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Contact:
Eurica Huggins Axum (202) 581-4337 Karla
Wynn Diouf (443) 570-5667 Paula
Wright Coleman (301) 292-6822 “EMPOWERED
BY THE ANCESTORS”
Washington, DC – The African Diaspora Ancestral Commemoration
Institute (ADACI) presents its 14th Annual
Commemoration “EMPOWERED
BY THE ANCESTORS” on
Saturday, June 10, 2006, 12pm – 8 pm, at Howard
University’s Blackburn Center, Digital Auditorium,
2397 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC. The
focus of this year’s commemoration is the
Post Traumatic
Slave Syndrome, where ADACI’s program will
examine the spiritual, cultural, physical and
psychological effects of slavery on the African
descended community in the African Diaspora, and its
negative impact on Descendents’ lives over
generations.
In many instances this historical trauma --
which has spiritual, emotional, and psychological
dimensions--
has manifested itself physically in
illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and those most
closely associated with African Americans such as
hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. ADACI's approach in
this year’s program is to have professionals/experts
representing the various areas most deeply affected
address their respective specialties, and provide some
practical tools to help the community move forward
towards healing and wellness. The
program will begin at 12:00 noon, on Saturday,
June 10,
2006, in the Digital Auditorium at Howard
University’s Blackburn Center. The opening activity
will be the screening of “500 Years Later”, a stirring film directed by Owen
‘Alik Shahadah and written by M. K. Asante, Jr. Filmed on five continents, “500
Years Later” is an award-winning and
compelling documentary which chronicles the struggle of
African peoples globally who have fought and continue to
fight the legacies of slavery and colonialism in order
to achieve the most essential human right –
self-determination. A panel discussion featuring
renowned psychologist Kevin
Washington (Mwata Kairi), Ph.D.; Priest of
Orunmila, author of Spiritual
Healing and Founding Member of ADACI –
Nigeria, Babalawo
Adejuwonlo
A. Ekundayo, M.D.; retired administrator from
the criminal justice system, and Priest of Eegungun and
Orisa Oya, Greer C. Ifatoka-Sillah;
and practicing physician in Southeast Washington, DC, Ama Tyus, M.D., will follow the film and explore the
psychological, cultural and physical manifestations of
slavery on people of African Ancestry.
The
commemoration’s evening session begins with a spiritual
ceremony from 3:30 – 5:00 pm which will consist of the collective building of a
community memorial altar dedicated to individual and
collective community Ancestors and to those Ancestors
lost during the Ma’afa – the period of the
transatlantic enslavement of Africans. This hands-on
ritual has become an essential part of all of ADACI’s
activities, and acknowledges historical and present
connection to the African family. The activity affords
the community a time and space to offer thanks to those
who worked and sacrificed for the continued survival of
people of African descent. The spiritual
ceremony will be officiated by Dr. Atiba
Vheir, of the Dove Healing Arts Center, who will engage the participants in some
practical methods for spiritual healing.
Program attendees are asked to bring objects for
the altar (which will be returned) such as carvings,
flowers, pictures, photographs, fabric, candles,
jewelry, incense, and materials from nature.
The
closing activity from 5:30-8pm will feature a
reading of the riveting, inspirational play “Prison Poetry”
written and produced by Papi
Kymone Freeman, a young cultural innovator in
Washington, DC. This play – which premiered
in February of this year at Washington’s Lincoln
Theatre – features three African American men
of different generations and diverse backgrounds who are
forced to spend the night together in lock-up, and the
conflicts which are ignited as a result of the verbal
sparring back and forth which takes place.
The play provides a powerful testament to the
historical struggles of African-descended people as well
as the emotional and spiritual connectedness which binds
them together. The
play will be followed by a poetry reading presented by
poet and activist Laini
Mataka, and audience discussion and commentary
moderated by notable Historian and Professor, Dr.
Acklyn Lynch. For
the second year, ADACI will present its
“Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors Awards”. This year’s recipients are Melvin Deal, African
Heritage Dancers and Drummers; Assane
Konte, KanKouran West African Dance Company; the family members of Ancestor Djimo Kouyate, Memory of African
Culture; Roberta McLeod, Howard University; Kibibi Tyehimba, National
Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
(N’COBRA); and Von
Martin, Host, Caribbeana, WPFW 89.3 FM. All activities are free to high school students and
younger. General admission
for the evening program is $10 for adults and $5 for
elders and students. The film and play are $5 each. All
day event tickets, which include all film, panel
discussion, and cultural presentations, can be purchased
for $20 for adults and $10 for elders and students. Simultaneous
commemoration activities will take place at ADACI
branches internationally – in Lagos, Nigeria under the
auspices of ADACI Nigeria, as well as in
Dakar, Senegal under the sponsorship of ADACI
Senegal. In
recognition of Caribbean
Heritage Month observed during June, ADACI
honors the spirit of our African
Ancestors shipped to the Caribbean
region who died during the Ma'afa, and celebrates the
rich cultural legacy
which we have inherited. The
African Diaspora Ancestral Commemoration Institute
(ADACI), a non-profit organization founded in 1992, is
dedicated to institutionalizing the commemoration of the
millions of Africans lost during the Atlantic
enslavement of African people. ####
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