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What is Dada Rafiki? |
Watch the video below to hear the inspiration behind this unique sisterhood celebration that honors women and shares art in the community.
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Want to learn more about the creator of Dada Rafiki?Click the pdf icon to download Annie Ruth's Bio
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“Dada Rafiki” (pronounced Dah-Dah RAH fee- KEE) means "sister friend" in the Kiswahili language of East Africa.
OUR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY:
Since 2005 Dada Rafiki has been a conspicuous and appealing thread in the tapestry our regional cultural landscape. It is the only event of its kind that is Afrocentric, yet welcoming to a multicultural audience representing all social and economic backgrounds. Dada Rafiki showcases multiple artistic forms, such as spoken word, music, song from several genres, various types of dance, and visual art -- all in one setting.
The inaugural Dada Rafiki celebration was held in 2005 at Cincinnati Museum Center. The response from the many women who attended was unanimously supportive: “Make Dada Rafiki an annual and semi-annual event!” “I was uplifted and encouraged!” “Dada Rafiki connected me to new friends and made all of us proud to be women!” And so a Greater Cincinnati tradition was born. The next year National Gospel Recording Artist Yolanda Adams' appearance drew an overwhelming crowd of nearly 1,000 women and girls from throughout the region to Dada Rafiki at the Community Action Agency in Bond Hill. More than 300 girls and mentors came back the next day to engage in My Sista, My Friend empowerment and educational workshops on topics chosen by girls and relevant to their lives, several on sensitive subjects. Since its creation Dada Rafiki cultural events have attracted capacity crowds at Cincinnati Museum Center, as well as the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Dada Rafiki has been presented at the Aronoff Center from 2016 to 2020.
Dada Rafiki has multiple positive benefits for our region. It promotes a shared sense of sisterhood, inclusiveness and unity in an exuberant, safe arts environment. Dada Rafiki is fun, engaging and celebratory while emphasizing heritage, history, and originality.
Dada Rafiki broadens the “definition” of art and therefore attracts fresh arts participants. It incorporates vocal arts, dance and inspirational spoken word to uplift and praise the awe-inspiring “everyday” women in our community and simultaneously to enlighten the audience. Dada Rafiki and its artistic performances that celebrate sisterhood vibe with arts patrons, as well as with individuals who have not yet experienced the “power” of the arts to bring people together.
During 2020, the COVID-19 Global pandemic moved us to impact a global audience. Please take time to view our 2020 Dada Rafiki Conversations, which is available for viewing on YouTube and Facebook. We look forward to unveiling our plans for the 2021 - 2022 year.
OUR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY:
- Organizing community festivals featuring primarily art exhibitions and sisterhood celebrations that honor positive women role models and also providing cultural workshops and classes in the field of women's health, self-esteem, leadership development, creative writing and visual arts, and multicultural dancing and live music performances, drama, dancing, live music performances and live poetry reading performance
Since 2005 Dada Rafiki has been a conspicuous and appealing thread in the tapestry our regional cultural landscape. It is the only event of its kind that is Afrocentric, yet welcoming to a multicultural audience representing all social and economic backgrounds. Dada Rafiki showcases multiple artistic forms, such as spoken word, music, song from several genres, various types of dance, and visual art -- all in one setting.
The inaugural Dada Rafiki celebration was held in 2005 at Cincinnati Museum Center. The response from the many women who attended was unanimously supportive: “Make Dada Rafiki an annual and semi-annual event!” “I was uplifted and encouraged!” “Dada Rafiki connected me to new friends and made all of us proud to be women!” And so a Greater Cincinnati tradition was born. The next year National Gospel Recording Artist Yolanda Adams' appearance drew an overwhelming crowd of nearly 1,000 women and girls from throughout the region to Dada Rafiki at the Community Action Agency in Bond Hill. More than 300 girls and mentors came back the next day to engage in My Sista, My Friend empowerment and educational workshops on topics chosen by girls and relevant to their lives, several on sensitive subjects. Since its creation Dada Rafiki cultural events have attracted capacity crowds at Cincinnati Museum Center, as well as the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Dada Rafiki has been presented at the Aronoff Center from 2016 to 2020.
Dada Rafiki has multiple positive benefits for our region. It promotes a shared sense of sisterhood, inclusiveness and unity in an exuberant, safe arts environment. Dada Rafiki is fun, engaging and celebratory while emphasizing heritage, history, and originality.
Dada Rafiki broadens the “definition” of art and therefore attracts fresh arts participants. It incorporates vocal arts, dance and inspirational spoken word to uplift and praise the awe-inspiring “everyday” women in our community and simultaneously to enlighten the audience. Dada Rafiki and its artistic performances that celebrate sisterhood vibe with arts patrons, as well as with individuals who have not yet experienced the “power” of the arts to bring people together.
During 2020, the COVID-19 Global pandemic moved us to impact a global audience. Please take time to view our 2020 Dada Rafiki Conversations, which is available for viewing on YouTube and Facebook. We look forward to unveiling our plans for the 2021 - 2022 year.
