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Dehkontee Artists Theatre Celebrates 40Th Anniversary Gala in Traditional African Jewish Fashion!

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Dehkontee Artists Theatre Celebrates 40Th Anniversary Gala in Traditional African Jewish Fashion! Dehkontee Artists Theatre Celebrates 40th Anniversary Gala in Traditional African Jewish Fashion! Motto: Education and Entertainment through Cultural Awareness Venue: African Cultural Center, 5000 Springfield Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143 Date: 16 September 2017 Time: 6 P.M. until 2:00 A.M. Sunday, September 17, 2017 All Rights Reserved Copy Right@2017 1 Forty Years of Cultural Enlightenment on the Continent of Africa and in the United States of America through the Legacy of Dr. Joe “Shakespeare” Gbaba Traditional African Jewish Ritual Procession performed by DATI performers in front of the African Cultural Center, 5000 Springfield Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, September 16, 2017. Hawa Porte Quaye on left holds the plate containing the white kola nuts, pepper, and salt (the traditional African Jewish Manna) while Brother Bon Adventure on right carries the plate with the white powder as a sign of peace and blessings from Almighty God and the spirits of our African forefathers. In the background are DATI’s Cultural Ambassador Kormassa Bobo and daughter Saigay Sheriff playing the traditional African musical instrument (sasa), as the thespians dance to its melodious tune. Dehkontee Artists Theatre, Inc. (DATI) celebrated its 40th Anniversary in grand style with a mixture of cultural and educational activities. The elite Liberian cultural group now based in the U.S. commemorated forty long years of promoting the history and culture of Africa on the one hand, and the traditional African and colonial history of Liberia, on the other. The Republic of Liberia is Africa’s oldest Independent Democratic Republic on the continent of Africa. It was never colonized by any European or western nation since the creation of the universe. Hence, Liberia is considered an historic landmark on the continent of Africa, and is referred to as the “Israel” and “Promise Land” of the Black Race. Freed slaves from America and the Caribbean returned to Africa during the early and mid-19th century. They settled in what is now Liberia and established the western governance system. Prior to their repatriation, the landscape of present day Liberia was inhabited by Africans who were descendants of the great ancient African empires and kingdoms of Aksum, Nubia, Kemet, Ghana, Songhay, Mali, Benin, etc. Hence, traditional African kings ruled them. 2 Therefore, Liberia’s culture is diversified: it reflects attributes of both Indigenous and Settler cultures, such as English being the official language of communication and its close historical affiliation with the United States of America. Brief History of Dehkontee Artists Theatre Original members of the Honorable Body of Dehkontee Artists Theatre at the University of Liberia in 1977. L-R (back roll): Kathy Lokko, Eric Goll, Joshua Howard, Christopher Diggs, Herbert Elliott, Melvin Smith (deceased), Claude Langley, Maude Major, Henrique Scott, Sonia Tubman, Joseph Kappia, Comfort Ennis, Festus Russell; L-R (Front roll): Bill N. Ross, III, Josephine Gibson, Dr. Joe Gbaba, Evelyn Broderick, Edwin Gibson. Dehkontee Artists Theatre was founded forty years ago by patriotic and conscientious students at the University of Liberia under the leadership of Liberian American playwright and theatre director/actor, Dr. Joe Gbaba. The goal of the organization was to promote the diversified history and culture of Liberia through the performing and visual arts. Amazingly, DATI has upkept and fulfilled its commitment to the Liberian people and the world, by being the custodians of Liberian arts and culture both on the continent of Africa and in the diaspora. Thus, through a period of peace and war over a forty-year span, DATI has been a shining light that has lit and revealed the darkest corners of Liberian society and enlightened the citizens about their rich cultural and historical past. 3 DATI’s 40th Anniversary Theme: “Promoting National Peace and Reconciliation in Post War Liberia through the Performing and Visual Arts” The theme of DATI’s 40th Anniversary was: “Promoting National Peace and Reconciliation in Post War Liberia through the Performing and Visual Arts”. From this perspective, the colorful Gala commenced with a traditional African Jewish procession and ritual ceremony officiated by Rabbi Prince Joseph Tomoonh-Garlodeyh Gbaba, and Dehkontee Artists Theatre performers. Dr. Gbaba was assisted by the guest speaker and former DATI actor from the University of Liberia, Honorable Tim Weeks. Members of the audience were also actively engaged. They participated in the elaborate traditional African Jewish ceremonies of thanksgiving and reconciliation, by invoking the presence