Virginia Folklife Area will focus on African origins of selected textiles and musical expressions.
Richmond—The Elegba Folklore Society and Virginia Humanities' Virginia Folklife Program will be presenting the African origins of selected textiles and musical expressions during the Richmond Folk Festival.
Festival attendees can explore indigo fabric traditions of Mali; Nigeria’s aso oke or Ghana’s kente cloth; African American art quilts, dolls, and fashion; engage with the ngoni, the banjo and the blues; and follow the music back to Africa through the sounds of the 21-string kora and the djembe drum.
Five textile artists and two gourd string instrument builders will also be sharing their work in ongoing demonstrations as well in as scheduled discussions and workshops.
"Virginia Humanities is proud to partner with Richmond’s own Elegba Folklore Society to bring ‘Textile Origin Stories’ to life at the twentieth-annual Richmond Folk Festival!" said Katy Clune, director of the Virginia Folklife Program. "We invite you to our village to be inspired by our artists."
"No matter your age or background, the spirit and the openness of the Elegba Folklore Society will enchant you. We are proud to be a resource for African world cultural arts. Together, let’s explore the richness of Mother Africa’s gifts to us through interactive artistic, cultural experiences. Her influences are many,” said Omilade Janine Bell, president and artistic director of the Elegba Folklore Society.
Visitors can stop by the Virginia Folklife Area Saturday Sept. 28 and Sunday Sept. 29 to enjoy intimate performances and conversation on the Folklife Workshop Stage. Additional musical performances from the finest traditional artists from across the Commonwealth and beyond will be presented in the Virginia Folklife Area on the Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage. A full schedule is available at VirginiaFolklife.org and RichmondFolkFestival.org.
About Elegba Folklore Society
Founded in Richmond in 1990, the Elegba Folklore Society, Richmond’s cultural ambassador, is a non-profit that provides cultural arts and cultural education through a variety of programs and services.
Founded in Richmond in 1990, the Elegba Folklore Society, Richmond’s cultural ambassador, is a non-profit that provides cultural arts and cultural education through a variety of programs and services.
About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.