Newsletter Quarterly Insights, May 2026: Tamika Quillard

The Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks is built from the ground up, by us, for us. Some participants have graced stages across the globe, while some folks are barely holding it together. Regardless, all the folks show up to the same stage, pour into the community and claim their place in something bigger than themselves. That mash-up makes this festival unlike anything else in Los Angeles. 

Founded in 2010 by artists Najite Agindotan and Ben Caldwell in collaboration with LA Commons, the Festival of Masks is a multicultural, multigenerational event grounded in the identities of Africa and the African diaspora.The festival features a libation ceremony, a procession through Leimert Park Village, dance and musical performances. The libation is for healing and reflection. The street procession symbolizes people power and neighborhood ownership.

Tamika (right) speaking with Imodoye Shabazz at the 2026 Festival of Masks Kickoff.

I've lived and worked in this neighborhood for over twenty years, and it still surprises me. Every time I stroll through the Village I bump into creative powerhouses. The elders in Leimert have a dedication to the Village that humbles me. The youth have talents that are innovative and tangible.

The most interesting part of this work is listening to origin stories. Connecting with locals, learning where they come from and what drives them never gets old.

The challenges, whew, are real. For Black folks, change can mean watching our culture and narratives slipped out of our grip. I hold that tension carefully in everything I do in the Village.

What the audience may not always see is how personal this work is for me. When I offer a neighbor, artist or performer a real work opportunity, I potentially change the trajectory of their life. That is not a small thing. That is everything.

Sixteen years in, the Festival of Masks is still growing, still rooted, still ours.