of the spirits of our forefathers, and by giving thanks and praises to Younsuah, the God of our Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Photo of Brother Bon Adventure (a.k.a., Prince Jose Flora Gbaba, son of Rabbi Dr. Joe Gbaba who is training to become a Franciscan Priest in the Catholic Church at the Franciscan Minor in South Bend, Indiana. In the background are Rabbi Gbaba, Annette Landers, Donnie Delarge, and Donna Longus. The Order of Events/Protocol of DATI’s 40th Anniversary At sharp 6. P.M., the Chief Celebrant, Rabbi Dr. Joe Gbaba, along with Honorable Tim Weeks, and members of Dehkontee Artists Theatre, somberly danced and chanted traditional songs in front of the African Cultural Center, 5000 Springfield Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the Grebo, Kru, Krahn, and Bassa war masquerade was to symbolically instill the mindset of “from war to peace” in the minds, hearts, and souls of all those who attended the sacred event. 4 Brother Bon Adventure (a.k.a., Prince Jose Flora Gbaba) carried the plate filled with white powder that was used to mark the faces of attendees as a sign of blessings from Almighty God and the spirits of our forefathers. He is one of four sons of Rabbi Gbaba. Brother Bon Adventure is currently studying to become a Franciscan Monk in the Catholic Church. Another performer, Madam Hawa Porte Quaye, was dressed in her Sande outfit. She bore the plate that contained white kola nuts, salt, and pepper, symbolizing the “Manna”, or peace meal, in which attendees later participated. The ritual ceremonies represented a cross-section of Liberian arts and culture. Liberian culture includes the way of life of the Kwa ethnic group (Krahn, Kru, Grebo, Bassa, Deiweion, Gbi, Sapo, Belleh) and Mande speaking ethnic group of Liberia (Lorma, Gbandi, Mende, Kissi, Kpelle, Mah, Dahn, and Mandingo). Liberian history and culture also include Settlers’ cultures (Americo- Liberian, Congor, and immigrants from the Caribbean and other Blacks from around the world). L-R: Hawa Porte Quaye, DATI’s Cultural Ambassador Kormassa Bobo, Annette Landers, and Saigay Sheriff. Hawa Porte Quaye, Kormassa Bobo, Saigay Sheriff, Annette Landers, Donna Longus, Donnie Delarge, Archie Wilson, Timothy Gardiner, and Lars Tomo McCritty were all clad in their war regalia and ceremonial attires to traditionally celebrate the 40th Anniversary Gala of Liberia’s longest surviving theatre company and cultural institution. The festive scenery attracted passersby and onlookers who found it very fascinating to watch Blacks with their faces marked with white chalk. The masqueraders made funny noises and gestures at the spectators as they simulated the traditional Grebo, Kru, Krahn, and Bassa war dance. Some spectators beeped their horns in solidarity with DATI artists as they drove from work and/or as they were on their outing spree, since it was just the start of a lovely weekend. Of course, as usual, there was a brief down pour of 5 some showers of blessings from the sky and from Almighty God, as DATI’s performers invoked God’s presence and that of their ancestors in the great beyond. Spectators and audience members anxiously awaited the arrival of the celebrants in the hall itself where the fete and ritual ceremonies occurred. The hall was beautifully adorned with the official DATI green color, and Brandon Swain and his SWAINTECH crew that is based in Philadelphia provided the music, lights, and sound effects for the auspicious gala. Princess Ariminta Gbaba, DATI’s Secretary of the Board of Directors, and Mrs. Juliana Koffa-Dixon, DATI’s Ways and Means Chair, took charge of the box office, while DATI’s Board Member Honorable Harrison “BlackBaby” Jiedueh was the official videographer of the 40th Anniversary. An array of distinguished guests and African royalties were present (R-L: Hon. Vonjo Tommy, Hon. Nelson Suah, guest speaker, Hon. Tim Weeks, Princess Joy Flahn, Prince Dr. George Ninneh Flahn, Prince Marvin Flahn, and his fiancée, Ms. Martha Kieh, among others). The sweet smell of some Liberian dishes and delicacies bombarded your nostrils as you entered the inner entrance of the African Cultural Center. The foods were prepared by DATI’s Events Committee Chair, Mrs. Comfort Shilue- Sobah and her crew, including Ms. Elaine Doebo, Mrs. Alfreda Cheaye Morris, Ms. Nora Solo, and Mrs. Marie Slangar. Also, many distinguished personalities and African royalties turned out to support Liberia’s longest surviving theatre company and cultural institution. Among those that travelled from faraway places were: Prince Dr. George Ninneh and Princess Joy Flahn from Great Britain, DATI’s Board Members Mrs. Felicia Gaye-Wright from Aurora, Colorado, Archie Arnold Wilson from Fort Worth, Texas, Mrs. Juliana Dixon from Ellicott 6 City, Maryland, and DATI’s Stage Manager Lars Tomo McCritty from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Most of the attendees were sparklingly
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