Washington, D.C.: It's Our Home
odd: label: Introduction
content: Washington, D.C.: It's Our Home was a program rich with the memories and flourishing traditional practices of the city's fishermen, taxi and bus drivers, lawyers, dancers, activists, retirees, seamstresses, craftspeople, musicians, choirs, quartets, gardeners, poets, cooks, quilters, and rappers, from east of the Anacostia River to west of Rock Creek Park. Washington, D.C., is a city of refuge and advocacy for the marginalized peoples of our nation and the world, and participants helped visitors see the social, cultural, and political context for their folklife practices. More than 45 researchers from community institutions and universities in the District worked for over a year and compiled cultural documentation on hundreds of potential Festival participants. Then they tackled the ticklish task of making a coherent statement about their multi-faceted city. A few examples illustrate what they found and chose to present on the National Mall.

Soccer, for example, offers windows to connections and community. New immigrants to Washington often search for soccer teams from home. Each week Washington's parks host a small contest between nations, from Trinidad to Korea and Ethiopia. Spectators cook and share traditional foods, play music, and dance, transforming these games into celebrations. Long-time Washingtonians have grown to love soccer as well, and the city has nurtured its own legendary players and coaches, clinics and camps, styles, language, and new generations of players.

Washington, D.C., residents are also enthusiastic participants in and spectators of numerous parades and processions throughout the year. Caribbean Carnival, Gay Pride, Chinese New Year, Unifest, Halloween, the Cherry Blossom, and inaugural parades and Good Friday processions are examples of lively celebratory events that take place on city streets. Participants in those celebrations spend countless hours in detailed planning and preparation to create the delicate balance between artistic style and performance. Spectators interact with performers as this unpredictable form of dynamic street theater pulsates through city neighborhoods. Folklife Festival visitors could enjoy both the celebrations themselves and the behind-the-scenes preparations.

The program also honored community life and civic action, including the memories of the neighborhoods that people built as safe spaces from discrimination, and others that people lost through urban renewal and relocation. Participants described the city's long tradition of human rights activism, and they shared the songs, arts, stories, icons, rituals, and memorabilia that have enlivened this tradition.

Go-go, Washington's indigenous music, may be the quintessential urban music, all percussion and beat, pulsing from garbage can lids, plastic buckets, homemade drums, cowbells, bass guitar, and saxophone, drawing audiences into passionate call-and-response as they identify the neighborhoods where they live. As musicians, deejays, dancers, stylists, instrument builders, and fans make this music, they also communicate its deep and complex roots in African American musical styles, the history of live musical gatherings in the city, and the pride of place expressed in a musical tradition that begins with meager material resources.

Marianna Blagburn, Michael McBride, Brett Williams, and John Franklin were Curators, and Ivy Young was Program Coordinator. Program Area Organizers were: Gabriel Benn (spoken word), Tom Blagburn (basketball), Sally Gifford (social justice dialogues), Lisa Pegram (spoken word), and Lauren Rogers (reunions). Marianna Blagburn and Brett Williams were Research Coordinators.

