Thank you is just not enough

Another year, another time in which words fail us to express our appreciation, admiration, and respect for the many people involved in putting on the Afro-Brazilian Festival.

First of all, we start with the acknowledgement that we are learning this artform on the ancestral land of the Lummi and Nooksack people - may we always struggle to live in right relationship with the original inhabitants of this land.

Thanks to all the people who struggled to make Capoeira survive, among them Mestre Silvinho and ContraMestre Kojo. And a special shout-out to Charles Hargrett, for starting all of this in the Pacific Northwest back in 1996, and for being a great example for us all.

Thank you to Amanda, Leika, Rena and Bill for an amzing evening on Friday learning about the connections between sugar, colonialism, food, and our present condition of health disparities.

Thanks to all the people who worked behind the scenes to work with WWU to make this happen, to make the poster [design by Rosanna Razor], to provide the food, to pick up the chairs and tables...

Thank you to the amazing teachers - Manimou Camara and Jade Power Sotomayor (and friends, and family) - who gave up a part of their weekend to come to Bellingham and share their art with us.
And thanks to all the Angoleir@s who travelled near and far to join us from Vancouver (BC), Seattle, Portland and Corvallis (OR), and one new friend from Xalapa (Mexico)! Your presence, your energy, renew our belief in the power of Community.

"Capoeira Angola is working on 'self' and building 'community' in the process!" -CM KOJO

Roda at the closing of morning class in Carver Gym
Photo Credit: Eythan Frost from the AS Review

CM Kojo leading music class in Red Square

Roda in the PAC plaza.
Photo credit to Camila Hellmeister

Photo credit to Camila Hellmeister

Photo Credit: Eythan Frost from the AS Review

Photo Credit: Eythan Frost from the AS Review

Photo credit to Camila Hellmeister

Free Tokitae!