Curated and directed by Claude Grunitzky, this celebratory event traces the evolution of Black music through sound, dance, and African photography - from the Kora tradition of West African griots and musicians - to American jazz and funk, all the way to a new generation of hip hop and afrobeats.
Performances include a Djassi DaCosta Johnson solo dance set to the sound of the kora, played by Salieu Suso, poetry by Léopold Sédar Senghor spoken by students from the School of Drama, a three-part medley and rhyming performed by The Trace it Back Jazz & Hip-hop Ensemble student quintet from the School of Jazz and Contemporary music, a visual montage of African and African diaspora photography from the Isabel S. Wilcox collection created by new media artist Eva Davidova, faculty member of Parsons School of Design, and more.
AFRICA UNITE! is co-produced by Isabel S. Wilcox and Mannes Sounds Festival, which was founded in 1999 by Pavlina Dokovska, artistic director and chair of the Mannes Piano Department, all under the umbrella of the College of Performing Arts at The New School.
THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE WITH REGISTRATION. TICKETS ARE LIMITED! PLEASE REGISTER AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE VIA THE RED RSVP Button at the top of this page.
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Scheduled in collaboration with the 1-54 contemporary African art fair at the Starrett-Lehigh Building, 255 11th Avenue, May 1 to May 4. The 2024 New York edition will present 30+ galleries exhibiting the work of over 90 artists from Africa and the global diaspora. Click here for more information.
