08/18/2026
The Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition mourns the transition of our founder, Dr. David “Sankofa” Anderson
A beloved Elder, Cultural Leader and Master Teacher whose life and work helped shape generations of African-conscious thought, cultural practice and community leadership in Rochester.
Dr. Anderson was far more than the founder of an organization.
Through the Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition, the Black Storytelling League, Akwaba and decades of teaching and cultural work, he dedicated his life to reconnecting African people with our history, our traditions, our dignity and one another.
To generations who had the privilege of sitting at his feet, Sankofa was a teacher in the deepest meaning of the word. His extraordinary knowledge of African and African-American history was matched by humility, warmth, eloquence and an unwavering commitment to our people.
He taught us that culture must be lived, history must be remembered and what we inherit from our ancestors carries with it a responsibility to those who come after us.
The Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition exists today because of the foundation he laid.
As we mourn our founder, we also accept the responsibility of preserving his work, telling his story and carrying forward the institution and traditions he entrusted to our community.
There are some people whose influence cannot be measured simply by the years they lived, because pieces of them continue living in everyone they taught.
Dr. David “Sankofa” Anderson was such a man.
We extend our deepest love and condolences to his family, his students, his loved ones and the countless members of our community whose lives were touched by him.
Our Master Teacher has joined the ancestors.
May we prove ourselves worthy of what he left us.
- Ase'
