Elegba Folklore Society

In the Footsteps of Maggie Walker
2025-07-12 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E Broad St, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
Elegba Folklore Society guides this cultural history tour as a contextual biography of Jackson Ward luminary, Maggie Lena Walker. Evolutionary from her birthplace in Church Hill to her elevation in Historic Jackson Ward, attendees have the chance to ponder black excellence and community building in early 20th century Richmond in light of its significance today. The tour concludes with a visit to Mrs. Walker’s home. Join us as we collaborate with the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site in celebrating her 161st birthday!

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34TH Down Home Family Reunion A Celebration of African American Folklife
2025-08-16 16:00 - 23:00 | Abner Clay Park, Brook Road and West Clay Street, Richmond, 23219, United States
The Down Home Family Reunion returns Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Abner Clay Park in Richmond, VA. Celebrate African American folklife through music, dance, storytelling, food, and community.
Save the date — more details coming soon.

Our Souls Live Here
2025-09-13 12:00 - 16:00 | Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E Broad St, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
This bus tour invites participants to visit sites of African American memory — homes, churches, schools, theaters and more. Hear the stories of the black architects who created lasting testaments of our presence. Learn of those who lived and worked inside, getting a glimpse of the times; of biography and social life. Feel hoisted by all who made something out of nothing, and then who passed the baton to us.

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What’s in a Memorial Park?
2025-10-18 12:00 - 16:00 | Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E Broad St, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
During this tour, learn about Africa’s spiritual and architectural influences on the pristine, well-kept, centuries old grounds of Hollywood Cemetery. This space largely honors America’s forefathers, mostly Virginia natives, along with Confederate soldiers. Seeing the Kemetic architectural and mortuary practices in this cemetery helps us recognize the vast knowledge and innovation enslaved Africans brought from their homelands, honed for centuries prior in the the birthplaces of civilization, and used to build this nation. What’s in a memorial park? Take this tour to find out.

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In the Beginning Virginia, Along the Trail of Enslaved Africans
2025-11-08 12:00 - 16:00 | Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E Broad St, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
Evolutionary, experiential and visceral along the Trail of Enslaved Africans, attendees have the chance to ponder the impact of enslavement on the enslaved as shared in their own words and from their own view. Embarking by bus after a contextual visit to the Society’s cultural center, participants will walk in our ancestors’ footsteps from their arrival point at river’s edge into Shockoe Bottom, the sites of holding pens, jails, blocks and burial ground.
Hear the narratives of enslaved Africans & the historical record. There may be moments of discomfort and also opportunity to debrief. From our bus and along the walk, participants will have the chance to immerse themselves in past occurrences that impact our perspectives today.
Wear comfortable shoes and dress. Bring a bottle of water, and snacks are also suggested depending on health needs. After leaving the cultural center, the tour is outside and mostly in direct sun, in a wooded area along the river as well as in urban city settings. There will be a generous amount of walking.

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The Power of We: A Collaborative Dance and Drum Workshop
2025-11-15 12:00 - 16:00 | Richmond Movement Center, 14 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
Umoja: Two Paths, One Purpose
“The Power of We” — A Collaborative Dance & Drum Workshop
Saturday, November 15, 202512:00 PM – 4:00 PMRichmond Movement Center14 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Join Ezibu Muntu and the Elegba Folklore Society for Umoja: Two Paths, One Purpose, a powerful dance and drum experience celebrating the unity found in rhythm, movement, and community.
This special workshop, “The Power of We,” invites participants to engage in an afternoon of cultural exchange and artistic collaboration led by two master artists — Souleymane Solo Sana of Mali and Docta Yew (Yuma Bellomee) of Washington, D.C.
Through the traditional dances of Mali and the dynamic rhythms of the African drum, participants will explore the interconnectedness of our collective spirit. Together, we will honor ancestral traditions while creating a shared experience of expression, healing, and joy.
About the Artists
Souleymane Solo Sana is an internationally acclaimed dancer from Mali, West Africa. A former principal member of Ballet du District de Bamako, he now directs Kono Gnaga, an organization dedicated to preserving traditional Malian dance and music. Solo’s teachings connect movement with meaning, offering participants an authentic and deeply rooted cultural experience.
Docta Yew (Yuma Bellomee) is a Washington, D.C.–based percussionist, herbalist, and educator. As founder of Ni Dembaya African Drum & Dance Ensemble, he brings the healing power of rhythm to communities across the region. His approach blends ancestral percussion with modern wellness and community building.
Join the Experience
Come ready to move, connect, and be inspired.All experience levels are welcome.
Register today by scanning the QR code on the flyer or visit the link below:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-power-of-we-a-collaborative-dance-and-drum-workshop
https://efsinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ezibumuntu_20251112_reel_3764401598241020223_1_3764401598241020223.mp4
✅ FREE parking is provided!
🚨 Heads up, fam! Because of the Richmond Marathon happening this Saturday, there will be road closures in various parts of Richmond city.
Our event at The Richmond Movement Center (14 E Broad St.) — right on the block between N. Foushee and 1st — is still ON! 🙌🏾 Just make sure to read the details in our reel, plan your route (use Waze app), and come early so you can park easily and enjoy the full experience.

