Proclamation from the City of Hampton and Mayor George Wallace

After it's 3rd year, Remembrance has received a proclamation that from this day forth, June 14th, annually the 2nd Saturday in June will be recognized as The Sankofa Projects International Day of Remembrance. We are an International Movement and are very proud of this recognition by our city and Mayor Wallace. The proclamation was read by Vice Mayor Curtis on Remembrance day on June 14, 2014. Thank you to Toni Cade Bambara for igniting this passion in us to remember the African Bines in the briny deep."

Remembering Toni Cade Bambara in The Feminist Wire - November 17, 2014

Humbled and honored to have been asked to write an article for The Feminist Wire in celebration of Toni Cade Bambara, whom I lovingly refer to as the "Mother of the Movement." In 2012, I answered Toni's call for us to Remember the Millions of Africans who perished during the Middle Passage of the Transatlantic Trade. Annually we meet at Buckroe Beach to Remember those lost and for you dear Toni. Happy 75thBeloved! http://thefeministwire.com/2014/11/african-bones-in-the-briny-deep/

Remembering Toni Cade Bambara in The Feminist Wire-November 17, 2014

Humbled and honored to have been asked to write an article for The Feminist Wire in celebration of Toni Cade Bambara, whom I lovingly refer to as the "Mother of the Movement." In 2012, I answered Toni's call for us to Remember the Millions of Africans who perished during the Middle Passage of the Transatlantic Trade. Annually we meet at Buckroe Beach to Remember those lost and for you dear Toni. Happy 75thBeloved! http://thefeministwire.com/2014/11/african-bones-in-the-briny-deep/

Remembering Toni Cade Bambara in The Feninist Wire

Humbled and honored to have been asked to write an article for The Feminist Wire in celebration of Toni Cade Bambara, whom I lovingly refer to as the "Mother of the Movement." In 2012, I answered Toni's call for us to Remember the Millions of Africans who perished during the Middle Passage of the Transatlantic Trade. Annually we meet at Buckroe Beach to Remember those lost and for you dear Toni. Happy 75thBeloved! Mother of the Movement: Remembering Bambara and the “African Bones in the Briny Deep” http://thefeministwire.com/2014/11/african-bones-in-the-briny-deep/

The Sankfoa Projects receives a Proclamation from the City of Hampton

Honoring Toni Cade Bambara on The Feminist Wire

http://thefeministwire.com/2014/11/african-bones-in-the-briny-deep/

The Sankofa Projects receives Proclamation from ther city of Hampton for Remembrance

Remembrance receives Proclamation from the city of Hampton and Mayor Wallace

Proclamation from the City of Hampton

International Day of Remembrance 2014--The Sankofa Projects received a Proclamation form the city of Hampton

Proclamation from the City...

Hampton History Museum supports REMEMBRANCE

REMEMBRANCE at the Hampton History Museum

3rd Annual International Day of REMEMBRANCE- June 14, 2014 Buckroe Beach in Hampton, Virginia

On Saturday, June 14, 2014 from 11am -2pm, The Sankofa Projects presents our 3rd Annual International Day of Remembrance at Buckroe Beach in Hampton, Virginia. Remembrance is a 24 year tradition which honors the millions of African men, women and children who perished during the Middle Passage of the Transatlantic Enslavement Trade which acknowledges this often untold chapter in American and global history. Our community gathers at the beach to honor the millions of African ancestors who perished during the Middle Passage of the Transatlantic Enslavement Trade. Featured on the program will be the children of Ubuntu Dance Collective, under the Artistic direction of Founder Sunshine Allison, Poets and Acapella ensemble Musical Mosaic of the Hampton Performing Arts under the Artistic direction of Marie St. Clair, Synnika Lofton, and Crystal Sessoms will perform poetry and theatrical pieces, Traditional African Drumming orchestrated by Baba Anpu Sil of the Akebuland Ensemble will lead the drum call and Beauty for Ashes under the Artistic direction of Founder David Riddick will perform. Representatives from The Tucker family, Legacy of the Weyanoke, First Nations Representation will be present and Coyoba African Dance, a contemporary West African Dance company under the Artistic direction of Founder Sylvia Soumah will perform to honor the ancestors. "Through Remembrance, The Sankofa Projects　has aligned our city of Hampton with a larger International movement as ceremonies are held from Charleston, South Carolina to Ghana, West Africa. At 12:00 noon, an International Libation will be orchestrated by Baba Orimalade Ogunjimi of Ile Nago, which will occur simultaneously across the United States and internationally. Our Featured Guest Speaker is Wyoma of Wyoma African Healing Dance and Holistic Therapy of Boston, Massachusetts who will share her 35 years experience of healing through dance with us. Wyoma has traveled and taught extensively throughout Africa and offers classes, workshops, and trainings in this holistic integrated model of movement and healing.　 For the second year in a row, our partners are the Hampton History Museum and Hampton Parks and Recreation. We appreciate their support of this historic event. After Remembrance concludes, we encourage all to attend the 2nd Saturday Arts Walk for Downtown Hampton and Phoebus The Hampton History Museum will give FREE admission to attendees of Remembrance to see the Contraband exhibit. Show your wristband which you will receive at Buckroe Beach and admission is FREE for the day at the Museum. Downtown Hampton's Development Partnership is hosting it's 2nd Saturday Arts Walk for Downtown Hampton and Phoebus and is honoring Remembrance for the month of their June Arts Walk to enjoy the music, art and food of beautiful Downtown Hampton and Phoebus. We look forward to seeing you at Buckroe Beach! Please call 757-816-1579 for more information or email chadrapw@gmail.com

The Sankofa Projects at Hampton Heritage Day ~ Fort Monroe April 12, 2014

On Saturday, April 12, 11 am -5 pm, the Hampton History Museum hosted Hampton Heritage Day which honors the three cultures; the Indian, the Settler and the African who have made the city of Hampton what it is today. The Sankofa Projects began with a supplication to the ancestors. The Sankofa Project Remembrance Drummers orchestrated by Baba Sikli of Akebuland Ensemble started the program off with traditional African drumming and song. Chadra Pittman Walke, Founder and Executive Director of The Sankofa Projects gave remarks on the importance of Remembrance in her talk "3 cultures and 3 experiences on 1 soil." Also at the event, were the Legacy of Weyanoke, the Ubuntu Dance Collective, the Meherrin and Iroquois Nation and the 17th century English Music performers.

Heritage Day was a beautiful display of the Indian, European and African cultures which are the foundation of what makes Hampton the city that it is today. Despite how horrific moments in history have been, the Adinkra symbol Sankofa teaches us the importance of looking back, even and especially at the painful parts of our history so that we can move forward with a better understanding of who we were and learn from our past.

Mayor George Wallace, Councilman Moffett and Councilman Tuck were in attendance lending their support. Bravo to the Hampton History Museum for their vision for this event. Partners Hampton History Museum, Hampton Parks & Recreation, Hampton Citizens' Unity Commission, Hampton University Museum, Lighting the Way Education, Meherrin Nation, Project 1619, The Sankofa Projects, Tucker Family Society, Weyanoke Association for Red-Black History & Culture Photo credits: Alicia Phillips, Mikel Fuller, Dmitri Clawson and Marie Woodard