African Diaspora
odd: label: Introduction
content: The African Diaspora program was developed in 1973-74 to make a comprehensive statement about the dispersal of black culture. The area paid tribute to the varied cultural contributions of black American communities and documented how black peoples and cultures flourish throughout the world. Exploring those aspects of culture that link black Americans to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, presentations centered on three activities common to all : home life, worship, and trade. Each was represented on the Mall by an appropriate physical structure: a house, an altar setting, and a marketplace. In each structure, the various artistic forms - music, crafts, material culture, dance, and the spoken word - depicted black culture as a dynamic, living force. The evolution of the culture was shown as black artists of all ages carried out their skills, be they traditional, evolved, or revival.

Different countries of Africa or the New World were featured each two weeks, with U.S. participants also rotating biweekly:

June 16-27, Ghana, Jamaica

July 1-11, Haiti

July 14-25, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago

July 28-August 8, Nigeria, Brazil, Puerto Rico

August 11-22, Zaire, Surinam

August 25-September 6, Senegal

The African Diaspora program was led by Rosie Lee H. Hooks (Program Coordinator) and Bernice Johnson Reagon (Folklorist). It was organized with guidance from the African Diaspora Advisory Group, whose members included Roy Bryce-Laporte, James Early, Halim El-Dabh, Leonard Goines, Pearl Williams Jones, René López, Jane Sapp, Fela Sowande, A. B. Spellman, and William Wiggins, Jr. Fieldwork was conducted by members of the ADAG as well as Jason Dotson, Worth Long, Carol Maillard, and Adetokunbo Olatunde.
label: Participants
content: Participants

Juliet Amoah, Ghanaian cook, hairdresser

Betty Jean Archibald, 1933-2002, cook, Northport, Alabama

George Archibald, 1934-, cook, Northport, Alabama

Alphonse Ardoin, 1915-2007, & Canray Fontenot, 1922-1995, Cajun musicians

Carmen Austin, cook

Bible Way Church World Wide Congregation, gospel singers

The Brothers, gospel group

Derrick Bunch, musician

Charles Calendar, 1922-1995, storyteller

Calvary Crusaders, gospel singers

Sam Chatmon, 1899-1983, blues musician, El Cajon, California, ex-Mississippi

Church of God, choir

Althea Coakley, basket weaver

Beatrice Coakley, basket weaver

Julito Collazo y su Grupo Folklorico Cubano, religious

Emory Davis, jeweler and potter

Harold O. Davis Memorial Choir and Congregation of the Cornerstone Baptist Church

D.C. Black Repertory Vocal Workshop

Mu-tem-uwa Dejfu, herbalist

Sonny Diggs, arabber (fruit vendor)

Jason Dotson, storyteller

Thomas "Popcorn" Doyle, contemporary Black social dance

The Drake Brothers & Family, singers

James Dunn, leather craftsperson

Rockin' Dupsie, 1932-, Creole band

Frank Edwards, 1909-2002, musician

Farrow Choir

Amoyewa Ferrell, designer, seamstress

George Ferrell, Sr., woodcarver

JuJu Ferrell, metal sculptor, woodcarver

Free Evangelist Church, choir

Freelo Express, dancers

Charles Freeney, cook

French Lala (Cajun dance troupe)

Anna Fuller, hair braider

Minnie Lee Gardner, storyteller

Linda Goss, storyteller

U'gene Greene, jeweler

Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nueva Yorquina, religious, musician

Bill Hines, musician

Holyland Gospel Singers

Young Hughley, storyteller

Hurricane Brass Band   -- Hurricane Brass Band Leroy Jones, Jr.Greg DavisKevin HarrisCurtis JosephDarryl AdamsGregory StaffordRaymond Johnson, Jr.Al CarsonCharles L. Joseph

"In the Rapture" Cast, dramatic production

Jackson Singers, gospel singers

Arbrey L. Jones, storyteller

Walter Kelley, arabber (fruit vendor)

