Senegal Rhythms, Dance, and Story
June 5th, 2021 at 3:00 pm (PDT)
This event is free and open to all!
On Zoom and streamed
Enjoy the music, dance, and culture of Senegal! Online event broadcast live from Motherland Music.
Join Malik Sow live from Motherland Music! Malik has had a long association with Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks as a sought after leader on the drum. Born in Dakar, Senegal, into the Fulani tribe, Malik comes from a long line of musicians and griots. A master drummer and teacher, he has performed across tribes and in major performance troupes throughout West Africa and America, where is has lived since 1960.
Looking Back Moving Forward
2021 Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Mask at the Leimert Park ArtWalk
Sunday, June 27th, 12:00 - 1:30 pm (PDT)
Join us as we experience Thiossane, the Senegalese way of taking cues from the past to live well in the present. This June, we are online to celebrate the rich traditions of the African Diaspora and connect you with Black creatives from across the globe!
The festival will be live on Zoom and streamed to Facebook and YouTube.
Hosted by Bruce Lemon
Poetry by S. Pearl Sharp and Triniti Daniel-Robinson
New Performance by Olugun Prophecy
World Premiere by S.H.I.N.E. MUWASI
New Song! Celebration by Maxx Percussion
Blessing by Imodoye Shabazz
Featured Artists:
Lula Washington Dance Theater
Katalyst
Ranika Adachi
Noni Olabisi
Kehinde Johnson
Sankofa Leaders
All ages are welcomed and invited to travel the African Diaspora with us!
Proudly Black!
Sunday, June 13th, at 12:00 (PDT)
Join us in conversation with Sunny Moore and Nyambo Anuluoha, moderated by Melanesia Hunter
Join the Zoom room or stream on Youtube
Senegal is one of the world's fashion capitals, brimming with creativity and the style of a people who bring a special look to every endeavor, declaring with each step what it means to be Black and proud.
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Nyambo Anuluoha and her sister Kay are co-owners and CEOs of KUTULA by Africana, continuing as second-generation owners. Over 40 years ago, Francesca Anuluoha emigrated from Zambia to Los Angeles and opened a retail space, Africana Imports on Slauson Ave., with a focus on creating beautiful clothes that connect people to their African past and the power of having a proud history. In 2014, she retired and moved to Zambia, leaving her daughters Kay and Nyambo Anuluoha in charge, and the rebranded the store as KUTULA by Africana, which remains LA's premiere retailer for African inspired fashion. KUTULA also serves as a design showroom for African-inspired fashions serving film and television costume as well as set designers, stylists, celebrities, dignitaries, and leaders across sectors.
Sunny Moore, owner of Sunny Moore Collections clothing line, was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She currently resides in Senegal and has studied and worked in the health, art, real estate, and entertainment businesses for the last twenty-five years, specializing in designing clothes, health and fitness and training youth in trade skills. Sunny also works with local artisans in West African to help bridge the gap between the diaspora and Africa. Her dream is to build a solid foundation on the African continent for those interested in beguiling our great BLACK NATION for the next generation.
Melanesia Hunter is a self-taught makeup activist to the stars, culture curator, and CEO. Mel has a natural gift for enhancing the beauty that already exists and amplifies the flavor of everything she touches! She the owner of her own Afro Bohemian online boutique and lifestyle brand, HippieChik, and of her production company The27Brand. Mel is also a Cultural Organizing Lead with We Love Leimert.
Senegal Rhythms, Dance, and Story
June 5th, 2021 at 3:00 pm (PDT)
This event is free and open to all!
On Zoom and streamed on Youtube
Enjoy the music, dance, and culture of Senegal! Online event broadcast live from Motherland Music.
Join Malik Sow live from Motherland Music! Malik has had a long association with Day of the Ancestor: Festival of Masks as a sought after leader on the drum. Born in Dakar, Senegal, into the Fulani tribe, Malik comes from a long line of musician and griots. Born to be a drummer, her has performed across tribes and in major companies through West Africa before coming to America, along with teaching others, since 1960.
Ancestors Mask and Song
Saturday, June 19th, 2021 at 11 am (PDT)
This event is free and open to all!
On Zoom and streamed on Youtube
Mask making and song with Rene Fisher-Mims and S.H.I.N.E. Muwasi direct from Leimert Park!
Rene Fisher-Mims, or Mama Nene, is one of the lead artist organizers and co-founders of the Festival of Masks. She is a dancer, vocalist, hair stylist, master percussionist and founder/ director of S.H.I.N.E. Muwasi, a women's drum circle. S.H.I.N.E is an acronym for Sister's Healing, Inspiring, Nurturing, and Empowering in the Hands of God. Mama Nene teaches drum workshops every Thursday at The World Stage in Leimert Park Village.
Leimert Park's Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks is an annual celebration of our ancestors and an invocation for the South Central Los Angeles community. It is a multicultural, multigenerational, and multimedia arts event that champions the vast identities and cultures of the African diaspora
Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks
Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks
Now on Sale
Minna
Dominique Moody
Kayla Shelton
S. Pearl Sharp
Halline Overby
I see you
I see you distant neighbor
I see you unhoused child
each step reclaims identity
This is still South Central
my stomping ground
Dominique Moody
Dezmond Crockett
S. Pearl Sharp
Halline Overby
Visual Arts and Dogan Cosmology
May 23, 2021 at 12:00 pm (PDT)
In the spirit of independence and Masquerade, Visual Arts and Dogan Cosmology will explore the intergenerational journey of tradition. Join artist/gallerist Aziz Diagne and educator/historian Abdullatif Bell Tounkara in dialogue about sharing their cultural knowledge with the next generation of artists and reflecting on the cultural impact of Senegal in their modern practices. Moderated by artist Brittney Price.
Join the Zoom room or stream on Youtube
Abdullatif Bell Tounkara is an autodidact concerning Afrikan Spirituality, History and Culture with emphasis on West Afrika, the ancient to enslavement, and the effects of the history with present life consciousness. Abdullatif has been teaching Afrikan Djembe drumming and some therapeutic effects to inmates in five San Joaquin Valley prisons for the last five years. He has performed and spoken at public and private events from weddings, receptions and funerals to schools to radio, television and theatre talent. He holds a BA and a K-12 teaching credential.
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Aziz Diagne is a multi-media artist from Senegal, West Africa. He grew up in the city of Thies, amid the traditional art forms of his homeland. These art forms include rock carving, ceramic and wood sculpture, murals, tapestry, and Thiesoise (reverse painting on glass). Aziz, a self-taught painter, through his unique and dynamic talents, quickly established himself as one of the premiere contemporary glass painters. Before coming to the United States, Aziz studied in Dakar and Thies, Senegal. Aziz traveled extensively throughout Africa, Europe, and South America, absorbing the art and cultures of diverse environments. These experiences have greatly enhanced the artist’s seemingly limitless repertoire and creative energy.
Brittney Price is a Los Angeles-based fine artist and muralist specializing in impactful visual commentary on current events. As a female Black American, Brittney's perspective of life is unique, her art brings representation for this often-overlooked demographic. It is Brittney's intent to uplift, celebrate and teach her community using art as a vessel.