2017 MOJA Program Guide

moja @ The Gaillard Center 843-242-3099 I 95 Calhoun St

moja @ charleston music hall 843-853-2252 I 37 john st

A TRIBUTE TO SAM COOKE STARRING: HAZEL KETCHUM, LINDSAY HOLLER, ALVA ANDERSON, CINDY KEARNEY, MCKENZIE EDDY, VIKKI MATSIS, EXAVIA BAXTER

moja @ DOCK STREET THEATRE 866-811-4111 I 135 Church St

City of Charleston South Carolina Dear MOJA Festival Guests: Welcome to the 2011 MOJA Arts Festival, Charleston’s annual celebration of AfricanAmerican and Caribbean Arts and Culture, produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.

This year’s festival highlights include: An Evening of Jazz Under the Stars with Najee at Porter-Gaud School Stadium (pg. 10); City Gallery at Waterfront Park exhibition “Special Moments: Works From the Collection of Dr. Harold Rhodes, III” (pg. 27); A Classical Encounter with Eleganza at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park followed by a champagne reception (pg. 11); Mt. Zion Spiritual Singers’ soul stirring Camp Meeting (pg. 11); an enchanting evening of dance by PHILADANCO at the Gaillard Auditorium (pg. 7); Gwen Butler’s jazz cruise on the Charleston Harbor aboard the Spirit of Charleston (pg. 18); and African writer Jacqueline Maduneme’s lecture about her compelling autobiography, Ada’s Daughter (pg. 8). New this year, is a unique partnership between the Preservation Society of Charleston and the MOJA Festival that offers three concerts in historic downtown churches called “Architecture in Concert” (pg. 10). These are just a few of the outstanding programs in this year’s MOJA Festival.

Each year the MOJA Festival is produced by the City’s Office of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the MOJA Planning Committee, chaired this year by Edna Edwards Williams with Elease Amos-Goodwin serving as the Planning Committee Liaison to the OCA. MOJA’s Advisory Committee assists with advocacy for the festival and is chaired by the Honorable James E. Clyburn. Special thanks go to Charleston City Council for their on-going support of the MOJA Festival and also to the individual donors, foundations, government agencies and corporations who provide funding, grants and in-kind donations to help us make MOJA accessible to everyone in the community.

And finally, Bravo to the members of our hard-working Office of Cultural Affairs team along with all of the City departments that help make it happen: Parks, Recreation, Legal, Finance, Budget, Police, Traffic & Transportation, Information Technology, Human Resources, Public Services, Public Information, Special Facilities and the Mayor’s Office.

We invite you to bring your family and friends to attend this year’s MOJA Festival which connects everyone in a joyous atmosphere celebrating the arts. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. City of Charleston

Ellen Dressler Moryl, Director Office of Cultural Affairs

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City of Charleston John J. Tecklenburg Mayor

May 12, 2016 Most sincerely yours,

John J. Tecklenburg Mayor, City of Charleston

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Outreach & Event Coordinator

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

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US-17 TO MT. PLEASANT SULLIVANS ISLAND ISLE OF PALMS HAMPTON PARK

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TO WEST ASHLEY

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COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

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14 JAMES ISLAND CONNECTOR

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

The West Ashley Farmers Market hosts an energetic afternoon of family-friendly MOJA programming and activities. This animated market features fresh goods from local farmers, growers and food concessionaires alongside live performances that celebrate African-American and Caribbean culture.

HERITAGE AND COMMUNITY - THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BLOCK PARTY

TIME: 5:00pm-7:00pm VENUE: Charleston Housing Authority Courtyard ADDRESS: 562-A Meeting Street ADMISSION: Free SPONSORED BY: The Housing Authority of the City of Charleston

The Charleston Housing Authority hosts its annual MOJA Block Party gathering, and invites everyone to come out and celebrate with free food and lively music from Charleston favorite, New Galaxy Band.

