Baltimore Rhythm Festival at Center Stage: A Celebration of African Rhythms and Community
Sept. 17
7 PM – 10 PM, Doors Open 6:30 PM
Featuring:
Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble
Osagyefo Dance Company
Tickets: $15, $10 students, seniors, and for those in need
The Baltimore Rhythm Festival is a community based celebration of the diversity and unity of rhythm based cultural expression in our city and beyond. This year, following our free outside festival event in the yard and surrounding streets of 1600 Guilford Ave., we showcase two outstanding performance groups at Center Stage in concert at the Head Theatre.
Since 1969, Kulu Mele has been a leader in sustaining and inspiring generations of performers and audiences to experience the rich musical traditions of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora and their West African origins. Their work is internationally celebrated and recognized for their artistry and the contributions they have made to the Black community in the Mid Atlantic region from their homebase in Philadelphia.
The Osagyefo Dance Company brings together Ghanaian musicians and dancers from the DMV region with decades of experience to share the joy and artistry of their culture. A relatively new troupe, Osagyefo features outstanding dancers including Mustapha Breimah, Joe Binney, and Nuumo Adjetey Klufio.
Along with dazzling performances, the evening also includes a community conversation with members of these troupes and local cultural leaders in the area of African heritage and its relevance for sustaining and inspiring communities today. Facilitated by Djeli and Kora master Amadou Kouyate, heir to his family’s role as counselor and guide to the Mande nation, this conversation promises to be a catalyst for insight, collaboration, and inspiration. Audience members who choose to listen in to this conversation are welcome, and encouraged to make an additional contribution to the Baltimore Rhythm Festival to support this gathering.
The evening is supported by the Center for Cultural Vibrancy, The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and the Performing Arts Center for African Cultures, and made possible through the generosity and vision of Center Stage.