CONVERGENCE — DANCE ■ DRUM ■ FOOD ■ CULTURE
2026-02-21 11:00 - 19:00 | Ballroom Pavilion of the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 5th & Broad Streets, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
ELEGBA FOLKLORE SOCIETY PRESENTS
CONVERGENCE — DANCE ■ DRUM ■ FOOD ■ CULTURE
Plan to attend master classes happening in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, February 21, 11a – 7p, in the Ballroom Pavilion of the Greater Richmond Convention Center, downtown at 5th & Broad Streets. Let’s come together for rooted and fiery African dance and drumming classes. Stay to enjoy a dinner of delicious African food and meaningful conversation in this 100th Black History Month.
Click here for tickets.
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The instructors are:
Assane Konte | Adult Dance, Ages 11 & Up. The Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Choreographer and Costume Designer for the Washington, DC-based KanKouran West African Dance Company, is indigenous to Senegal in West Africa. His professional dance career began at age 15 with the Ballet Africaine de Diebel Gueye in Dakar. Mr. Konte came to the United States to pursue a career as an independent performer and worked with numerous dance companies as a musical arranger and choreographer. He has been the recipient of many prestigious awards, and he performs and teaches internationally and at universities in metro Washington. The Kennedy Center acknowledges, “Through his careful and meticulous choreography, Mr. Konte has elevated US-based African dance to the highest professional level.”
Fode Moussa Camara | Drum Master drummer, percussionist, folklorist, choreographer, exemplifies the preservation of West African traditions and the influence of these traditions on the world. Born into an artistic family in Conakry, Guinea, Camara honors his family and heritage through his expression of Guinea’s musical traditions and culture. A prodigy at an early age, he has claimed leading roles and is a featured artist as he tours extensively in Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Australia.
Samantha Salters | Adult Dance, Ages 11 & Up. Her vast dance experience includes West African and Caribbean dance forms but also jazz, Hip-hop, step and more. A native of Washington, DC, he is an Adjunct Professor of West African dance at Goucher College and the 2021 inaugural recipient of the Deal-Davis Commission presented by DanceAfrica DC. Ms. Salters’ work has led her to international destinations in Central America and West Africa.
Mayah Walker-Taylor | Children’s Dance, Ages 5 – 10. Trained in traditional West African dance under master teachers including Babatunde Olatunji, Ms. Walker-Taylor has performed on stages including the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the MTV Video Music Awards with Busta Rhymes. She is the Artistic Director of the Ezibu Muntu African Dance Company. She is passionate about teaching children through cultural movement, storytelling, and joy—using dance as a powerful tool for expression, confidence, and connection. Ms. Walker-Taylor was deeply influenced by her mother, the late Faye Walker, former Artistic Director of Ezibu Muntu.
Class Schedule and Advance/Door Tuition:
10:30 Doors Open
11a Mayah Walker-Taylor’s Children’s Dance Class $10/$15 Ages 5 – 10
Noon Fode Moussa Camara’s Drum Class $20/$25 *
1:30p Samantha Salter’s Adult Dance Class $20/$25
3:00p Assane Konte’s Adult Dance Class $20/$25
5:00p Dinner & Conversation $20/$25
7p Doors Close
* Discounted purchases of any two $20 offerings are available for $35 in advance. At the door, purchases of any two $25 offerings are available for $40.
In advance, Day Passes are available for $70 in advance and $90 at the door. The children’s dance class is sold separately only.
Timed street parking is available and discounted all-day parking is available in the deck at 5th & Marshall Streets.
Let’s converge for a perfect day, coming together from different directions to a common point. A point of agreement. A point of joy, of cultural celebration, of energy, of affirmation.
Reserve your spot now! Space is limited, and it will cost a little more at the door.
Click here for tickets.
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2026 Black Book Expo, A Conscious Literary Festival (Day 1)
2026-04-11 | Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E Broad St, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
The Black Book Expo 2026: A Conscious Literary Festival returns for a powerful two-day celebration of Black literature, culture, and community. Hosted at the Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center in Richmond, Virginia, this annual gathering brings together authors, readers, scholars, and families to explore stories and ideas rooted in the African Diaspora.
Join us on April 11 and April 12 for a dynamic experience featuring book vendors, author engagements, cultural discussions, and opportunities to discover works that educate, inspire, and empower. From history and spirituality to children’s literature and contemporary thought, the Expo offers something for every reader.
Whether you are building your personal library, connecting with Black authors, or seeking knowledge that uplifts and informs, the Black Book Expo is a space to learn, engage, and celebrate.
Location: Elegba Folklore Society Cultural Center, 101 E Broad St, Richmond, VA
Dates: April 11–12, 2026
Come be part of a meaningful cultural experience where books, history, and community come together.

