Washington, D.C.: It's Our Home

Washington, D.C.: It's Our Home was a program rich with the memories and flourishing traditional practices of the city's fishermen, taxi and bus drivers, lawyers, dancers, activists, retirees, seamstresses, craftspeople, musicians, choirs, quartets, gardeners, poets, cooks, quilters, and rappers, from east of the Anacostia River to west of Rock Creek Park. Washington, D.C., is a city of refuge and advocacy for the marginalized peoples of our nation and the world, and participants helped visitors see the social, cultural, and political context for their folklife practices. More than 45 researchers from community institutions and universities in the District worked for over a year and compiled cultural documentation on hundreds of potential Festival participants. Then they tackled the ticklish task of making a coherent statement about their multi-faceted city. A few examples illustrate what they found and chose to present on the National Mall. Soccer, for example, offers windows to connections and community. New immigrants to Washington often search for soccer teams from home. Each week Washington's parks host a small contest between nations, from Trinidad to Korea and Ethiopia. Spectators cook and share traditional foods, play music, and dance, transforming these games into celebrations. Long-time Washingtonians have grown to love soccer as well, and the city has nurtured its own legendary players and coaches, clinics and camps, styles, language, and new generations of players. Washington, D.C., residents are also enthusiastic participants in and spectators of numerous parades and processions throughout the year. Caribbean Carnival, Gay Pride, Chinese New Year, Unifest, Halloween, the Cherry Blossom, and inaugural parades and Good Friday processions are examples of lively celebratory events that take place on city streets. Participants in those celebrations spend countless hours in detailed planning and preparation to create the delicate balance between artistic style and performance. Spectators interact with performers as this unpredictable form of dynamic street theater pulsates through city neighborhoods. Folklife Festival visitors could enjoy both the celebrations themselves and the behind-the-scenes preparations. The program also honored community life and civic action, including the memories of the neighborhoods that people built as safe spaces from discrimination, and others that people lost through urban renewal and relocation. Participants described the city's long tradition of human rights activism, and they shared the songs, arts, stories, icons, rituals, and memorabilia that have enlivened this tradition. Go-go, Washington's indigenous music, may be the quintessential urban music, all percussion and beat, pulsing from garbage can lids, plastic buckets, homemade drums, cowbells, bass guitar, and saxophone, drawing audiences into passionate call-and-response as they identify the neighborhoods where they live. As musicians, deejays, dancers, stylists, instrument builders, and fans make this music, they also communicate its deep and complex roots in African American musical styles, the history of live musical gatherings in the city, and the pride of place expressed in a musical tradition that begins with meager material resources. Marianna Blagburn, Michael McBride, Brett Williams, and John Franklin were Curators, and Ivy Young was Program Coordinator. Program Area Organizers were: Gabriel Benn (spoken word), Tom Blagburn (basketball), Sally Gifford (social justice dialogues), Lisa Pegram (spoken word), and Lauren Rogers (reunions). Marianna Blagburn and Brett Williams were Research Coordinators. The program was produced in collaboration with the D. C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Major support was provided by the Government of the District of Columbia, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, Hilton Hotels Corporation, The Dunn and Bradstreet Corporation, The Meyer Foundation, The Washington Post, Chevy Chase Bank, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, IBM, and the Recording Industries Music Performance Trust Funds. Additional support was provided by the D.C. Humanities Council; the Blum Kovler Foundation; Program in African American Culture, Division of Cultural History, National Museum of American History; and SPOT Image Corporation.

Lois E. Adams, Diane A. Bacote, Candace Barnes, Sue Barnes, Gabriel C. Benn, Toni Blackman, Tom Blagburn, Iley Brown II, James Brown, Jr., P J. Brownlee, Camilla Bryce-Laporte, Anika Collins, Evelyn Curenton, Sandy Dang, Anna De Fina, Jane Flegel, Christopher Flores, Paul Gardullo, Lilo Gonzales, Alan Hersker, Sherri Lawson-Clark, William Mabry, Atiba Madyun, Angie Manzano, Susie McFadden-Resper, Melinda Michels, Lisa Pegram, Jemima Pierre, Kishanna Poteat, Rose Powhatan, Mingo Roberts, Elizabeth Sheehan, Danette Sokocich, Pallavi Thakur, Michael Twitty, Nilda Villalta, Sheila Wise, Yohannes Zeleke

Gabriel Benn, Kai Blagburn, Rahman Branch, Camilla Bryce-Laporte, Kenny Carroll, Anna DeFina, Robert Fry, Howard Gassaway, Jordan Graye, Marjorie Hunt, Philippa Jackson, Linda Lee, Beverly Lindsay, Diana N'Diaye, Lisa Pegram, Mingo Roberts, Sheila Roberts, Ryan Rodríguez, Stephen Syphax, Michael Twitty, Nilda Villalta, David Wang, Brian Williams

CRAFT TRADITIONS James Brown, fiber artist Daughters of Dorcas -- Daughters of DorcasViola Canady, quilterRaymond Dobard, quilter Veronica DeNegri, -- arpilleras -- maker Videlbina Flores-Fitch, piñata maker Carlos Gomez, -- berimbau -- maker Iola Hall, basket weaver Brian Hamilton, stained glass maker Alfredo Herrera, woodcarver Lafayette Elementary School Quilters -- Lafayette Elementary School QuiltersJory BaroneKathy ByrdEdith JicklingJane McIntyre Patrick Plunkett, stone carver Vilma Quintanilla, quinceañera dress maker Francisco Rigores, drum maker Andy Seferlis, stone carver Constantine Seferlis, stone carver Mamo Tessema, potter Rome Yetbarek, basket weaver DANCE TRADITIONS African Heritage Drummers and Dancers Andrew Cacho African Drummers and Dancers International Capoeira Angola Foundation -- International Capoeira Angola FoundationSheryll AldredChandra BrownSkher BrownHahnhuynh Armando DrakeCarlos GomezKojo JohnsonGabriela MandolesiCobra MansaSaadika MooreFrancisco Bermudez MoralesGege PoggiSylvia RobinsonAmina Malik SantemuKevin WilsonAyende Youmans Poetry in Motion -- Poetry in MotionLarry BarronCharles BrownLevet Brown, Jr.Antonio F. BrutonSarah L. CrawleyRenee FinkleyGloria GoodeClinton J. GreenGary HolmesMary D. HopkinsGrace Little, vocalsJames OnqueCrystal P. ThompsonMell L. WalkerWarren E. WashingtonAnthony Yancey KanKouran West African Dance Company Smooth & E-Z Hand Dancing -- Smooth & E-Z Hand DancingMichael AshtonKermit BanksLawrence BradfordLarry BrownNovella CampbellKathi DavisVictor HowardJoy HunterVirginia IrbyMary JohnsonB.J. JonesLawrence LindseyDelores MavritteRonald MooreJoseph NelsonGregory OwensCarlyle PrinceCynthia SpignerGerald Woodfork Step Afrika! -- Step Afrika!Darrius GourdineGenia MorganDavid MyersKirsten SmithBrian WilliamsPaul Woodruff SECULAR MUSIC TRADITONS Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation -- Archie Edwards Blues Heritage FoundationMichael E. Baytop, guitar, harmonica, vocalsNapoleon Brundage, harmonicaEleanor Ellis, guitar, vocalsResa Gibbs, vocalsJeff Glassey, harmonicaNeal Harpe, guitar, vocalsDavid Jackson, guitar, bass, vocalsNeal Johnson, guitar, vocalsSteve Levine, harmonicaThorin O'Neil, guitarJesse Palidofsky, keyboardMiles Spicer, guitar, drums, vocalsRichard "Mr. Bones" Thomas, bonesDion Thompson, guitarJoe Wabon, guitar, vocalsN.J. Warren, guitar, vocals Michelle Banks, Quique Aviles, and Friends the blueshounds -- the blueshoundsChris Dean, bassBarbara Jackson, lead vocalsNick Martin, keyboardsTony Rakusin, guitarBarry Turner, drums Big Hillbilly Bluegrass -- Big Hillbilly BluegrassMike Marceau, bassTad Marks, fiddleBob Perilla, guitar, vocalsDick Smith, banjo, mandolin Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers -- Chuck Brown and the Soul SearchersChuck Brown, guitar, vocalsBrad Clement, trumpetGlen Ellis, bassRobert Green, congasJuJu House, drumsBrian Mills, saxophoneSherrie Mitchell, keyboard D.C.'s Finest -- D.C.'s FinestAvon Barbour, vocalsRichard Collins, vocalsJoe Herndon, vocalsDeane Larkins, vocalsReamer Shedrick, vocals Davey Yarborough Band Fugazi -- FugaziBrendan Canty, drumsJoe Lally, bassIan MacKaye, guitar, vocalsGuy Picciotto, guitar, vocals Nicki Gonzalez Band -- Nicki Gonzalez BandMarc Capponi, pianoIra Gonzalez, bassNicki Gonzalez, vocalsSrdjan Kolacevich, guitarJay Tobey, drums Image Band -- Image BandPeter Aimable, tromboneJohn Georges, trumpetEric Hamm, lead vocalsDarryle Jones, saxophoneAdrian Laldee, bassMarge Lawrence, lead vocalsJoe Louis, guitarClaude Richards, trumpetLaughton Sargeant, keyboard, vocals In Process... -- In Process...Tia Ade, vocalsNketia Agyeman, vocalsPaula Pree, vocalsPamela Rogers, vocals LaJazz -- LaJazzBob Balthis, tromboneBhagwan, bassCliff Bigoney, trumpetPaul Hawkins, percussionDon Junker, trumpetTom Monroe, alto and tenor saxophone, fluteRudy Morales, bongosDarius Scott, pianoSam Turner, percussion Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington, D.C. -- Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington, D.C.Ray Killian, music directorJill Strachan, general manager Luci Murphy and Friends -- Luci Murphy and FriendsDarnell Bell, percussionSteve Jones, guitar, pianoLuci Murphy, vocalsRoger St. Vincent, electric bass, vocals Memphis Gold -- Memphis GoldTony Fraizo, rhythm guitarMorris Freeman, drumsMemphis Gold, guitar, vocalsLorenzo Johnson, congasCharlie Sayles, harmonicaRobert Seymore, keyboardCharles Soleman, bass Rare Essence -- Rare EssenceMichael Baker, bassEric Butcher, percussionDonnell G. Floyd, Sr., rap, saxophoneAdebayo A. Folarin, vocalsDarrin Frazier, keyboardMilton Freeman, percussionKimberly Graham, vocalsByron Jackson, keyboardAnthony Johnson, lead guitarDerek Paige, trumpetMichael Smith, drumsKent Wood, keyboard Rumisonko -- RumisonkoCarlos Arrien, kena, zampoña, charango, vocalsMariano Arrien, kena, zampoñaRene Dehega, guitar, vocalsAlberto Lora, kena, zampoña Sin Miedo -- Sin MiedoAnna Mercedes Castrello, lead vocalsBrad Clements, trumpetRalph Eskenazi, timbalesSamuel Mungia, bassPatrick Noel, bongosDidier Prossaird, pianoGary Sosias, congas Sweet Honey in the Rock -- Sweet Honey in the RockYsaye Maria Barnwell, vocalsNitanju Bolade Casel, vocalsAisha Kahlil, vocalsCarol Maillard, vocalsBernice Johnson Reagan, vocalsShirley Childress Saxton, ASL interpreter Nap Turner Youth Steel Band D.C. Divas Julia Nixon -- Julia NixonJulia Nixon, vocalsDavid Ylvisaker, piano Bernice and Toshi Reagon -- Bernice and Toshi ReagonMichelle Lanchester, vocalsBernice Reagan, vocalsToshi Reagan, vocals, guitarYasmeen, vocals SACRED MUSIC TRADITIONS Barbara Gaskins -- Barbara GaskinsRoyce Bouknight, bassDeborah Delgado, vocalsBarbara Roy Gaskins, vocals, lead and rhythm guitarCharles Marvary, drumsKim Watson, vocals B'nai Shalom Adult and Youth Choir Cambodian Network Council - Cambodian Arts Project -- Cambodian Network Council - Cambodian Arts ProjectNatalie Chhuan, cymbals, dancerPhavann ChhuanRithy Chhuan, dancerThyda Chhuan, dancerBonnary Lek, dancerAmarind Sam, dancerChanmoly Sam, dancerLaksmi Sam, dancerMalene Sam, dancer Cardozo High School Concert Choir Carlton Burgess & Friends Complete Praise Rev. James Flowers and the Flowers Family Singers -- Rev. James Flowers and the Flowers Family SingersTommy Crosby, guitarReverend James N. Flowers, Jr., vocalsLizzy Flowers, vocalsMargaret L. Flowers, vocalsYolanda Flowers, vocalsMarie Hickson, vocalsDorothy McDowell, vocalsJerry Parker, keyboardsMargie Pickett, vocalsErma Reed-Flowers, vocalsMildred Scruggs, vocalsGeorge White, drumsTommy White, bass Foundation Khadimou Rossoul, North America -- Foundation Khadimou Rossoul, North AmericaPape DiengCheikh KèbèMassaer SambKhidim SeckPape SeckAbdoulaye TambaEl Hadj ThiamMourtala Thiam The Four Echoes -- The Four EchoesGeorge G. Blake, tenorWilliam Evans, lead vocalsJames Stein, baritoneGlen Taylor, lead guitar, vocals Holy Comforter - St. Cyprian Catholic Church Gospel Choir -- Holy Comforter - St. Cyprian Catholic Church Gospel ChoirKenneth Louis, music director Kings of Harmony - United House of Prayer for All Peoples Keshet Chorale of the D.C. Jewish Community Center Cantor Aaron Marcus Reverb -- ReverbMike Brisco, vocalsChristopher Hunter, vocalsRussell Jeter Ill, vocalsSteve Langley, vocalsR. Bruce O'Neal, vocalsVictor Pinkney, vocals Seven Sons -- Seven SonsJenny Andrews, vocalsLee Haley, drumsRev. James Hardy, vocalsNathan Jones, vocalsThomas Peterson, vocalsWardell Rogers, lead guitarGregory Young, bass Washington Toho Koto Society -- Washington Toho Koto SocietyClaudia Clark, kotoYuriko Gandol, kotoShuho Ishii, shakuhachiVera Land, kotoKyoko Okamoto, kotoRobert Preston, shakuhachiSachiko Smith, shamisen, kotoJohn Welsh, shakuhachi The Wright Singers -- The Wright SingersPatricia Bryant, vocalsElizabeth Hunter-Williams, vocalsLaShawn Rembert, vocalsJaqueline Richardson, vocalsEureka Robinson, vocalsFannie White, vocalsLeavia Wright, vocals FOODWAYS TRADITIONS Roberta Baietti, Northern Italian cooking Edith Ballou, African-American cooking Diana Celarosi, Central, Southern Italian cooking Liberata Ehimba, Senegalese cooking Patricia Giles, African-American cooking Rabbi Hayyim, Sephardic cooking Columbus Jones, fish fry Jodie Kassorla, Sephardic cooking Lillia Knight, Panamanian cooking Henry Lieu, Chinese cooking Hala Maksoud, Arab-American cooking Alpheus Mathis, African-American cooking Ester Muhammad, African-American cooking Rashida Muhammad, African-American cooking Joan Nathan, Jewish cooking Hai Nguyen, Vietnamese cooking Mildred Palm, African-American cooking Charles Reindorf, Ghanaian cooking Dwane Ricketts, Jamaican cooking Yvonne St. Hill, Panamanian cooking Maria Luisa Sylos-Labini, Northern Italian cooking Sing Tam, Chinese cooking Ester Treviño, Salvadoran cooking Taye Wogederes, Ethiopian cooking Dorothy Young, African-American cooking Bruno Zara, Central Italian cooking Christina Zara, Central Italian cooking GARDENING TRADITIONS Diane Dale Patricia Giles Pride Heitt Columbus Jones Frieda Murray Judy Tiger SOCIAL JUSTICE TRADITIONS Judith Bauer Dorothy Brizill Carl Cole Sandy Dang Lori Dodson Alfred Dudley Bernice Fonteneau Pat Hawkins George LaRoche Julius Lofton Ignatius Mason Phil Ogilvie Mark Richards Maurice Shorter Kathryn Sinzinger Larry Smith John C. Snipes Ivan Walk Karen Zachary SPOKEN, WRITTEN, RHYTHMIC WORD TRADITIONS D.C. National Teen Slam Team -- D.C. National Teen Slam TeamHenry ArangoKenneth CarrollIsaac ColonJabari ExumOkechukwu lwealaLarry RobertsonLauren Wyatt Jane Alberdeston Quique Avilés Racquel Brown Grace Cavalieri Kyra Garrett Infinite Loop -- Infinite LoopChi Garden Heady -- HeadyBrandon JohnsonKamaylaErnesto MercerE. Ethelbert MillerTerrance Nicholson Opus Akoben -- Opus AkobenBlack IndianKokayiSub-Z Orphyx -- OrphyxLisa PegramTiffany Thompson Po-Emcees -- Po-EmceesDarrell PerryPatrick Washington DJ Renegade Rhyme Deferred -- Rhyme DeferredPsalmayene 24 Silvana Straw Henry Taylor Eleanor Traylor Laurie Tsang Fong Sai U Unspoken Heard -- Unspoken HeardMichael AbbottAsheruBlue BlackRahman Branch SPORT AND GAME TRADITITONS Joe Lewis Abney Wil Atkins Jim "Bad News" Barnes Bobby Bennett Theo Brooks Phil Chenier Mark Chisolm Betty Cleeg Andrew Dyer Richard Evans Steve Francis Barbara Garcia Sonny Hill Saleem Hylton Brenda Jackson Roy Jefferson Andrew Johnson George Johnson Sam Jones Andre Jordan Lamont Jordan Carver Leech Dr. George Logan-El Butch McAdams Bill McCaffrey Jimmy McLain Thurston McLain Mike McLeese Lenny Moore George Nock Wanda Oates Soya Proctor Michael Smith Betsy Stockard Marty Tapscott Tony Watkins Christie Winters Willie Wood Jimmy Wright WATERWAYS TRADITIONS Anacostia Watershed Society Sheila Brennan Roger Legerwood, boat builder Bob Martin, boat builder