National and International Libations for the Ancestors in the San Francisco Bay Area

Saturday, June 12, 2010 is our Annual Libations for the Ancestors. It is an international remembrance that takes place nationally and internationally, the time synchronized. Locally, we meet at Lake Merritt at the fountain across from Merritt Bakery on the Lake side about 8:30 AM, so we can pour at 9 AM exactly.

Bring drums, poetry, reflections and your great spirit to this commemoration. If you cannot be present, pour where you are.

I had an interview with some of the founders of the ritual in New York, Charleston, and another ancestor ritual in Philadelphia last year in June.

Broadcast 6/5/2009 listen at www.blogtalkradio.com/wandas-picks

Today we'll be talking about the Remembrance Ritual, which occurs next week, June 13, worldwide. African Diaspora communities pour libations at the same time for departed ones, especially those who were not mourned during the period called the European Slave Trade. We'll be speaking to Osei Terry Chandler and William Jones. Chandler is founder of the "Remembrance" in Charleston, SC. Jones is one of the organizers for the Remembrance in New York on Coney Island @ Bay 18. Joining the discussion will be Oshunbumi Fernandez, host, of the Odunde Festival in Philadelphia. Odunde means in Yoruba: Happy New Year! All the Remembrance rituals occur June 13 at 12:00 noon, EST, which is 9 AM PST. Artisans from "Honor the Basket" follow. The demonstration and exhibit is a program sponsored by the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, 94118, Friday, June 12, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The event is FREE after admission into the event Gallery Admission: Adults $10, Seniors 65 and over $7, Youth 13-17 $6, College Students with ID $6, Children 12 and under FREE. PUBLIC INFORMATION:(415) 750-7694 and www.deyoungmuseum.org or nschach@famsf.orgThe show will conclude with a conversation with choreographers: Caprice Armstrong and Naomi Diouf, both staging work in the 31st Annual Ethnic Dance Festival in San Francisco at the Palace of Fine Arts (Week 2). The EDF is June 7-8, through June 27-28, 2009.