Day of the Ancestors:
Festival of Masks
Leimert Park's Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks is an annual celebration of our ancestors and an invocation for the South Central LA community. Founded in 2010 by artists Najite Agindotan and Ben Caldwell in collaboration with LA Commons, the Festival of Masks is a multicultural, multigenerational, and multimedia arts event that champions the vast identities of the African diaspora.
The festival features a libation ceremony, procession, and a lineup of dance and musical performances. The blessing and libation ceremony are designed to invoke a healing and reflection process in the community. The procession through the streets symbolizes the people's power and capacity to take ownership over their community, address challenges, and create change.
Seeds of the Village
Celebration: Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 12 pm
Leimert Park People's Street
12pm|Libations
1pm|Procession
2-6pm|Performances & DJ Adé and Utopia
Performances by
SHINE Muwasi, Jimetta Rose and Voices of Creation, Mama Laura’sMighty Balls of Fire, Torrence Brannon & His Everything with Soul Band,Billy Higgins Tribute Ensemble, UTOPIA, AND MORE!
Honoring Ancestors
Amber Tell, Ras G, Laura Mae Gross,
Richard Fulton and Billy Higgins
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 we are all seeking after two years in a global pandemic.
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.
Seeds of the Village Saturdays
Connect with the Ancestors - body, mind, spirit and community
Every Saturday from May 13 - June 24, 2023
Honor your Ancestors on our
LA Commons Altar
African and Diaspora Dance
King Daunté "Nabi" Fyall and DAANSEKOU
Leimert Park People's Street
11:00 am
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 and Maria Elena Cruz
Leimert Park People's Street
12:00 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 and Ronieka Pinkney 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.
African & Diaspora Drumming
with Mama Nene
Rene Fisher-Mims
The World Stage
2:30 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.