The program was produced in collaboration with the D. C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Major support was provided by the Government of the District of Columbia, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, Hilton Hotels Corporation, The Dunn and Bradstreet Corporation, The Meyer Foundation, The Washington Post, Chevy Chase Bank, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, IBM, and the Recording Industries Music Performance Trust Funds. Additional support was provided by the D.C. Humanities Council; the Blum Kovler Foundation; Program in African American Culture, Division of Cultural History, National Museum of American History; and SPOT Image Corporation.
label: Researchers
content: Lois E. Adams, Diane A. Bacote, Candace Barnes, Sue Barnes, Gabriel C. Benn, Toni Blackman, Tom Blagburn, Iley Brown II, James Brown, Jr., P J. Brownlee, Camilla Bryce-Laporte, Anika Collins, Evelyn Curenton, Sandy Dang, Anna De Fina, Jane Flegel, Christopher Flores, Paul Gardullo, Lilo Gonzales, Alan Hersker, Sherri Lawson-Clark, William Mabry, Atiba Madyun, Angie Manzano, Susie McFadden-Resper, Melinda Michels, Lisa Pegram, Jemima Pierre, Kishanna Poteat, Rose Powhatan, Mingo Roberts, Elizabeth Sheehan, Danette Sokocich, Pallavi Thakur, Michael Twitty, Nilda Villalta, Sheila Wise, Yohannes Zeleke
label: Presenters
content: Gabriel Benn, Kai Blagburn, Rahman Branch, Camilla Bryce-Laporte, Kenny Carroll, Anna DeFina, Robert Fry, Howard Gassaway, Jordan Graye, Marjorie Hunt, Philippa Jackson, Linda Lee, Beverly Lindsay, Diana N'Diaye, Lisa Pegram, Mingo Roberts, Sheila Roberts, Ryan Rodríguez, Stephen Syphax, Michael Twitty, Nilda Villalta, David Wang, Brian Williams
label: Participants
content: CRAFT TRADITIONS

James Brown, fiber artist

Daughters of Dorcas  -- Daughters of DorcasViola Canady, quilterRaymond Dobard, quilter

Veronica DeNegri,  -- arpilleras  -- maker

Videlbina Flores-Fitch, piñata maker

Carlos Gomez,  -- berimbau  -- maker

Iola Hall, basket weaver

Brian Hamilton, stained glass maker

Alfredo Herrera, woodcarver

Lafayette Elementary School Quilters  -- Lafayette Elementary School QuiltersJory BaroneKathy ByrdEdith JicklingJane McIntyre

Patrick Plunkett, stone carver

Vilma Quintanilla, quinceañera dress maker

Francisco Rigores, drum maker

Andy Seferlis, stone carver

Constantine Seferlis, stone carver

Mamo Tessema, potter

Rome Yetbarek, basket weaver

DANCE TRADITIONS

African Heritage Drummers and Dancers

Andrew Cacho African Drummers and Dancers

International Capoeira Angola Foundation  -- International Capoeira Angola FoundationSheryll AldredChandra BrownSkher BrownHahnhuynh Armando DrakeCarlos GomezKojo JohnsonGabriela MandolesiCobra MansaSaadika MooreFrancisco Bermudez MoralesGege PoggiSylvia RobinsonAmina Malik SantemuKevin WilsonAyende Youmans

Poetry in Motion  -- Poetry in MotionLarry BarronCharles BrownLevet Brown, Jr.Antonio F. BrutonSarah L. CrawleyRenee FinkleyGloria GoodeClinton J. GreenGary HolmesMary D. HopkinsGrace Little, vocalsJames OnqueCrystal P. ThompsonMell L. WalkerWarren E. WashingtonAnthony Yancey

KanKouran West African Dance Company

Smooth & E-Z Hand Dancing  -- Smooth & E-Z Hand DancingMichael AshtonKermit BanksLawrence BradfordLarry BrownNovella CampbellKathi DavisVictor HowardJoy HunterVirginia IrbyMary JohnsonB.J. JonesLawrence LindseyDelores MavritteRonald MooreJoseph NelsonGregory OwensCarlyle PrinceCynthia SpignerGerald Woodfork

Step Afrika!  -- Step Afrika!Darrius GourdineGenia MorganDavid MyersKirsten SmithBrian WilliamsPaul Woodruff

SECULAR MUSIC TRADITONS

Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation  -- Archie Edwards Blues Heritage FoundationMichael E. Baytop, guitar, harmonica, vocalsNapoleon Brundage, harmonicaEleanor Ellis, guitar, vocalsResa Gibbs, vocalsJeff Glassey, harmonicaNeal Harpe, guitar, vocalsDavid Jackson, guitar, bass, vocalsNeal Johnson, guitar, vocalsSteve Levine, harmonicaThorin O'Neil, guitarJesse Palidofsky, keyboardMiles Spicer, guitar, drums, vocalsRichard "Mr. Bones" Thomas, bonesDion Thompson, guitarJoe Wabon, guitar, vocalsN.J. Warren, guitar, vocals

