Fayetteville, NC – Fayetteville celebrates Black History Month with eight different activities across the community.
Kick off your Black History Month celebration at the Museum of the Cape Fear as they present Dancing Stories with April C. Turner on Saturday, February 1 at 2:00 p.m. Turner uses dances, stories and songs from traditional West African culture to affirm community-building concepts, such as working together, integrity and perseverance. The meanings and uses of the songs and dances are demonstrated in a fun, high-energy, inspiring journey. The audience will have fun when the language Wolof, a West African language, is introduced to them. Together, Turner and the audience will explore the language of African dance symbols.
Dancing Stories explores African folklore and demonstrates ways that African stories can bring a community together. At the end of the presentation, audience members are invited to participate in playing music together as a community. The program is a well-rounded cultural experience focusing on the strength of art to inspire, unite and educate.
More about April C. Turner: www.LifeAsArtProductions.com
Other Black History Month Events and Exhibits:
Through February 28 / New Media Abstraction and Identity Politics in Traditional and Contemporary Black Visual Art. This national exhibition will feature works of art from The National Conference of Artists and The National Alliance of Artists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Works by Ben Jones, Peggy Blood, David C. Driskell, Willis Bing Davis, John Biggers, Margaret T. Burroughs, Shirley Woodson, Charlie Johnson, Louise M. Johnson, Lee Ransaw, Dwight Smith and Robert J. Stull are a few of the over 36 exhibiting artists from across the country. The exhibition will feature a wide range of artistic creativity centered on the Black Aesthetic. This exhibit is hosted at two galleries: Rosenthal Gallery on the Fayetteville State University Campus and the Ellington-White Gallery in downtown Fayetteville. The free exhibits are open during regular gallery hours. More Information: Ellington White Gallery Rosenthal Gallery
Through March 14/ Troublesome Presence Exhibit. The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County hosts an exhibition which aims to reflect a variety of experiences and features paintings, sculptures, video, mixed media, photography, spoken word poetry, and movement. The free exhibit is open during gallery hours.
Four special events - including a film screening, two panel discussions and a spoken word event featuring poets’ written reactions to the Troublesome Presence exhibit will be held throughout February. More Information
Opening February 1/ African American Medical Professionals Exhibit. Beginning in the 19th Century, African Americans took on the professional role of doctor, dentist or pharmacist in Cumberland County. This exhibit, which featured their contributions to the community, opens February 1 and will remain open through the year at the Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum. More Information
Through March 20/ John Biggers: The Lasting Legacy features the works of John Biggers. Gallery 208, in downtown Fayetteville hosts a selection of original works by John Biggers, an African-American muralist who came to prominence toward the end of World War II. Biggers worked on creating works critical of racial and economic injustice. More Information
February 1 / True to Yourself: Featuring Actress Meagan Good and Producer DeVon Franklin. Through an interactive question-and-answer session with the audience, Good and Franklin will inspire each of us to draw from our experiences and inner strength to create success through conviction and perseverance. The talk will be held at Fayetteville State University’s J.W. Seabrook Auditorium. More Information
February 7/ Art Meets Life: Black History Month Edition Featuring Main Man. This free event features Spoken Word artist Main Man from Greensboro, North Carolina. Prior to his performance, he will answer questions about his craft. The Sweet Palette hosts this event. More Information
February 20-22/ Anansi: Tricks, Tales & Tattles. Fayetteville State University (FSU) Fine Arts Series and FSU Theatre Company presents this special performance. Written by FSU theatre faculty member Phoebe Hall, this show features original trickster tales from the West Indies based on myths, folk tales and legends from Ghana featuring their beloved, well-known trickster, Anansi the Spider. More Information
February 22/ Lift Every Voice and Sing. Cumberland Choral Arts presents “Lift Every Voice and Sing”--a musical journey through black history. This concert will focus on notable African American musicians, Black Broadway shows/films, and traditional spirituals/gospel. The concert will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. More Information
Anytime/ Tour the African-American Heritage Trail. Cumberland County’s African-American Heritage Trail provides a historical glimpse into the lives of African Americans who resided in Cumberland County from the Revolutionary War era through the early 20th century. Visit the Trail
About the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization responsible for positioning Cumberland County as a destination for conventions, sporting events and individual travel. For additional information, visit www.visitfayettevillenc.com or call 1-800-255-8217.