10TH ANNUAL LEIMERT PARK
DAY OF THE ANCESTORS: FESTIVAL OF MASKS
A CELEBRATION OF BLACK JOY
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020, 2PM PDT
via zoom and facebook live
Welcome to the Tenth Annual Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks at the Leimert Park Art Walk. In this time of pandemic, we focus on the wisdom of our ancestors - on the continent of Africa and across the diaspora - to guide us in creating our future. You have joined an international assembly of artists from Los Angeles, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, Curaçao and Zambia and come together with the people of Leimert Park and beyond to uncover the power of Black joy as resistance.
Traditionally, Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks is the artistic culmination of months of work to explore art and ideas and connect to the African diaspora through a procession and festival on the streets of Leimert Park Village, the cultural heart of Black Los Angeles. Artists and culture bearers lead workshops inviting people of all ages to spend time communing with their ancestors, making masks and giant puppets and learning movement, rhythm and song. Festival day is a joyful spectacle and spiritual experience that uplifts individual expression and collective creativity and brings the community together across generations, in a celebration of multiplicity and unity.
This year, we presented a series of online experiences to create these cultural connections. Online Festival of Masks Cultural Arts Workshop participants included local youth (Sankofa Leaders) and community members near and far. Through a series of Diaspora Dialogues, we brought together artists and culture-bearers across oceans to engage in intimate conversation, sharing creative practices and wisdom that speak to this time.
Upholding the values that have been at the heart of Day of the Ancestors, we honor the ancestors by supporting local artists and culture bearers in opportunities for exchange with artists from across the Diaspora; and by involving local youth as apprentices, learning from these creators with a focus on the cultural traditions powering the practice. We recognize our young people as visionaries, and support them in developing skills and resilience to create the future.
At this 2020 festival, we welcome your participation! Appreciate the artistry and wisdom of Diaspora Dialogue participants, hear the stories behind the ancestor masks created by Sankofa Leaders, join virtual tours of Leimert Park black-owned businesses produced by rising cultural organizers We Love Leimert.
We invite you to join in the blessing and libation ceremony, invoking community reflection and healing. And envision together with us a procession through our streets, symbolizing the people's power and capacity to take ownership over our communities, address challenges, and create change.
Share your ancestor stories, mask pictures, community love, cultural inspiration and tag:
Click UNDERLINED links in the program below for bios, interviews and more!
Videos of African Diasporic Arts Workshops and Diaspora Dialogues available on LA Commons Facebook
Some recordings shared as part of this event are archival, others were created for the Festival at locations from Leimert Park to Lusaka, under diverse conditions. As festival organizers, we urge everyone to honor your ancestors, love your community and wear a mask.
LA COMMONS
Headquartered in Leimert Park, LA Commons, a project of Community Partners, works in neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles facilitating issue-driven public art projects that inspire creativity in everyone. We engage communities in artistic and cultural expressions that tell their unique stories and serve as a basis for dialogue, interaction, understanding and organizing for a more just and equitable Los Angeles.
LEIMERT PARK ARTWALK
Leimert Park Village has a long history of being the center of African American arts and culture. Held on the last Sunday of each month, Leimert Park Artwalk invites the public to share a day of art exhibitions, music, fashion, food, drumming, spoken word, and local shopping. Throughout the day, cultural spaces, artist studios, and storefronts in the village also have offerings ranging from free computer seminars and specialty vendors to film screenings, youth theater performances, and live bands.
