Junebug Productions, the creators of "Lockdown" bring you "Gomela/to return: Movement of our Mother Tongue," an original dance theater performance that highlights the stories of New Orleans African American communities. Join us in a journey that connects the past and the present by highlighting ancient art forms (African dance and drumming) and new artistic expressions (jazz, spoken word, hip-hop) that make evident the connection between Africa, Haiti and New Orleans.
Featuring award winning artists… Show more
SUNNI Patterson poet
TROY Sawyer trumpeter
KUMBUKA African Drum Dance Collective
Fringe Festival SPECIAL
Tickets are 50% off if you bring a Fringe Festival button! Available at the door only on November 20, 21, 22, 23*
Tickets are limited - first-come-first serve
* This is not a Fringe Festival show. Fringe Festival tickets and buttons will not be available for purchase, Fringe tickets will not be accepted.
Sunni Patterson
Emerging from the musical womb that is New Orleans, Mother, Wife, Artist and Visionary, Sunni Patterson, combines the heritage and tradition of her Native town with an enlightened modern world view to create music and poetry that is timeless in its groove. Sunni has been a featured performer at the many of Nation's premier spoken word venues, including HBO's Def Poetry Jam and BET's Lyric Cafe. She has also had the privilege of speaking at the Panafest in Ghana, West Africa, as well as sharing her work on several other international stages. Armed with an engaging story, voice, and presence, Sunni is a highly sought after lecturer and performance artist in universities, schools, festivals, community events, conferences and concerts across the U.S. and abroad. She has worked with several well known artists and performers including Hannibal Lokumbe- singing lead vocals for his score," King and the Crescent City Moon," Kalamu Ya Salaam, Sonia Sanchez, Wanda Coleman, Amiri Baraka, Mos Def, Eve Ensler, The Last Poets, and many more. Before touring and lecturing full time, Sunni- a graduate of Tuskegee University, possessing a B.A. in English- taught as a full-time High School teacher in the New Orleans Public Schools and as an instructor at Kuumba Academy African Centered School. Her life is devoted to serving as a cultural worker and grassroots activist using art and poetry to encourage dialogue and healing. She uses art as a tool to recognize, address, and eliminate all forms of oppression. She has trained under such greats as Iyanifa Osunmonife Balewa, Dr. Morris F.X. Jeff, Jr., Nana Anoa Namtambo, Mama Jean Taiwo Oluwo Afolabi Epega, Martial Arts Instructor- Ndugu Khan, Acklyn Lynch, Nana Kwabena Faheem Ashanti, Ph.D, and several others. Sunni has been honored with several awards, including two Nuspa awards (National Underground Spoken Word Poetry Awards) for The Most Inspirational Poet in 2010 and 2011. She also received the Eve Ensler V to the Tenth Anti Violence Movement Award for her work with Gulfcoast women and girls. Most recently, she received the Toni Cade Bambara Award for Cultural Leadership.
Supporters
This program is supported by Nathan Cummings Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Ford Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, New Orleans Jazz Heritage Foundation, Alternate Roots and the Arts Council of New Orleans
All photos by Melisa Cardona
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