OperaCréole, Voices in the Dark and Louisiana Museum of African American History Present “Sankofa: 250 Years of Radical Roots in America”

Data News Weekly Staff Edited Report

New Orleans Cultural Program to Explore African American History, Resistance, Art and the Enduring Journey Toward Freedom

OperaCréole, Voices in the Dark Repertory Theater Company and the Louisiana Museum of African American History will proudly present “Sankofa: 250 Years of Radical Roots in America,” a special cultural and historical program examining the African American experience and the people, ideas and traditions that have shaped the continuing struggle for freedom and equality in America.

The event will take place Friday, September 11, 2026, at The Historic St. James A.M.E. Church, 222 N. Roman Street, New Orleans, LA 70112. Admission is free, with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Drawing upon the African concept of Sankofa — looking to the past to gain knowledge and wisdom needed to move forward — the program will bring together music, history, poetry, theater and scholarship. As the United States observes 250 years since its founding, the presentation will offer an opportunity to reflect upon the contributions, sacrifices and resilience of African Americans throughout the nation’s history.

A Powerful Gathering of Artists, Historians and Cultural Voices

The evening will feature OperaCréole and an accomplished group of artists, historians, scholars and cultural leaders. Participants include Poet Laureate Mona Lisa Saloy; Alvin Jackson of the Petite Treme Jazz Museum; Monique Moss and Leon Waters of the Louisiana Museum of African American History (LMAAH); Joseph Dunn of the Laura Plantation; The Symphony Chorus of New Orleans; Tommye Myrick of Voices in the Dark Repertory Theater Company; Brooklyn London, Gold Medalist in the NAACP ACT-SO Competition; journalist Norman Robinson; and Chuck Perkins, M.C.

Through their collective voices, the program will illuminate stories and experiences that are essential to understanding both Louisiana and American history. The presentation will connect the nation’s past with contemporary conversations about identity, citizenship, justice and the meaning of freedom.

Remembering the Past, Inspiring the Future

“Sankofa: 250 Years of Radical Roots in America” will encourage audiences to consider American history through a broader lens—one that recognizes African Americans not simply as witnesses to the American story, but as central participants in shaping the nation’s cultural, political and social development.

Set inside the historic St. James A.M.E. Church, the evening will also underscore New Orleans’ important place in African American history and culture. Through performance, storytelling and historical reflection, Sankofa will celebrate the strength of those who came before while challenging a new generation to carry their legacy forward.

EVENT DETAILS: Friday, September 11, 2026; performance at 7:30 p.m.; The Historic St. James A.M.E. Church, 222 N. Roman Street, New Orleans, LA 70112. Admission is free.