Festival of Masks Leadership Circle
Ben Caldwell
Nzingha Camara
Kaya Dantzler
Rene Fisher-Mims
Tasha Hunter
Ronieka Pinkney
Pastor Kelvin Sauls
Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks
A Celebration of Black Joy
DJ: Adé Neff
Co-hosts: Tasha Hunter & Bruce Lemon
Blessing
Baba Imodoye Shabazz
Karen Mack, LA Commons
Olokun Cultural Group
We Love Leimert: Local Business Feature
KAOS Network
Nappily Naturals
Invocation
Pastor Kelvin Sauls
Queen Mothers: Mama I Can’t Breathe
S.H.I.N.E. Muwasi: #SayHerName
Libation and Harambee
Digital Procession and Workshops
We Love Leimert: Homie Time
with Verbs, Kaya, Mel and Sondria
We Love Leimert: Local Business Feature
Hot and Cool Cafe
Sika
Sankofa Leaders
Bee Wheeler, Paradys Oakley, Sean Baker
Sankofa Leaders
Noni Olabisi, Nichole Jones, Parys Oakley
Diaspora Dialogue Brazil
Rene Fisher-Mims, SHINE Muwasi
Diaspora Dialogue South Africa
Dr. Don Mattera and Teddy Mattera
Sankofa Leaders
Adoniah Freeman, Amara McDuffie, Clarence McDuffie
Diaspora Dialogue Curaçao
We Love Leimert: Local Business Feature
Ride On! Bike Shop
Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center
Diaspora Dialogue Nigeria
Jimetta Rose, Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation
Diaspora Dialogue Zambia
NSIKU performed by Wezi
Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation
Festival of Masks Diaspora Dialogue Artists and Partners:
Brazil
Dr. Giavanni Washington (Viver Brasil), Moderator
Paula Santos, Translator
South Africa
Dr. Don Mattera and Teddy Mattera
Ben Caldwell
Pastor Kelvin Sauls, Moderator
Curaçao
Melanesia Hunter, Moderator
Zambia
Karen Mack, Moderator
Nigeria
Jimetta Rose (Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation)
Metebrafor Agindotan, Moderator
Special thanks:
Najite Agindotan
Kaya Dantzler
Wajenda Chambeshi
King Drew University
Linda Yudin (Viver Brasil)
Olokun Cultural Group
Nagode Simpson
Metebrafor Agindotan
Onome Agindotan
Daniella Kyle
Kiemute Agindotan
Queen Mothers: Mama I Can’t Breathe
Nzingha Camara
Rene Fisher-Mims
Sharon Givens
Barbara Williams
Nzingha Ejukwa
Beverly Brewster
Stephanie Haynes
Teresa Smith
Jennifer Knight
Makeda Jackson
Spoken Word Poetress/V. Kali
Priest/Baba Imodoye
Master Drummers:
Baba Malik Sow
Kenyatta Poole
Jaijai Johnson
Kwesi Williams
Masked Dancer/Queen Lolo
Stiltwalker/Kehinde Johnson
Videography/Editor/Chester Whitmore
Music/H.E.R. ‘I Can’t Breathe’
Choreographer/Nzingha Camara
Costumes & Props/Nzingha Camara, Sharon Givens and Kehinde Johnson
S.H.I.N.E. Muwasi: #SayHerName
DRUMLINE
Emma-Lorraine
Bart-Plange
Imani Ife
Bevely Brewster
Danniella Ddanceah
Lynn Jackson
Mekeda Jackson
Cherl Denson
Jennifer Knight
Christy Ramiez
Mekeda Kumasi
Cora Player
Rene Fisher-Mims
MOTHERS
Valerie Parker
Nzingha Camara
Sharon Giveins
Beverly Brewster
Janice Rankalawan
DANCERS
Teresa Smith
Kamilah Marshall
Empress Ariella
Protesters
Alisha McDonald
Ramona Stephens
Reggae Moms
Jahzara Garbutt /gard
Zola McDonald /gard
Za'Yn McDonald /gard
Umbrella Men
JAy P
King Tay
TK
Festival of Masks Workshops
Lead Artists
Maria Elena Cruz
Barron Lightner
Noni Olabisi
Youth Mentors
Lynzie Glover
KaLynn Youngblood
Technical Support:
LewaNana Pinkney
Sydney Wharton
Erin Wimberly
Workshop Participants:
* Sankofa Leaders
Adoniah Freeman*
Alejandra Herrera
Alexandria Patience
Alexis Grossman
Allie C
Amanda Gracis
Amara McDuffie*
Amir Pinkney *
Amir Whitaker
