The second annual
Rhythms & Movements of African American Culture Festival
COMMEMORATING THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Thank you all for helping us celebrate Black History Month and supporting our festival theme, Revolution Requires Resistance, during a time when our art and artists voices are much needed, especially for our youth and communities!
-Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation
A few highlights of our
2ND ANNUAL RHYTHMS AND MOVEMENT FESTIVAL:
Our Sunjata Kamalenya’s by the Experiential Theater performance attracted over 1,000 inner-city students from a dozen schools from the greater metropolitan New York area. The interactive experience included several students performing cameo roles in the show.
Our post-performance Heartfelt Legacy Award Ceremony honored four recipients for their pioneering leadership and lifelong contributions to dance and cultural arts: Ms. Carolyn Devore, Baba Abdel Salaam, Mama Dyane Harvey-Salaam, and Zakiya Harris.
Under the direction of Yao Ababio, Asase Yaa’s 16-member African American Dance Theater performed Djembe in the New Millennium, which also featured guest appearances by Amma Whatt, Missia Saran Diabate, Saidou Sangare, Zamani Moyo, and Travis Raeburn, which was a captivating finale to the Festival.
The Black Dance Pioneers Legacy electrifying performance featured 53 youth dancers and musicians from our three featured youth dance ensembles, Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble, Ife Youth Dance Theater, and the FIYAA Forces of Nature Incredible Youth Arts Alliance, and a special guest appearance by the Brooklyn Marching Band.
FESTIVAL Photo Gallery
The 2nd Annual Rhythms & Movements of African American Culture Festival was a five-day entertainment extravaganza with the theme, Revolution Requires Resistance, commemorating the 55th Anniversary of Black History Month, February 12–16, 2025. The Festival comprised 14 performances, including four evening performances, six youth shows, 11 featured artist performers, and 100 contributing artists.
Audiences experienced an immersive exploration of African American identity and activism through theater, dance, music, spoken word, and visual arts.
Our inclusive platform honors the past, reimagines the future, and hopes to ignite change and activism through the transformative power of art.
5 DAYS, 4, headlining shows, 14 PERFORMANCES
BLACK DANCE PIONEERS with LEGACY
DANCE PERFORMANCE
Featuring Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble,
FIYAA Forces of Nature Incredible Youth Arts Alliance,
and Ife Youth Dance Theater
SUNJATA KAMALENYA
Performed by the Experiential Theater Company
TRIBUTE TO ARTISTS OF THE REVOLUTION
CONCERT PERFORMANCE
Featuring Weedie Baimah, globally revered Djembe drummer
and Balla Kouyate, Balafon virtuoso
DJEMBE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Featuring the Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater
VOICES OF RESISTANCE
SPOKEN WORD SERIES
EVOLUTION OF ACTIVISM
MATISSE & DISTRICT 16 VISUAL ARTS EXHIBIT
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
BLACK DANCE PIONEERS with LEGACY
DANCE PERFORMANCE
Thursday, February 13, 7:30 PM
SUNJATA KAMALENYA
Six School Performances: Wednesday – Friday, February 12-14, 10:00 am & 12:30 pm
TRIBUTE TO ARTISTS OF THE REVOLUTION
Friday, February 14, 7:30 PM
Buy Tickets Here
DJEMBE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Saturday, February 15, 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 16, 3:00 pm
Exhibiting/appearing Thursday-Sunday:
VOICES OF RESISTANCE SPOKEN WORD SERIES
EVOLUTION OF ACTIVISM: MATISSE & DISTRICT 16 VISUAL ARTS EXHIBIT
ABRONS ART CENTER PLAYHOUSE THEATER
466 GRAND ST, NEW YORK, NY, 10002
The 2nd Annual Rhythms and Movements of African American Culture Festival is sponsored by
The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Kolibri Foundation.
Produced by Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation