Monday, January 29, 2024

We're Celebrating! Straight Outta Family History 2024

We're Chatting, Creating, Researching, Building 
#STRAIGHTOUTTAFAMILYHISTORY
Raising Awareness and Funding with only 2 days left.
Support Low to No Costs Family History Programming and Services
Click the Link REP' OUR TEE or Gift a Family Elder
We thank you kindly         

nzoCALIFAncestry - #StraightOuttaFamilyHistory



 

Saturday, January 27, 2024

House Lights On: Janeen Ella Johnson & Master Artist Tata Sandor





!HOUSE LIGHTS ON! 💡nzoCALIFA HIGHLIGHTS:

Arts & Culture Mavens, Mavericks & the Magnificent

Janeen E. Johnson, Grantee

2023-2024 Living Cultures Grant, 
Alliance for California Traditional Arts
"From Whence I Came: Expressions of Congo" featuring Legacy Congolese Master Artist
Tata Pierre Sandor Dianbankouezi 

"Johnson will produce an oral history project centered on Pierre Sandor Diabankouezi,
Master choreographer of traditional drum and dance from the Republic of Congo."

Learn more about this project's important mission to preserve the STORY as Tata Sandor's shares's his life paths as a Congolese Artist spanning 3 or 4 continents, over 8 decades, to trailblazing legacy Congolese Dance and Music Traditions in the United States. 











Lest we forget - Liberation minded 2024


 [reposted quiet reflection] Historically January 1, 1863, represents the first effects of the Emancipation Proclamation, serving as a military tactic that first released the bondage of those enslaved on rebellious Southern territory against the Union Army under Lincoln's presidency; this included some of my own Ancestors of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina; Yet, it'd be an ongoing battle in the Civil War with others of myAncestors serving in the United States Colored Troops, paving the way towards the abolition of slavery by the 13th Amendment, passed through Congress January 31, 1865, and ratified December 6, 1865. 

"I say that my folks, are the most resilient,
brilliant Human specie on this planet" ~R.Califa       

 For no matter the tactics or the terror, we were and are a liberation-minded people, who've navigated slave ship horror stories, launched scores of uncharted rebellions, to wage the strife of everyday plantation life, striving to thrive. And with success, God was at the helm, with Spirituality binding us as it is commonly known about the deep Soul of Black Folks.


My Ancestral Matriarch known as Harriett Eliza Evans "Paine" was born in Tennessee and carried to Texas by the slave-owning Hardin Family; During Freedom's Eve, and years after Emancipation Day, she continued to work her finger to the bone, whereby news of her Freedom, as well as over 250,000 others enslaved in Texas, was "delayed" until June 19,  1865, hence the celebration of Juneteenth in Texas and across America today.

Remember to cook up some Good 
Luck New Year's food traditions.
On Freedom's Eve, we worship in prayer and reflection proclaiming God's glory to see forward such a day made possible through our Ancestors; As the New Year transcends into Emancipation Day of Freedom Celebrations, we shout in praise with unspeakable joy.
We give praise to God for our deliverance through a legacy of Faith, Family, and fortitude, while holding up the blood-stained banner of slain liberation fighters, unjust lynchings of Family members, and the surviving descendants of the Trails of Tears.  We send love and ease to the broken hearts along the way, finding strength and inspiration and celebrating "How We Got Over", Hallelujah!!! A new day is upon us as 2018 comes to a close in preparation to hail up 2019 New Year's Day - Emancipation/Freedom Day for Black/African Americans! Harambee 7x's.


Deeply inspired, I encourage you to please check your local Black Church/Temple/Gathering place for #WatchNightServices and or Freedom's Eve Services in celebration of our Emancipation Day; do bring a young person and talk to your Wisdom keepers to continue to prosper these traditions through Family and Community #givethanks ~R. Califa Calloway / @nzoCALIFA


Tuesday, January 11, 2022

2022 -We are Wellness, Rite ON!

   Eku Odun – Happy New Year!   

Walk in Wellness Good Folks!

Sis. R. Califa Calloway, Creative Director

nzoCALIFA Dance Works