456 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, NY (see map)

A focused study on a singular African American photographer, through an archival encounter with her documentation of the landmark FESTAC’77 festival.

From January 15 to February 12, 1977, more than 15,000 artists, intellectuals and performers from 55 nations worldwide gathered in Lagos, Nigeria, for the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, also known as FESTAC’77. Taking place in the heyday of Nigeria’s oil wealth and following the African continent’s potent decade of decolonization, FESTAC’77 was the peak of Pan-Africanist expression. Among the musicians, writers, artists and cultural leaders in attendance were Ellsworth Ausby, Milford Graves, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Samella Lewis, Audre Lorde, Winnie Owens, Miriam Makeba, Valerie Maynard, Queen Mother Moore and Sun Ra.

While serving as the photographer for the US contingent of the North American delegation, Brooklyn-based photographer Marilyn Nance made more than 1,500 images throughout the course of the festival—one of the most comprehensive photographic accounts of FESTAC’77. Drawing from Nance’s extensive archive, most of which has never before been published, Last Day in Lagos chronicles the exuberant intensity and sociopolitical significance of this extraordinary event. Remi Onabanjo is the editor of Last Day in Lagos.

Available for sale at the event! Or backorder the book online. Don’t Miss This!

For more info, contact Sistas’ Place at (718) 398-1766.

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Read the New York Times article about Last Day in Lagos and Marilyn Nance. (Gift link from paid NYTimes subscription.)

Sistas’ Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue, at the corner of Jefferson Avenue, where Jazz: A Music of the Spirit Lives and Culture is our Weapon, continues its 21st season with the music of Resistance, Resilience and Resurgence. On Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 9 and 10:30pm, Ahmed Abdullah’s Diaspora performing Sun Ra Returns, A synergistic Jazz Opera with saxophonist Don Chapman, pianist/vocalist Donald Smith, bassist Radu Ben Judah, drummer Ronnie Burrage, vocalist/narrator Monique Ngozi Nri, and choreographer/dancer Mickey Davidson.Sun Ra Returns was created by Ahmed Abdullah and Tine Kindermann as a means of identifying and celebrating the habits of leadership that are so significantly missing in our country today. The opera offers, through a science fiction exploration, built around the life of Sun Ra, after he leaves Planet Earth, the possibility of renewal and resurgence.

Sun Ra Returns was created by Ahmed Abdullah and Tine Kindermann as a means of identifying and celebrating the habits of leadership that are so significantly missing in our country today. The opera offers, through a science fiction exploration, built around the life of Sun Ra, after he leaves Planet Earth, the possibility of renewal and resurgence.

We call this month-long series Brass Players at Sistas’ Place. The other brass players featured in this festival series include trumpeter Robert Rutledge and French hornist Vincent Chancey.

Don’t Miss This!!!

Music of the Spirit will sustain you through the challenging times we are experiencing.
Make Reservations at 718 398-1766!

Download flyer.

“Sun Ra Returns”, is a synergistic Jazz puppet opera, originally conceived by former Sun Ra Arkestra trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah, who currently teaches music at PS 3 and the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and internationally acclaimed visual artist Tine Kindermann. The production combines tenets of PS 3’s school wide Leadership program, “The Leader in Me,” Stephen Covey’s innovative Seven Habits of Highly Effective People repackaged for public and private schools, along with the futuristic lyrics and music of Sun Ra expressed through a different new medium, a puppet opera. This science fiction epic takes the audience to Saturn, back to planet Earth and then to Saturn again.

Ahmed Abdullah, a trumpeter who worked with Sun Ra for a span of 22 years and who has led his own bands since 1972, has organized the music and will lead an ensemble comprised of PS 3 students, New School students and guest artist from own band, Diaspora including Donald Smith, Piano, Radu Ben Judah, Bass, Monique Ngozi Nri, vocals and narration. The Teaching Artists involved with this year’ production are Choreographer Kitty Lunn and puppet creator Jon Riddleberger.

This production, coordinated by Carol Prud’homme Davis, SBT Managing/ArtsEd Director and Ahmed Abdullah, includes all of the disciplines of the arts: music, poetry, dance, visual arts and theater, and provides a rare opportunity for elementary school students to work with college students and professional musicians.

For Information:

Shadow Box Theater: Carol Prud’homme Davis
917 607 7922 cpdavis@shadowboxtheatre.org

Ahmed Abdullah: 917 667 1246 www.ahmedian.com

The Entire Month of April is the Music of Sun Ra!

$35 per set; Showtimes:
Doors Open: 7:30 pm, 
1st Show: 8 pm. 
2nd Show: 9:30 pm.  

Sistas’ Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue, Frederick Douglass Square (formerly Nostrand & Jefferson Aves.), where Jazz: A Music of the Spirit Lives and Culture is our Weapon, is in its 30th season with the music of Resistance, Resilience, and Resurgence. April’s performances honors Sun Ra and the people he chose to be part of his Arkestra over the decades.

Sat., April 5th  – The Dick Griffin Quartet
Sat., April 12th – Robert Rutledge & George Gray Quintet
Sat., April 19. –  Alex Harding & Anthony Nelson Quintet
Sat., April 26. –  Ahmed Abdullah’s Diaspora

Reservations are a must–call (718) 398-1766 (no credit card required). $35 cash at door (and only cash accepted) and in advance it costs only $30 if you post in CashApp: $HTFLH (https://cash.app/$htflh) and your name.

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Get 8.5″ by 11″ flyer (200 dpi & PDF)