Michelle Banks, Quique Aviles, and Friends

the blueshounds  -- the blueshoundsChris Dean, bassBarbara Jackson, lead vocalsNick Martin, keyboardsTony Rakusin, guitarBarry Turner, drums

Big Hillbilly Bluegrass  -- Big Hillbilly BluegrassMike Marceau, bassTad Marks, fiddleBob Perilla, guitar, vocalsDick Smith, banjo, mandolin

Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers  -- Chuck Brown and the Soul SearchersChuck Brown, guitar, vocalsBrad Clement, trumpetGlen Ellis, bassRobert Green, congasJuJu House, drumsBrian Mills, saxophoneSherrie Mitchell, keyboard

D.C.'s Finest  -- D.C.'s FinestAvon Barbour, vocalsRichard Collins, vocalsJoe Herndon, vocalsDeane Larkins, vocalsReamer Shedrick, vocals

Davey Yarborough Band

Fugazi  -- FugaziBrendan Canty, drumsJoe Lally, bassIan MacKaye, guitar, vocalsGuy Picciotto, guitar, vocals

Nicki Gonzalez Band  -- Nicki Gonzalez BandMarc Capponi, pianoIra Gonzalez, bassNicki Gonzalez, vocalsSrdjan Kolacevich, guitarJay Tobey, drums

Image Band  -- Image BandPeter Aimable, tromboneJohn Georges, trumpetEric Hamm, lead vocalsDarryle Jones, saxophoneAdrian Laldee, bassMarge Lawrence, lead vocalsJoe Louis, guitarClaude Richards, trumpetLaughton Sargeant, keyboard, vocals

In Process...  -- In Process...Tia Ade, vocalsNketia Agyeman, vocalsPaula Pree, vocalsPamela Rogers, vocals

LaJazz  -- LaJazzBob Balthis, tromboneBhagwan, bassCliff Bigoney, trumpetPaul Hawkins, percussionDon Junker, trumpetTom Monroe, alto and tenor saxophone, fluteRudy Morales, bongosDarius Scott, pianoSam Turner, percussion

Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington, D.C.  -- Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington, D.C.Ray Killian, music directorJill Strachan, general manager

Luci Murphy and Friends  -- Luci Murphy and FriendsDarnell Bell, percussionSteve Jones, guitar, pianoLuci Murphy, vocalsRoger St. Vincent, electric bass, vocals

Memphis Gold  -- Memphis GoldTony Fraizo, rhythm guitarMorris Freeman, drumsMemphis Gold, guitar, vocalsLorenzo Johnson, congasCharlie Sayles, harmonicaRobert Seymore, keyboardCharles Soleman, bass

Rare Essence  -- Rare EssenceMichael Baker, bassEric Butcher, percussionDonnell G. Floyd, Sr., rap, saxophoneAdebayo A. Folarin, vocalsDarrin Frazier, keyboardMilton Freeman, percussionKimberly Graham, vocalsByron Jackson, keyboardAnthony Johnson, lead guitarDerek Paige, trumpetMichael Smith, drumsKent Wood, keyboard

Rumisonko  -- RumisonkoCarlos Arrien, kena, zampoña, charango, vocalsMariano Arrien, kena, zampoñaRene Dehega, guitar, vocalsAlberto Lora, kena, zampoña

Sin Miedo  -- Sin MiedoAnna Mercedes Castrello, lead vocalsBrad Clements, trumpetRalph Eskenazi, timbalesSamuel Mungia, bassPatrick Noel, bongosDidier Prossaird, pianoGary Sosias, congas

