Ritual of Rememberance Ceremony (Flowers in the Water)
I placed that white Carnation in the fountain, wishing I had more than just one. One was not enough to give thanks to ALL my ancestors. If it was up to me, I would give them each a million Carnations. Thanking them. Praising them.THANK YOU ANCESTORS…for all you did for us. Because of you, I can live the life I do. Thank you…Ahsay Ahsay. We sang, we danced.we celebrated. I did not want the celebration to stop. My heart and spirit was just in too much joy to let it in. As I walked back to my dorm, the rhythm of the drums, the song we sang, and the rememberance we gave, never lefted my soul. AHSHAY….AHSHAY!
Thank you and let’s keep going!
Thank you to all the scholars, moderators, facilitators, volunteers, visitors, students, performers and conference staff for an amazing two days! We had wonderful conversations, shared stories, historical sources, food, poetry, friendship and solidarity. Please, let’s keep this flowing. Post your comments, questions and feedback here on the blog or email us at sjrichmond@nsu.edu or clnewby-alexander@nsu.edu. Keep an eye on the website for more information, videos, photos and updates as we gather all the wonderful ideas generated by everyone in attendance.
The Legacy of Weyanoke: A Journey Through Song
Taking a less tense and musical tone, “Legacy of Weyanoke” took the remnants of the days’ conference attendees on a journey from Africa to the American South through song. The quartet was accompanied by their two-person band. While playing bongo drums, maracas, a tambourine, and a cabasa, the kente-cloth-wearing group sang African chant songs, and concert spirituals. The audience, made of head-nodding, foot-tapping on-lookers, listened closely as they were taken to Nigeria by a Yoruba chant. From there, melodic strains transported them to Ghana with a Kente cloth weaving song, to Jamaica and The Bahamas with a coconut-picking song, and dropped them off in America with a Weyanoke song. Once in America, Legacy of Weyanoke sang two Gullah songs, “Waiting On You,” “Moses,” and “Ride the Chariot,” a mainland Negro spiritual. Considering the previous festivities, this was a different, yet highly enjoyable presentation. The audience was actually able to visualize the presentation’s events and feel the emotions of the Africans. Legacy of Weyanoke’s mission is to spread awareness to the public about African folk music and literature, and its role in America through performance. As evidenced by this display, they are doing just that.