Fisher-Mims, for African Drumming at the famed World Stage.
Mama Nene is one of the lead artist organizers of the Festival of Masks. She is a dancer, vocalist, hair stylist, master percussionist and founder of the women's drum circle S.H.I.N.E. Muwasi (Sister's Healing, Inspiring, Nurturing, and Empowering in the Hands of God). Mama Nene teaches drum workshops every Thursday evening at The World Stage in Leimert Park Village.
Thank you to our partners
Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks is supported by our funders and donors