Sweet Honey in the Rock  -- Sweet Honey in the RockYsaye Maria Barnwell, vocalsNitanju Bolade Casel, vocalsAisha Kahlil, vocalsCarol Maillard, vocalsBernice Johnson Reagan, vocalsShirley Childress Saxton, ASL interpreter

Nap Turner

Youth Steel Band

D.C. Divas

Julia Nixon  -- Julia NixonJulia Nixon, vocalsDavid Ylvisaker, piano

Bernice and Toshi Reagon  -- Bernice and Toshi ReagonMichelle Lanchester, vocalsBernice Reagan, vocalsToshi Reagan, vocals, guitarYasmeen, vocals

SACRED MUSIC TRADITIONS

Barbara Gaskins  -- Barbara GaskinsRoyce Bouknight, bassDeborah Delgado, vocalsBarbara Roy Gaskins, vocals, lead and rhythm guitarCharles Marvary, drumsKim Watson, vocals

B'nai Shalom Adult and Youth Choir

Cambodian Network Council - Cambodian Arts Project  -- Cambodian Network Council - Cambodian Arts ProjectNatalie Chhuan, cymbals, dancerPhavann ChhuanRithy Chhuan, dancerThyda Chhuan, dancerBonnary Lek, dancerAmarind Sam, dancerChanmoly Sam, dancerLaksmi Sam, dancerMalene Sam, dancer

Cardozo High School Concert Choir

Carlton Burgess & Friends

Complete Praise

Rev. James Flowers and the Flowers Family Singers  -- Rev. James Flowers and the Flowers Family SingersTommy Crosby, guitarReverend James N. Flowers, Jr., vocalsLizzy Flowers, vocalsMargaret L. Flowers, vocalsYolanda Flowers, vocalsMarie Hickson, vocalsDorothy McDowell, vocalsJerry Parker, keyboardsMargie Pickett, vocalsErma Reed-Flowers, vocalsMildred Scruggs, vocalsGeorge White, drumsTommy White, bass

Foundation Khadimou Rossoul, North America  -- Foundation Khadimou Rossoul, North AmericaPape DiengCheikh KèbèMassaer SambKhidim SeckPape SeckAbdoulaye TambaEl Hadj ThiamMourtala Thiam

The Four Echoes  -- The Four EchoesGeorge G. Blake, tenorWilliam Evans, lead vocalsJames Stein, baritoneGlen Taylor, lead guitar, vocals

Holy Comforter - St. Cyprian Catholic Church Gospel Choir  -- Holy Comforter - St. Cyprian Catholic Church Gospel ChoirKenneth Louis, music director

Kings of Harmony - United House of Prayer for All Peoples

Keshet Chorale of the D.C. Jewish Community Center

Cantor Aaron Marcus

Reverb  -- ReverbMike Brisco, vocalsChristopher Hunter, vocalsRussell Jeter Ill, vocalsSteve Langley, vocalsR. Bruce O'Neal, vocalsVictor Pinkney, vocals

Seven Sons  -- Seven SonsJenny Andrews, vocalsLee Haley, drumsRev. James Hardy, vocalsNathan Jones, vocalsThomas Peterson, vocalsWardell Rogers, lead guitarGregory Young, bass

Washington Toho Koto Society  -- Washington Toho Koto SocietyClaudia Clark, kotoYuriko Gandol, kotoShuho Ishii, shakuhachiVera Land, kotoKyoko Okamoto, kotoRobert Preston, shakuhachiSachiko Smith, shamisen, kotoJohn Welsh, shakuhachi

The Wright Singers  -- The Wright SingersPatricia Bryant, vocalsElizabeth Hunter-Williams, vocalsLaShawn Rembert, vocalsJaqueline Richardson, vocalsEureka Robinson, vocalsFannie White, vocalsLeavia Wright, vocals

