Changing the Narrative through the Arts
Join us for hands-on activities, dance, peer-to-peer presentations, educational games, stories, and book signing.
Presented in collaboration with the Africa Memory Game, Howard University Center for Africa Studies, Africa Access and the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association (ASA) and YehieEl Design. Special participation by Culture At Home, homeschool of D.C and Kings College Lagos.
Open call for participants
Workshop showcases hairstyles from the African diaspora
Be one of 20 emerging hairstylists to join a workshop that showcases hairstyles from the African diaspora inspired by the mythic aquatopia presented in From the Deep: In the Wake of Drexciya with Ayana V. Jackson as well as those enslaved women wore on plantations around the world. Gain a historic perspective of hairstyling within the African diaspora and learn styling techniques and skills to create traditional, contemporary, and Afrofuturistic hairstyles.
Each workshop participant will create an Afrofuturistic hairstyle that could be seen in Ayana Jackson’s aquatopia Drexciya. All materials will be provided.
The workshop takes place September 30, 2023
12:30–3:30 p.m.
National Museum of African Art 950 Independence Ave., SW Washington D.C.
Eligibility and submission guidelines
Open to emerging hairstylists in the field of cosmetology, candidates must submit via a Google slide document
- up to four (4) examples of their work that demonstrate basic techniques of styling and design
- a photograph of a hairstylist who inspires you with an explanation for your choice
Send submissions to
- AfricanArtProgams@si.edu (include Community Day Hair Workshop 2023 in subject line)
- by midnight September 10, 2023
Notification: emails will be sent September 15 informing candidates of their participation
Registration: mandatory onsite registration begins promptly at 12 noon, September 30, at the National Museum of African Art.”
Sounds of Africa
August 26, 2023
6:30–9:30 p.m.
Enid A. Haupt Garden
To register, click here.
Come enjoy the lively beats of African diaspora Hip Hop music and dance the night away! Featuring DJ Akuaa and The Experience Band Show.
Sounds of Africa is an ongoing concert series celebrating the music of the African diaspora.
Luvplates Soul and Grill food truck will be available on Independence Avenue.
Please be advised in the event of rain the concert will be moved indoors.
The museum store and all exhibitions will be open to the public for this event.
For the latest info about upcoming events, follow us on Eventbrite.
Solstice Saturday 2023
Solstice Saturday kicked off African Art’s Sounds of Africa concert series celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop! The community enjoyed an afternoon of music, tours, and traditional African games until midnight!
Sounds of Africa is an ongoing concert series celebrating the music of the African diaspora.
Creating the Moment Workshops
August 12, 19, + 26, 2023
2–4 p.m.
Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
Space limited; all materials provided
Creating the Moment workshops encourage expression through intuitive painting and drawing. Learn how to engage in the spontaneous process of direct expression, developing a visual language unique to your identity. Using a jazz-inspired playlist that parallels the philosophical motives of Afro abstraction, Khalid Thompson leads participants toward free self-expression and the healing energy of creative release.
To register, click here
Sounds of Africa
July 22, 2023
6:30–9:30 p.m.
Enid A. Haupt Garden
Sounds of Africa is an ongoing concert series celebrating the music of the African diaspora.
Come enjoy the lively beats of African diaspora Hip Hop music and dance the night away!
To register, click here.
Luvplates Soul and Grill food truck will be available on Independence Avenue.
Please be advised in the event of rain the concert will be moved indoors.
The museum store and all exhibitions will be open to the public for this event.
For the latest info about upcoming events, follow us on Eventbrite.
The Joy of African Movement
July– September 2023
First three Saturdays of the month
9–10 a.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
Ages: 16+
Shape up at African Art!
Mentally and physically recharge Saturday mornings using a variety of ancient and contemporary African practices.
About this event
Recharge mentally and physically as you work out with Afro-Brazilian movements, contemporary West African dance, and kemetic yoga and meditation. Each discipline to be practiced in 3-week increments. Participants should bring their exercise equipment (e.g., yoga mats).
