The women’s initial mentor was Baba Adetunji Joda who traveled from Denver, Colorado for training and sharing of his Nigerian culture. By learning and embracing these traditions, the group soon attracted several other members to join the Sankofa movement, including Evelyn Taylor, Lydia Davidson, Jill Johnson, Terrell Yarborough and Malissa Billingsley. They also trained with legendary teachers such as Babatunde Olatunji (Nigeria), “Kwasi” (Ghana), Marie Basse Wiles (Senegal), and others from Zimbabwe, Trinidad and The Congo. They traveled to workshops in New York, NY, Washington, DC, Boulder, CO, Santa Rosa, CA, Miami, FL, Santa Fe, and Taos, NM. For two decades Sankofa performed throughout the Pikes Peak region through partnerships with Imagination Celebration and Performing Arts Youth Organization. Sankofa held African dance movement classes on the West side of Colorado Springs for several years and connected with drummers throughout the Colorado Springs community who shared the same passion for African dance, music, and drumming. The drummers who performed with the rhythms, style and Sankofa experience were Stephan Griffin, Fatu Lady Drummer Henderson, and Tony Panton of Denver; and Stuart Dinwoodie, William Dinwoodie, Crystal Bliss, Tenia Lucas, Ron Cousar, and Mitzi Pasternik of Colorado Springs, along with a host of others who would join in the performances or workshops. Sankofa has proven since 1992 that keeping cultural awareness alive, being open to learning, sharing, educating others, expanding knowledge of our history and serving as cultural ambassadors in our global communities are a part of what we contribute as a continuous legacy. CSPM is excited to be partnering with Sankofa to collect and share their stories, their artifacts and their history in the Pikes Peak region. We hope you will join us Saturday, March 10th for a wonderful day of music, dancing and culture not to be missed. MUSELETTER FEBRUARY 2018| PG 3
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