03/03/2026
Songs of Black Folk, now in its 5th year, continues to stand as a powerful cultural legacy within the African American community. This year’s production—guided by artistic and creative director Ramon Bryant Braxton—lifted the full breadth of the African diaspora, featuring 4‑time GRAMMY winner India Arie and premiere gospel artist Zebulon Ellis.
We honored Black Love and celebrated the incomparable Richard Smallwood, with unforgettable moments from Poet Laureate Mona Lake Jones and soul‑stirring performances by Josephine Howell, Marcus Daniel, Zhanea June, Bria Manaway, and so many others who poured their hearts onto the stage.
And the band? They held it down all night: MD Kevin Turner, Fred Mason III, Brian Williams, Love Williams, Ray Robinson, Rick Watford, Akim Finch, William Ward, Jerome Smith, and Alex Dugdale—masters of their craft.
Hosted by Angela Poe Russell and Isaiah Anderson, this year’s event was nothing short of a triumph. It left audiences inspired, uplifted, and reminded of the transformative power of Black music and the brilliance of Black artists and visionaries.
If you missed it… don’t let that happen again. Next year will be even more extraordinary.
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