2026 Black Book Expo, A Conscious Literary Festival (Day 2)
2026-04-12 | Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E Broad St, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States

Performance at VMFA Family Day | Celebrate African and African American Art: Music and Rhythm
2026-06-06 | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Cheek Theater, 200 North Blvd, Richmond, VA, 23220, United States
VMFA
Family Day | Celebrate African and African American Art: Music and Rhythm
June 6
11:30a & 1:00p
Cheek Theater

Elegba Folklore Society welcomes you to Like DNA…the Rhythm, the Dance and the Imagery Connects Us. Join us on a musical journey spiced with West African dance and visual art imagery in a seamless blend with African American musical stylings that illustrate the beauty of the Diaspora. As Elegba is the one who is a way maker, a road opener, today, let us immerse ourselves in expressive arts from the global African world.

Juneteenth 2026, A Freedom Celebration - June 13th - Torch Lit Night Walk, Along the Trail of Enslaved Africans
2026-06-13 | Devil’s Half Acre, 1500 E Franklin St., Richmond, United States
Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration opens a time when particularly people of African descent can surround themselves energetically with Ancestral vibration to recognize, and see within themselves, the foundational presence of African people in Richmond and in the Americas. Since the 1500s, African people were trafficked to the Americas in the Transatlantic Trade of Enslaved Africans. Beginning in the 1680’s, Africans to be sold landed at or near Richmond’s Manchester Dock, for an entire century. African people along with colonizers and enslavers encountered indigenous people throughout the Americas, including Richmond, whose civilizations were also permanently upended.
Then, boat loads of enslaved Africans were exported to the Deep South from Richmond’s riverside, Rocketts Landing, in coffles, and by rail until 1865. It wasn’t until on or about June 19, 1865, 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted, that enslaved Africans in Texas, a cotton production hold-out, were finally freed by a federal government decree as carried out and embodied by the Union Army.
The public is invited to Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration to for the annual Torch Lit Night Walk Along the Trail of Enslaved Africans as it immerses attendees in narratives, the historical record and music. It is a sacred, poignant pilgrimage of recognition and acknowledgement. Also, Dancing with the Ancestors follows and invites attendees to ponder, to reflect, to understand, to engage in ritual and to enjoy music, dance, conversation, children’s activities, food, cultural shopping (Ujamaa) and more.
Attendees are asked to wear white, and they may bring ancestral offerings such as flowers, water, fruit or prayers.
“In celebrating our Ancestors who labored in bondage until the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and those in Texas for whom freedom was delayed, attendees can expect an affirming, joyful and thoughtful gathering to be with one another and to say thank you for the strong shoulders upon which we stand,” says Janine Bell, president and artistic director of the Elegba Folklore Society. “Understanding how we got to where we are is a perpetual roadmap towards actualizing a liberated future.”
Visit again for details.

Juneteenth 2026, A Freedom Celebration - June 14th - Dancing With the Ancestors
2026-06-14 | African Burial Ground, 1500 E. Franklin, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