Kings Choral Ensemble

Kings of Harmony Spiritual Band of the United House of Prayer

Eddie Knight, 1909-, musician

Eugene Lee, storyteller

Henry Lenard, storyteller

Lighthouse Church, gospel choir

Little Wonders, gospel singers

Bob Lowery, 1931-, blues singer

Deloris Luster, storyteller

Martin, Bogan & the Armstrongs, string band

Henry Martin, storyteller

Fidel & Iris Martinez, dancers

Valerie Maynard, 1937-, sculptor

Barbara McCloud, gospel singer and pianist

Winifred McQueen, tie dyer

Members of the Cape Verdean Community (Florench Almeida, Joaquin Almeida, Theresa Almeida, Valentina Almeida, Joanna Andrade, Mary Andrade, Stephanie Correia, Walter Correia, Benjamin Duarte, George Duarte, John Durate, Rita Duarte, John "Joli" Gonsalves, Virginia Gonsalves, Jack Livramento, Manuel "Lela" Lopes, Corrine Monteiro, Antone Monteiro, Lillian Ramos, Dennis Silva, Shirley Silva, Sophie Silva, Yvonne Smart, Eduardo A. Sousa)

M. Cecil Mills Ensemble from Canaan Baptist Church, gospel singers

Mississippi Delta Blues Band, blues band

Rev. Flora Molton, 1908-1990, street singer

Avery "Slim" Montgomery, 1909-1996, blues singer

James Moody, Jr., storyteller

Moving Star Hall Singers, gospel singers

Lee Willie Nabors, 1916-1997, craftsperson

New Bethel Church of God in Christ, gospel choir

Kenneth Palm, herbalist

Ojeda Penn & the LifeForce, jazz musicians

James Peterson of the Baltimore Fellowship, gospel singer

Rufus Pinckney, craftsperson

Rev. Leon Pinson, 1919-1998, gospel singer, guitarist

L. C. Bunk Pippens, blues singer

Pleneros Ponceflos, Puerto Rican blues band

Shannon Powell, drummer

Lee Poydras, cook

Rising Star Fife & Drum Band   -- Rising Star Fife & Drum Band Napoleon Strickland, 1919-2001, fife playerBernice Turner, drummerOtha Turner, drummerG.D. Young, drummer

The Robertson Family, basket weavers  -- The Robertson Family, basket weaversThonis Robertson, 1910-1981Geraldine RobertsonFelicia RobertsonJacqueline RobertsonDaphne RobertsonPatricia Ann Robertson

Efrain Ronda, string instrument craftsperson

Caridad Salome, cook

Luis Salome and Band, jazz musicians

Charlie Sayles, 1948-, harmonica player, Washington, D.C.

Scene Boosters Marching Club 3rd Division

Shabu, hairdresser

Herman Sherman's Young Tuxedo Brass Band

Johnny Shines, 1915-1992, musician

Phillip Simmons, 1912-2009, blacksmith

Mary Carter Smith, 1919-2007, storyteller

Smith Brothers, gospel singers

Sons of Grace, gospel group

Souls of Unity, gospel group

Speight Sisters, gospel vocal group

Sweet Honey in the Rock, a cappella vocal group

Temple Choir, Bibleway Church

Mor Thiam and His Ensemble  -- Mor Thiam and His EnsembleGregory GloderH. James LastarriaFrank WilliamsAnthony PruittFreddie WashingtonBruce PurseLeRoy Thigpen

Son Thomas, 1926-1993, potter, blues guitarist

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Thompson, basket makers

Natalia Tirado Jr., master drum-maker

The Trinidad Steel Band

Union Temple, choir

Union Temple Baptist Church Congregation

United House of Prayer for All People: band, junior choir, congregation

Wesley Methodist Church Congregation

W. J. Ensemble, vocal group

Wiregrass Sacred Harp Singers

Yoruba Village, priests, singers, drummers, dancers and craftspeople

Jamaica

Ettu Performers, singers, dancers

Basil Reid, broom maker

Samuel Hylton, potter

Roy Nelson, potter

Una Griffith, cook

Celeste Robinson, cook

Ashton "Desmond" Douglas, basket weaver

Nelson Chambers, instrument maker

Ghana

Salisu Mahama & Group  -- Salisu Mahama & GroupSalisu Mahama, leader, gonje player, singer, craftspersonAshumann Iddrisu, gonje playerIddrisu Salisu, rattle playerAmadu Iddrisu, rattle playerM. D. Sulley, dancer, interpreter