FOODWAYS TRADITIONS

Roberta Baietti, Northern Italian cooking

Edith Ballou, African-American cooking

Diana Celarosi, Central, Southern Italian cooking

Liberata Ehimba, Senegalese cooking

Patricia Giles, African-American cooking

Rabbi Hayyim, Sephardic cooking

Columbus Jones, fish fry

Jodie Kassorla, Sephardic cooking

Lillia Knight, Panamanian cooking

Henry Lieu, Chinese cooking

Hala Maksoud, Arab-American cooking

Alpheus Mathis, African-American cooking

Ester Muhammad, African-American cooking

Rashida Muhammad, African-American cooking

Joan Nathan, Jewish cooking

Hai Nguyen, Vietnamese cooking

Mildred Palm, African-American cooking

Charles Reindorf, Ghanaian cooking

Dwane Ricketts, Jamaican cooking

Yvonne St. Hill, Panamanian cooking

Maria Luisa Sylos-Labini, Northern Italian cooking

Sing Tam, Chinese cooking

Ester Treviño, Salvadoran cooking

Taye Wogederes, Ethiopian cooking

Dorothy Young, African-American cooking

Bruno Zara, Central Italian cooking

Christina Zara, Central Italian cooking

GARDENING TRADITIONS

Diane Dale

Patricia Giles

Pride Heitt

Columbus Jones

Frieda Murray

Judy Tiger

SOCIAL JUSTICE TRADITIONS

Judith Bauer

Dorothy Brizill

Carl Cole

Sandy Dang

Lori Dodson

Alfred Dudley

Bernice Fonteneau

Pat Hawkins

George LaRoche

Julius Lofton

Ignatius Mason

Phil Ogilvie

Mark Richards

Maurice Shorter

Kathryn Sinzinger

Larry Smith

John C. Snipes

Ivan Walk

Karen Zachary

SPOKEN, WRITTEN, RHYTHMIC WORD TRADITIONS

D.C. National Teen Slam Team  -- D.C. National Teen Slam TeamHenry ArangoKenneth CarrollIsaac ColonJabari ExumOkechukwu lwealaLarry RobertsonLauren Wyatt

Jane Alberdeston

Quique Avilés

Racquel Brown

Grace Cavalieri

Kyra Garrett

Infinite Loop  -- Infinite LoopChi Garden

Heady  -- HeadyBrandon JohnsonKamaylaErnesto MercerE. Ethelbert MillerTerrance Nicholson

Opus Akoben  -- Opus AkobenBlack IndianKokayiSub-Z

Orphyx  -- OrphyxLisa PegramTiffany Thompson

Po-Emcees  -- Po-EmceesDarrell PerryPatrick Washington

DJ Renegade

Rhyme Deferred  -- Rhyme DeferredPsalmayene 24

Silvana Straw

Henry Taylor

Eleanor Traylor

Laurie Tsang

Fong Sai U

Unspoken Heard  -- Unspoken HeardMichael AbbottAsheruBlue BlackRahman Branch

SPORT AND GAME TRADITITONS

Joe Lewis Abney

Wil Atkins

Jim "Bad News" Barnes

Bobby Bennett

Theo Brooks

Phil Chenier

Mark Chisolm

Betty Cleeg

Andrew Dyer

Richard Evans

Steve Francis

Barbara Garcia

Sonny Hill

Saleem Hylton

Brenda Jackson

Roy Jefferson

Andrew Johnson

George Johnson

Sam Jones

Andre Jordan

Lamont Jordan

Carver Leech

Dr. George Logan-El

Butch McAdams

Bill McCaffrey

Jimmy McLain

Thurston McLain

Mike McLeese

Lenny Moore

George Nock

Wanda Oates

Soya Proctor

Michael Smith

Betsy Stockard

Marty Tapscott

Tony Watkins

Christie Winters

Willie Wood

Jimmy Wright

WATERWAYS TRADITIONS

Anacostia Watershed Society

Sheila Brennan

Roger Legerwood, boat builder

Bob Martin, boat builder
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2000 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2000, Series 5
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials