Rhythms

of the

Diaspora

May

Sat

30

Roots Music Festival

Brandywine

MD

TICKETS

Rhythms of the Diaspora is a festival that celebrates and highlights the musical traditions, art and foodways of the African Diaspora, and their profound influence on American culture. Join us for a day of live music, workshops, delicious food, art and culture. Bring your instrument to learn and jam, connect with your community and enjoy beautiful Southern Maryland.

Music

Experience the musical connections between West African traditional music, old time, folk, blues and contemporary roots music through performances by seasoned and emerging artists.

Cheick Hamala Diabaté
& The Griot Street Band

Cheick Hamala Diabaté is a grammy nominated musician hailing from Mali, West Africa. Born in Kita, Mali into the renowned Diabaté family, he comes from a long line of Griots, including his cousin Toumani Diabaté. Diabaté began playing music as a young boy and is a master of the Jeli N'goni, a traditional Malian stringed instrument. As his ancestors before him, Diabaté is a steward of the 800 year old tradition of the Griot.

Diabaté helps to steward this tradition, by sharing the music, oral history and songs of his homeland. Diabaté also plays banjo which he picked up after recognizing the links between it and the N'goni. His performances highlight the living connections between African and African American musical forms through his use of the banjo and collaboration with Blues musicians like Corey Harris. Cheick Hamala Diabaté and the Griot Street Band will be headlining Rhythms of the Diaspora, delivering an electrifying performance and providing music and dance workshops where you can learn how to dance to and play the music of Mali.

7 PM Set Time

Hubby Jenkins is a talented multi-instrumentalist who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American music. Born and raised in Brooklyn he delved into his southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through America's traditional music forms. As an integral member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and later Rhiannon Giddens band, Hubby has performed at festivals and venues around the world, earning himself both Grammy and Americana award nominations. Today he spreads his knowledge and love of old-time American music through his dynamic solo performances and engaging workshops.

Hubby Jenkins

5:30 PM Set Time

Lee Johnson

Lee Johnson is a musician from Stone Mountain, Georgia (originally from Detroit, Michigan). Lee has been playing the banjo for over 4 years and considers herself a rhythmic, clawhammer banjoist that plays Old-Time Music and a genre she created called, ‘Groovy Banjo’. Through her Groovy Banjo style she is able to play the banjo in a way that’ll send the audience into a trance of deep bliss with a slight upbeat tempo. Lee’s focus is to share her musical expression, through the banjo, to help bring forth peace, joy and connection to Black & Brown communities. Lee’s music production has not been in the works yet but in the meantime you can find more of Lee and her music via Instagram and YouTube at iamleejohnson_. And if that’s not enough, then you can find her performing somewhere in Atlanta.

1 PM Set Time

Workshops

Get into the rhythms of the music of the diaspora and enjoy in person workshops taught by the performance artists. End the evening with an all skill levels jam!

Blues Banjo Workshop

Beginner Banjo Workshop

African Dance Workshop

Intro To Malian Music

Late Night Jam

Hubby Jenkins 1::30 PM

Lee Johnson 2: 30 PM

Griot Street Band 3 PM

Cheick Hamala Diabaté 4:30 PM

Open to All 9 PM

Arts & Craft

Enjoy the work of local artists throughout the day at the Diaspora Art Exhibit. Attend artist talks at 5 PM.

For more than 40 years, Caryl Henry Alexander has collaborated with multigenerational, multicultural, and interfaith communities to design and implement public art projects worldwide.

In the studio, her work spans painting, printmaking, papermaking, textiles, installations, and sculpture—often incorporating recycled materials, found objects, and natural plant elements. In the community, she engages as a visual artist, curator, lecturer, and activist, using art to foster collective vision and action.

With a deep focus on culture, environment, and nature, Caryl’s work explores the connections between people, plants, and the elements, weaving stories through visual, verbal, and movement-based expression.

Food

Enjoy a taste of the diaspora from our partner and venue host Junipers Garden! Featuring food from West Africa, the Caribbean, the South and Mid-Atlantic. More info coming soon! Local, wood-fired and delicious!