Sounds of West Africa:
A Celebration of Mande Music Traditions
Premiere at Clinton Hill Library
June 2024
In June 2024, Sounds of West Africa: A Celebration of Mande Music Traditions premiered at the Clinton Hill Library. The full-length performance featured an entirely original repertoire, newly composed works by the quartet that honored Mande musical traditions while offering fresh, contemporary interpretations.
Audiences were immersed in a dynamic presentation that combined innovation with cultural depth, enriched by storytelling, rhythmic dialogue, and interactive elements that celebrated and reimagined West African heritage for today's audiences.
Presented as part of Brooklyn Public Library’s Folk Arts program, supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, the premiere served as a joyful and educational celebration of cross-cultural connection through music.
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Heritage Ambassador
Brooklyn Public Library Folk Arts Program
The Heritage Ambassador initiative is part of Brooklyn Public Library’s Folk Arts program, which is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the cultural traditions of New York’s diverse communities. This program is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the goal of uplifting traditional artists and expanding public access to folk and heritage arts.
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Each year, BPL selects a small group of Heritage Ambassadors, artists who are rooted in their cultural traditions and active in their communities. These artists receive funding and institutional support to create and present public programs that highlight traditional art forms, whether in music, dance, storytelling, visual arts, or ritual practices.
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As a Heritage Ambassador, artists:
Receive funding to produce performances, workshops, or cultural presentations.
Work in close collaboration with BPL’s cultural programming and community engagement teams.
Engage with the public through free, accessible events at branches across Brooklyn.
Help document and preserve their cultural traditions for future generations.
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