Fanm Vanyan: Women Warriors Standing on Business

Curated by CCCADI Scholar-in-Residence, Her Royal Majesty Queen Mother of the African Diaspora Dr. Dòwòti Désir, this daylong experience designed for women of color offers an opportunity to gain a broader knowledge of the powerful role of women in resistance movements focusing on the history and legacy of the Agoodjié in Africa and the women warriors of the Haitian Revolution.

Participants will also hear from Her Royal Majesty Kpodjito Zognidi Sokewun via video remarks and will be led by Caleb Dowden, Fulbright-Hays Awardee & Danxomé Dance Master, in an interactive demonstration of dances of Danxomè.

October 12, 2024

10 AM – 3 PM

CCCADI Firehouse

120 E 125th Street

NY, NY 10035

Tickets:

$50 (Includes lunch)

Schedule of the Day:

Fanm Vanyan: Women Warriors Standing On Business – A lecture by HRM Queen Mother of the African Diaspora, Dr. Dòwòti Désir

This four-part lecture will focus on honoring, respecting and protecting lakay (home). Focusing on the history of the Agoodjié in Africa and unpacking the importance of the women warriors of the Haitian Revolution, HRM Queen Mother Dr. Dòwòti Désir will outline what nation-building means for the African Diaspora in the 21st Century and explore strategies for attendees to use in their daily lives.

Lunch & Remarks via video from Her Royal Majesty Kpodjito Zognidi Sokewun

Dances of Danxomè – A lecture and workshop by Caleb Dowden on Agoodjie dances

This interactive session will explore the body’s organization and the movements that strengthen and heal women, finishing with an empowering Agoodjié “war dance.”

Closing Prayer Circle

At the start of 2024, CCCADI named its first Scholar-in-Residence to one of the foremost personalities in the Haitian/Haitian American community: pan-African scholar, interfaith leader, humanitarian, and thought leader Her Royal Majesty Queen Mother Dr. Dòwòti Désir. Together, we pay homage to the legacy of Haiti, the first Black independent nation celebrating 220 years of independence.

Lakay se Lakay:

This program is part of CCCADI’s Lakay se Lakay series. Lakay se Lakay is a year-long homage that celebrates the legacy of Haiti, Our Black Nation. Lakay se Lakay is a cultural odyssey through which we dedicate much of our programming. Using the lens of Haitian arts and scholarship, CCCADI explores home as a space for refuge, building family and community, preservation of traditions, a foundation for cultivating joy, and the roots of sovereignty.