Celebrating a Culturally Rich Mosaic

Drum Call

Mario Charles

Original Music – Folk/Soul/Reggae

Jakeitha Patterson

Poetry/Spoken Word

B.A.G. (Black Artist Group)

Music and Poetry

Harambee Institute

Drum & Dance

Linda Kennedy

Storytelling

Sunshine & East St. Louis Community Dance Ensemble

West African Drum & Dance - Senegal

Jackie Morris

Gospel

Poetry D'Poet-DANJ

Spoken Word

Coco Soul

Headliner

Akindra Stamped Fans
Sista Is'Mima Nebt'Kata

Discover how the Ashanti of Ghana, West Africa, communicated through symbols to honor their ancestors while you create a piece of functional art.

Carvings
Keith Westbrook

The most popular workshop ever! Carve and paint soap to form pendants inspired by ancient symbols and masks from the African Diaspora.

Cowries and Gemstones
Baba Ken Amen

The light of Africa shines through the precious shells, as you learn basic jewelry making skills using copper wire and ingenuity.

Masqueraders History and Design
Anani Agbokou

Share in a rare experience of the art, culture, and application of masquerading. Anani Agbokou, a master craftsman from Togo, will demonstrate and explain the meaning and mutual benefits of this art for the community.

Beading It!
Khadijah Mahdi

The art of African Beadwork will be demonstrated by educator and artist, Khadijah Mahdi. Join us in an informative demonstration detailing the history, stone quality, design and the creation of fashionable handcrafted jewelry making. Don’t miss this make and take experience!

Leatherworks
Baba Abdoulaye Tunde

Baba Abdoulaye Tunde, a master drummer, producer, chirographer, tailor and craftsman will demonstrate design methods with leather crafts. Anklets, bracelets, and key chains made with leather, tie-dye, beads and shells are the end product of a hands-on demonstration of leather-working.

Kings and Spirits: African Sculpture

Join us for guided, family-friendly tours of the African Art galleries. Meet at the Information Center. Free.

Exploring African Art

This program was produced by KMOV Channel 4 in partnership with the Saint Louis Zoo and local St. Louis sponsors. It provides a fascinating and beautiful narrative of the critical work the Saint Louis Zoo Wildcare Institute, along with many other partners, is doing in Africa to help save the Grevy’s Zebra, the community and the land. Monsanto Theatre – Saint Louis Zoo.

A Little Bit of Love: The Makings of a Message

Ugandan doctors team with Uganda’s hip musical world to create an HIV/AIDS awareness song. The musicians get the word out with an upbeat and danceable rhythm in Luganda and English. The artists also describe what the project means to them and how AIDS has affected their country and people.

Family Vilakati

A “fly-on-the-wall” documentary following a day in the life of a family of four orphans living alone in the northern Swaziland Mountains. A humbling story about a struggling yet content family unit, this film depicts the reality of a rapidly growing population of parentless children.

Living with Slim: Kids Talk about HIV/AIDS

In many African countries, HIV/AIDS is called “Slim.” In this emotionally powerful film, seven African children ranging in age from 6 to 17 talk about what it’s like to be HIV positive. They discuss how they live with the illness and what their hopes are for the future.

My Image is Still Complete

A story about how sport and friendship can overcome the most difficult of situations. Three young boys, victims of amputations during the civil war in Sierra Leone, seemed destined to live as handicapped beggars in the streets of Freetown. Then, one day, football came into their lives. As they learned to play, they became determined to be heroes rather than victims.

Film Discussion with Ephrem Andemariam

E. Desmond Lee African Studies Program, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Africa: War is Business

This documentary uncovers the profit motive behind warfare in many parts of Africa today. It reveals a system that doesn’t respect national borders, U.N. resolutions, or peace accords. A specialist in conflict prevention travels through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Congo searching for the source of the fighting throughout Africa. He contrasts the rich natural resources of these countries with the terrible poverty of the people.

Counting Headz: South Afrika's Sistas in Hip Hop

A groundbreaking documentary on the struggles and victories of South African women told from the perspectives of three major players in the country’s hip hop scene.

Rain in a Dry Land

A riveting portrait of families in transition. After 13 years in refugee camps, two Somali Bantu families arrive in 21st century America, a world as strange to them as the moon. Their poetry, humor, and amazing resilience show us our own world through new eyes.