Andrew Lewis
Arceli Burgos
Barbara Williams
Bee (Brittany) Wheeler *
Billy Harris
Bryant Miramontes
Bullot Robert
Zakirov-Schecht
Camilla Sky
CarolynJohnson *
Chikako Yamuchi
Christina Dominguez
Clarence McDuffie III *
Connie Martin Trevino
Daisy Jiménez-Luna
David Rockello
Deborah Wei
Delia Echevers
Drew Stever
Dushi Amour
El Banu
Eleora Salvador *
Elizabeth Thomas
Eloise Perrochet
Erin Jones
Esther Waltz
Farida Corkery-Smith
Fazeel Chauhan
Feliz McInnis
Georgina Nicholas-Jago
Geraldine Wong
Ginnia Hargins
Giovanni Valentine *
Gloria Graves
Holly Lynn Purser
Imani Aanu
Isabel Portillo
Jabari Harris *
Jeanette Mack Taylor
Jeanette Parham
Jolene Perkins
Jon Ho
Jonnissa Jackson
Juanita Feurer
Judi Redman
Justa Copa
Kaelyn Badu
Karen White
Karen Bagnard
Kariso Simon-Hart
Katrina Bailey
Kevin Phạm
Laura Echevers
Laura Jo ( Patrick)
Lauren Quarles
Lilit Sevadjian
Lillian Orta
Lisa Beebe
Liz Varela
Lucy montes
Maria Ramos
Mary Montgomery-Baldridge
Melissa guerrero
Melody Capote
Millo Huertas
Mitzi Morin
Nancy Hart
Nichole Jones *
Noah Jenkins *
Omiyemi Artisiam Green
Paradyse Oakley *
Parys Oakley *
Patricia Williams
Rianna Lara Godfrey *
Richlene Frost
Sabrina Ross
Sarah Mital
Sean Baker *
Stanley Harris
Susan Awad
Sylvia Stinson
Taliba Rosemary-Carr
Tasha Hunter
Tessa Adler
The Nunez Chateau
Traci Green
Valeria Meza
Vince Hughes
Yvonne West
We Love Leimert
⛲️ Leimert Park ⛲️, the heart of Black culture in LA, collectively bridging
generational gaps & cultivating connection thru art + community.
Local Business Features
Hosted by Yohaun Walker and Miriha Austin with Kaya Dantzler
Sika, Sika Dwimfo and Milan Wilkinson
Homie Time with Verbs
Verbs, Kaya Dantzler, Melanesia Hunter, Sondria
Digital Organizers: Miriha Austin, Six Sev, JayP
Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks
A Celebration of Black Joy
Digital Event Design and Production
Toran X. Moore, Producer/Production Manager
Tasha Hunter, Artistic Lead
Travone Evans, Editor/Videographer/Broadcast Lead
Lynzie Glover, Editor/Videographer/Production
Digital Experience Design and Facilitation by
Calling Up Justice: Claudia Alick, Dani Bae, Sabina Unni, Karinna Ithier
Digital Event Production:
Erin Wimberly
LewaNana Pinkney
Sydney Wharton
LA Commons Staff
Afrika Bakenra, Office Coordinator
Beth Peterson, Director of Community Arts Programs
Karen Mack, Executive Director
Leslie Tamaribuchi, Director, Strategy and Operations
Maeve Atkinson, Development and Marketing Intern
Miranda Ynez, Community Arts Organizer
Rich Johnson, Special Project Manager
Sandi Garcia, Youth Mentor
Toran X. Moore, Production Manager
Many Thanks to:
The World Stage
Sole Folks
Brittani Bakewell
Joseph Cochran
Special Thanks to all those who contributed so greatly over the years - to be continued:
Lula Washington Dance Theater
Dembrebrah
Marie Kellier
Viver Brasil
Peter and Roxanne Abilagu
Tory Reese
La Ballet Dambara
Damaris, Dennis, Minkah and Ambiya Smith
Al Smith
Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center
Esowan Books
Community Build
Leimert Park Stakeholders
And all youth arts alumni and community participants
The Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks
was made possible with the support of
The Dwight Stuart Youth Fund
Herb Alpert Foundation
and individual supporters like you.
Make a gift today
to support
cultural connection
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