Gonje Dancers  -- Gonje DancersMohamed AbubariMohamadu ZibilimSeidu MbalibaYakubu Musah

Abdulai Seidu & Group  -- Abdulai Seidu & GroupAbdulai Seidu, brekete drummer, donno drum makerAdam Iddi, donno drummerIdnisu Salifu; flute player

Ko Nimo & Group  -- Ko Nimo & GroupDanile Ampousah (Ko Nimo), leader, guitarist, drummer, singerJ. K. Bawnah, singerKwadwo Dummaa, rhythmAugustine Nyame, drummerR. P. Twunasi, anitar, singerKwadwo (Little Noah), drummerDancersKwaku DuahAdwoa OlyankuAkua Afrizie

Nana Kwadwo Nketial, fetish dancer, kente weaver, adinkra printer & embroiderer

Craftspeople

Opoku-Worae, kente weaver, adinkra printer & embroiderer

Nana Osei Bonsu, Ashanti stool carver, adinkra stamp designer

Akwasi Attah, fetish house decorator

Haiti

Pierre Blain, leader

Andre Dimanche, sculptor

Henry Chery, cook-master

Fresnel Magloire, basketmaker

Alexandre Abraham, houngan

Alourdes Murat, mambo

Andre Jeanty, hounsie

Andre Duplan, drummer

Jean Alphonse, drummer

Julien Memorin, drummer

Altena Ulysse, flutist

Dieu-Juste Dorlette, musician

Michaud Jerome, musician

Eddy Dorlette, musician

Roland Montrevil, musician

Adonis Piton, musician

Antalcidas Murat, musician

Fritz Jolicoeur, laplace

Edner Guerrier, hounsie

Maxi Herve, hounsie

Yvonne Dorlette, hounsie

Marie-Helene Gervier, hounsie

Mireille Rodnez, hounsie

Lucienne Pierre, houngenicon

Claudette Pierre-Louis, meringue singer

Pierre-Louis Rameau, rara dancer

Liberia

Bai T. Moore, Minister

Peter Ballah, government official

Madam Gbese Kiazolu, matron

Salia Dukuly, weaver

Alfred Yegon, carver

Boima N'gebla, chief musician

Maka Blimi, drummer

Veyuga Puu, drummer

Bendu Kroma, singer

Yata Kroma, singer

Mesuah Slewah, dancer

Tene Kiazolu

Tarlo Muna

Yombo Ndoma

Lorpu Togba

Burr Suma (Nimba Bird)

Zerah Kiabolu

Hawa Morley

Jorngo Kiazolu

Beku Karmar

Sando Holta

Karko Morris

Tarkpo Bastua

Zumana Fotana

Zaid Kroma

Senegal

Maurice Sonar Senghor, Director of the National Theater

Babacar Diom, translator

Dancers

Bouly Sonko

Malang Dabo

Cheikh Dioh

Ibranhima Faye

Ousmane Dione

Marie Basse

Sona Ndiaye

Mariama Ngom

Nabou Ciss

Awa Diallo

Drummers

Abdou Dounta

Fotiguy Toure

Moussa Camara

Sadia Badian

Bakary Goubiaby

Vieux Sing Faye

Pape Gueye

Mamadou Ndiaye

Craftspeople

El Hadji Ibou Niang, jeweler

Aminata Kebe, hairdresser

Instrumentalists:

Sanna Sissoko

Soundioulou Sissoko

Singers

Mahawa Douyate

Fatou Ihiam Samb

Senegalese from Washington, D.C.

Oumou Gueye, cook

Yama Diane, cook

Brazil

Nigeria

Puerto Rico

Surinam

Trinidad & Tobago

Zaire
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.1976, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials