Casting Our Light - Malongafest2021 Finale Week

nzoCALIFA...from a vision of a weekend of Ancestral Atonement transcends into a month full of Seasonal Communal service to align, activate and Heal our Community. #Malongafest, the powerful envisioning of our preeminent Cultural Arts Empresario Muisi-Kongo Malonga, daughter of the late great Ta Malonga Casquelourd and beloved legendary Dr. Faye McNair-Knox. #givepraisetolife. Our Fua Dia Congo, joined in staunch kinship with Kongo SQ West Kinship Society boasts and curates some of the most impactful arts programming meeting every trial with trailblazing Cultural Arts leadership and signature programming of these times. *sigh* 

With mindfulness, we honor breath, usher conscious wellness moves, while we DUE this Dance and Drum thing in Kintuadi. 

*below, at a glimpse*

Matondo 

R. Califa, @nzoCALIFA Dance Works

in prayer, in the field and keeping vigil

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MALONGA MUSIC LISTENING PARTY
We are THRILLED to announce 

the GRAND FINALE of #MalongaFest2021: 

"Casting Our Light" is the eagerly anticipated listening party & celebration of @KiaziMalonga's Debut Album "Tembo kia Kongo." @MalongaMusic
 DEC. 4, 2021, Doors Open 7PM, 
10,000 SQ ft, Social Distancing Wellness Kiosk, PPE Distribution, #MaskON

REGISTER $10 Advance TIX: malongafest2021.eventbrite.com

 Thank You Sistar Tamika Harris and Team WIN Dancers of Afrikawedance.com. Bless up DJ Kobie, for vibing up the space.

Join us at

malongafest2021.eventbrite.com

Malongafest2021: Casting Our Light Week of Nov.8th

nzocalifa --The way is open in ire' with libations and prayers of Ase'. as we celebrate the fruits of our Ancestral gifts through Dance, Drum, and Culture. We lift Our Commune+Unity when WE remember. We invite you to join us in shared kinship works. Matondo #Malongafest2021 | Register Today: https://bit.ly/2ZNcJ1s

Dance Virtuoso from Lima, Peru Javier Barrera to jump off $6 Tuesdays

LIVE! at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts

NOVEMBER 9, 2021 6P-7:30P, 2nd flr Studio A

Malongafest2021 "Casting Our Light" Week 1 & 2

 

reflect in Remembrance- Give Praise to Life 2021

[ARCHIVES] nzoCALIFA--Oakland, CA 

"Give Praise to the Lives of Our Ancestors  with voices amplified and movement forward." @nzoCALIFA

2017 [ Life is Living 10 & Oakland Pubic Main Library] 

OCT.2017: I served as Lead Artist/Curator envisioned and created as                        Malonga Center Community Ancestral Altar Installation. 

"... Teamed with a devoted crew, this vision was Co-commissioned by Adande M'baye and Delina Brooks co-creators of the Africa Is Oakland - Dance Zone, devoted students of theMalonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts and Alumni of Fua Dia Congo Performing Company."

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My childhood stomping grounds and Dance School, West Oakland's Historic Defremery Park aka Lil Bobby Hutton Park became a creatively potent sacred portal that housed the first installation of its kind...lead with Ancestral prayers, songs for Egun and rites conducted  by Oakland's Omnira Institute.

...We installed at one of my favorite haunts - LIBRARIES and erected the Library Edition of the MCCAA. A special thanks to Malonga Center Student, Ajoke Kokodoko, Reference Librarian and fellow Library Administrators.

#HonorYourAncestors #dayofthedead #Ancestors #Antepassados

[Oct.2017] #diasdelosmuertos "This culinary treat stopped by to grace the Altar across from mine, created by Librarian Ramona Chacon -- Laney College Culinary School represent, thx to Chocolatiêre Leah Vass of Ta Bouche Chocolate Couture. Hmmm, (I -I mean) the altar will take some beignets and Cafe du Monde coffee."

"...the whole season is like a ritual unfolding."

 Muisi-Kongo Malonga, Artistic Director Malongafest2021 

Stellar Saturday legacy Congolese Dance Class LIVE! 

at the Historic Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts

Dance: Muisi-Kongo Malonga & Nano Lebaud Loubayi  Drum: Kiazi Malonga

Diamano Coura W. African Dance Dynasty, ascending

nzocalifa-- Grace overflowing in continued Mastery in the month of October hosted by West African Dance dynasty Diamano Coura West African Dance Company.

🍃#givepraisetolife Papa Dr. Zakriya Diouf, Pioneer, Cultural Ambassador, Scholar, Husband Father, our treasured Royal Gran. 

The Malonga Center floors have been blessed; Come bask in the fruit of Artistic gifts of the Oakland, Bay Area Community and beyond.  As we continue to hold vigil for our Diouf Family, Diamano Coura and Community kinship align, let us Dance, Drum and BE in good Spirit. Please register ahead to ensure your space. Social-Distancing protocols observed

Good folks, a signature schedule featuring Master Artists and Pioneers of 

West African Dance and Drum Cultural traditions:

Diamano Coura W. African Dance Company

Ousseynou Kouyate

Sister Linda Faye Johnson

Baba Mosheh Milon

Pre-register. Class cap is at 100, including Drummers, and Dancers. 

If you pre- register and can’t attend, please inform the registrar to release the space.

Masks are required , regardless of vaccination status.

Class is from 3:30pm-5:00pm. 2nd floor, Studio A. Please be prompt.

Class fee is $15

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💜Donations and offerings are graciously received in Honor of

Papa Diouf and for relief efforts in support of the Diouf Family.

Direct portal link: https://diamano-coura-west-african-dance-company.square.site/

_______________________________

NEA National Heritage Fellows Tribute Video: 

Dr. Zakarya and Naomi Diouf

presented by the National Endowment for the Arts March 2021

{video tribute}

Honored Fellows and Arts Ambassadors
Nationally recognized for their Artistic Excellence and invaluable 

contributions to the Arts, rejuvenating its Cultural Heritage.  

And for establishing Cultural legacies 
vital to the sustenance of  a global Arts Community.

_____________________________________

from the Archives - Diamano Coura 1993

Video by Tumani Onabiyi for Tumani Photo Video © 2021

Wajumbe Cultural Institution presents

" The Celebration of the Black Dance and Music Experience"

at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason in the City of San Francisco in 1993.

 

Our Royal Gran now Ancestor Dr. Zakariya Diouf

 We Love you Papa Zak! 

We extend our Love and respects with heartfelt support  to Mama Naomi & Family

and to our Diamano Coura kinship. 

Gangstar transitioned; His light and timeless wisdom transcending; His trajectory of works studied, rooted, taught, created unmatched; 

a vast vessel of Ancient traditions, legacy Culture living through the dynasty He founded, in joint Vision with his Queen aka Mama Naomi, birthed through Family, and built in kinship with Commune+Unity. A powerful demonstration of a full and majestic walk of life of indomitable Spirit.

 I, WE Rise to your occasion "Papa Zak" in grand salute -- sending Love, Light and sweet ease to the Family, as we mourn with you and hold you all in sweet vigil. 

DR ZAKARIYA DIOUF, Pioneer, Cultural Gatekeeper, Elder Statesman,  my Royal Gran, ascend sweetly to be received honorably upon your Ancestral stool. Love, light and progress.  

~Love Sis. R. Califa Calloway  

#givepraisetolife 

nzoCALIFA: MAKINU Week 5 Alive in Dance and Drum

 

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#MAKINU programming moving into a next level Season 

of Dance and Drum of good Spirit and uniting beloved 

Community, in the City of East Palo Alto @BellStreetPark. 

✨WE return August 7, 2021 

>>info: bottletreeculture@gmail.com

_____________________

in shared Dance kinship,

Sis. R. Califa

@nzoCALIFA Dance Works

Encore DANCE July 24th - MAKINU 2021

We're back for our ENCORE EXPERIENCE Bloco Dance accompanied with Bateria thunder as Afro Brasilian Carnaval moves & grooves  "rock the park" to usher a dynamic Dance movement experience -- beats by BARAKEMI lead by Julio Remelexo and Dance by @nzoCALIFA Dance works, we welcome another revival of Dance Reunion, Communal healing and Dance & Drum Spirit.  Join US for MAKINU In The Park - JULY 24th & 25th.

*presented by Bottle Tree Culture partnered 

with the City of East Palo Alto*

 *REGISTER HERE for BOTH CLASSES*

DANCE: saturday, july 24, 2021 4:30P-6:00P

DRUM: sunday, july 25, 2021 4:30P-6:00P

     Giving thanks for the Communal #Dance Shine upon a little park known as BELL STREET PARK in East Palo Alto, CA. At MAKINU In The Park Celebrated Artists, Musicians and Bay Pioneers share the joy of African Dance and Drum Culture as Community+Unity. *FREE*

*     *      *

in shared Dance kinship,

Sis. R. Califa

@nzoCALIFA Dance Works

 

A Joyful Return! Congolese Dance at the Malonga Center

WAHHH!!!

Wa Dia Fua Yika Dio

"What you inherit you must add value to..."

Bear witness to this Joyful return!

LIFTING THE RESILIENCE OF OUR NZO

~Matondo Nsambi, Matondo Mamingi

Sis. Regina Califa

• Nzo Califa Dance Works
• Kongo SQ West Kinship Society Communal Kinship Partner

@KongoSQWest

#healthiswealth

#MyKongo

A Word of Care to our beloved Commune+Unity

from Artistic Director, Muisi-Kongo Malonga

of Fua Dia Congo

Ago: nzoCALIFA Opens in MAKINU in the Park

🍃The way is open indeed when Spirit says so...

And guides us to stay in mindfulness using your rite mind to make 

aligned choices concerning your Health and Wellness

Join US for MAKINU in the Park, 

SAT. June 26, 2021

at my Fua Dia Congo birthplace, 

East Palo Alto, CA

Lifted by Bottle Tree Culture 

@ Bell Street Park 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

ushered with @nzoCALIFA

 partnered by Kongo SQ West Kinship Society

__________________________________________

a note of gratitude to the City of East Palo Alto's 

Summer Park Activation Program

 DANCETRANSFORMNATION™

rejuvenate

________________________

ecstatic that my good friends at BARAKEMI

will permeate the atmosphere with Bom 

Aṣẹ

'

www.barakemi.com

#bottleTreeCulture