Event

Yemanja Arts Festival 2016

Once again, this February 27 and 28 Brasarte brings to the Bay Area a centuries old trans-oceanic, magical celebration: the Yemanjá Arts Festival. Yemanjá is mother of salt waters, goddess of the sea, giver of life, and patron of fishermen. This celebration originates from Yoruban traditions carried from West Africa to the Americas, but it is now embraced by migrants and travelers throughout the world who, having crossed the oceans in search for a better life, regard Yemayá as their protector. With this festival Brasarte also honors Black History Month as it is believed that Yemayá traveled on slave ships with the African diaspora.

This celebration offers a unique opportunity for healing across cultures and races, a chance to reach out, share and celebrate with each other. Participants will immerse themselves in joyous Brazilian music, dance, food and drinks in a beautifully decorated space filled with baskets, flowers, soaps, perfumes, sea shells, inspired in gifts traditionally offered to Yemanjá.

Drummers, musicians, dancers and singers from Latin America and the United States will invoke the goddess mother, her healing beauty, and her generous and protective spirit. This years show features the Damasceno Dance Collective, the Curumis Childrens Dance Troupe, renown choreographers from Brazil and Cuba Luiz Badaró, Tania Santiago and Cheo Rojas, and guest singer from Bahía, Dandara Odara. As well as works by local artists Tika Morgan and Stephanie Emmanuel Engel.

Saturday Doors 7pm Show 8pm
Sunday Doors 6pm Show 7pm
$20 in advance $22 @ door

Made possible with support by the Lakeshore Foundation and the San Francisco Foundation