The festival kicked off with a parade down Warren Street to the Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, where the festival was being held. Sankofa was opened by Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson, and Gregory and Elena Mosley, founders of Operation Unite. Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson, left, opening the festival on Saturday with Gregory Mosley and Elena Mosley, founders of Operation Unite.
Performances took place throughout the day, including a stilt performance by the Brooklyn-based Kaisokah Stilt Walkers and participants in the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus’ stilt walkers workshop, and a drum circle with Ugandan musician and choreographer Godrey Opio with members of Operation Unite. Participants in the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus' stilt walker workshops performed with the Brooklyn-based Kaisokah Stilt Walkers during the festival. The festival went extremely well, Elena Mosley, executive director of Operation Unite said Monday.
“We were blessed by Mother Nature,” she said. “I was really proud of our youth and adult participants in our Uganda project performance, that was the highlight for me.” Attendees also watched a performance of the play “Estuary Tales” by the Arms-of-the-Sea Theater, and ate food from vendors stationed throughout the park.
They could also get a massage at the festival’s wellness area or make apothecary mixes using fresh herbs and flowers. Analise Sesay was visiting the festival from Kingston for the first time. Her friend organized the wellness area of the festiva.