LITERARY - MOJA & FREE VERSE POETRY READING TAMMAKA STALEY

TIME: 6:00pm VENUE: City Gallery ADDRESS: 34 Prioleau Street ADMISSION: Free COORDINATORS: Warachal E. Faison, MD & Tribal Raine

Tammaka Staley is a performance poet, activist, and teaching artist. Tammaka actively works in the community with poetry and youth organizations like OneWord Columbia, the University of South Carolina Upward Bound Program, and Girls Rock Columbia. She won the title “Queen of the South” at the 2015 Queen of the South Poetry Slam in April 2015. Tammaka strives to empower black communities and use poetry as a tool to give people everywhere something to believe in.

LITERARY - READING WITH AUTHOR JULIUS HOLLIS

TIME: 6:00pm VENUE: Buxton Books ADDRESS: 2A Cumberland Street (Corner of Concord and Cumberland) ADMISSION: Free

Step into the warm and inviting atmosphere of Buxton Books for a reading from In the Arena author, Julius Hollis. Julius Hollis is the founder of The Alliance for Digital Equality and currently serves as the Chairman of the Atlanta, Georgia-based 501(c)4 non-profit corporation. A native of Atlanta, Mr. Hollis’ background includes an extensive career as a banker, entrepreneur and financial advisor to a diverse array of multinational clients.

In collaboration with Deborah Matthis, he wrote In the Arena about his late brother, Michael Hollis. He shares the story of Michael’s journey to entrepreneurial heights, with a glimpse into the rare mindset that allows a person of limited means to reach the skies professionally.

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INSPIRED MINDS INSPIRE THE WORLD.

Through the power of the arts, we are all inspired. Boeing is proud to sponsor the MOJA Arts Festival and its ongoing mission to celebrate diversity through performing arts.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

LITERARY - FREE VERSE PRESENTS POETIC JAZZ SOCIETY

TIME: 7:30pm VENUE: Historic Dock Street Theatre ADDRESS: 135 Church Street ADMISSION: $11

Join Grammy-nominated drummer and producer Quentin E. Baxter and Charleston Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker for a night of poetry and jazz. Joining Amaker on stage will be local and regional poets who were a part of the Poetic Jazz Society, a group of writers and musicians who were hot in the Charleston scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. Featured poets include Sunn and Jonathan Brown with host Harold Singletary.

Visit freeversefestival.com for the full lineup of featured poets.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 HERITAGE AND COMMUNITY - GRAN’DADDY JUNEBUG PRESENTS GREAT STORIES FOR YOUNG FOLKS

TIME: 9:30am VENUE: Charleston County Public Library ADDRESS: 68 Calhoun Street ADMISSION: Free

Continuing his family tradition of preserving culture, “Gran’daddy Junebug” teaches personal responsibility, finding the right path, being true to self, always striving for excellence and respect for self and others through the African oral tradition of “call and response.” This highly energetic program utilizes a tremendous amount of audience participation (as he shares his wisdom) which has children learning life lessons as they experience the time of their young lives. This 60-minute performance is designed for ages 5 and up.

HERITAGE AND COMMUNITY - GRAN’DADDY JUNEBUG PRESENTS W’EN DEY ‘LISTED COLORED SOLDIERS

TIME: 12:00pm VENUE: Charleston County Public Library ADDRESS: 68 Calhoun Street ADMISSION: Free

Feel the climate of America and check the pulse of the unsung heroes of the Civil War from “Whistlin’ Sam”, “Lias”, “Whisperin’ Bill”, “William Carney” and others whose recollections and stories of unflinching courage were never told. From the works of great writers and scholars as Paul Laurence Dunbar and Dr. Rex Ellis, this heart wrenching portrayal depicts how the “Colored Soldiers” sacrificed their lives in various battles to “save the union” and “to mek’ our people free”. This performance is designed for teens and adults.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

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Feel Better Fast

www.rsfh.com/expresscare

SCE&G is proud to support the

2017 MOJA Arts Festival.

sceg.com

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moja @ charleston music hall 843-853-2252 I 37 john st

A TRIBUTE TO SAM COOKE STARRING: HAZEL KETCHUM, LINDSAY HOLLER, ALVA ANDERSON, CINDY KEARNEY, MCKENZIE EDDY, VIKKI MATSIS, EXAVIA BAXTER

moja @ DOCK STREET THEATRE 866-811-4111 I 135 Church St

moja @ The Gaillard Center 843-242-3099 I 95 Calhoun St