House of Djeli

10/16/2026

We inherit more than traditions and stories. We inherit lessons about caring for one another.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a reminder of the importance of awareness, early detection, access to reliable health information, and support for people affected by breast cancer.

Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, and a community. Sometimes support means accompanying someone to an appointment. Sometimes it means listening without judgment. Sometimes it means sharing trustworthy information or simply reminding someone that they are not alone.

At House of Djeli, we believe that strong communities are built not only through what we celebrate, but also through how we care for one another.

💗 Take a moment to learn about breast cancer screening recommendations and discuss your individual needs with a healthcare professional.

Visit https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month/ for information and resources.

"Every story is unique, every journey matters".

10/09/2026

THE STORIES WE CARRY
When we move from one place to another, we carry more than our belongings. We carry memories. Languages. Traditions. Values. Colors, sounds, and stories that have shaped who we are.
And sometimes, we transform those experiences into something new.
Through art, we can express where we come from, how we see the world, and what we hope others will understand about us.

One such person is visual artist Theo Mwamba. Théo was born in Kasaï Province and grew up in Lubumbashi. He then moved to Kinshasa in 2017 to study at ABA (School of Fine Arts) and graduated in late 2022. Of his work, Theo states that "... I explore the intricacies of human experience, delving into themes such as movement, memory, identity, resilience, and the lasting impact of our journeys."

He transforms discarded materials like recycled tires, tire tread, acrylic, oil, and canvas into powerful visual narratives. Theo now lives in Maryland where he continues his professional career.

At House of Djeli, we believe every story has the power to connect us—and every voice deserves the opportunity to be heard.

What is one part of your heritage that lives on in the way you see or create?

09/30/2026

WHAT WILL WE LEAVE BEHIND?

Every generation receives something: Stories. Memories. Languages. Traditions. Values. Songs. Questions.Dreams.

And every generation has a choice:

What will we preserve? What will we transform? What will we pass on?

At House of Djeli, we believe heritage is not about living in the past.

It is about knowing where we come from well enough to imagine where we can go.

Roots. Stories. Tomorrow.

African Heritage Month may end in September.

The work does not.

09/24/2026

WHO GETS TO TELL THE STORY?

Every community has stories.

But stories change depending on who tells them.Cinema gives us an opportunity to look at ourselves through different eyes — to encounter other cultures, other experiences and other ways of seeing the world.

For House of Djeli, film is more than entertainment. It is a meeting place. A place where languages, memories, identities and perspectives can meet.

This is part of the spirit behind the Rencontres Cinématographiques du DMV: creating space for films of French expression and for the people and stories behind them.

What film has ever changed the way you saw a culture, a community or yourself?


Rencontres Cinématographiques Du DMV

Photo credit:Abel Alemseged

09/18/2026

African Heritage Month & Montgomery County.

09/18/2026

09/10/2026

African Heritage Month: What Do We Carry?

Heritage is more than where we come from.
It is what we remember.
What we preserve.
What we teach.
And what we choose to carry forward.

This African Heritage Month, House of Djeli celebrates the stories, traditions, languages, creativity and wisdom that connect generations across Africa and its diaspora.

What is one thing from your heritage that you hope the next generation will never forget?

09/02/2026

This Saturday: Mon Vélo at Glen Echo Park!
We're delighted to see a film from the 2024 selection of the Rencontres Cinématographiques du DMV finding a new audience right here in our community.
This Saturday, September 5, Mon Vélo, a 12-minute short film directed by Francky Tohouegnon of Benin, will be screened at Glen Echo Park as part of Global Rhythms: Music, Dance & Storytelling from Around the World.
The film follows Oumar, a 12-year-old boy who dreams of having a bicycle, and the unexpected journey that follows when his hopes, friendship, and imagination collide.
📍 Glen Echo Park — Ballroom Back Room
📅 Saturday, September 5, 2026
🎬 Screenings: 1:00 PM • 2:45 PM • 3:45 PM
🎟️ FREE — all ages welcome
Come experience Mon Vélo and an afternoon celebrating music, dance, storytelling, and cultures from around the world.
From the Rencontres to Glen Echo Park, the stories continue to travel.
We hope to see you there! See the full line up here: https://glenechopark.org/globalrhythms



Glen Echo Park (U.S. National Park Service)

08/28/2026

08/21/2026

Leadership begins early.

It begins with curiosity.

With the courage to ask questions.

With learning to listen, to collaborate, to speak up—and to care about the people around us.

At House of Djeli, we believe that young people should not have to wait until adulthood to discover their capacity to lead.

They deserve spaces where they can build confidence, explore their identity, embrace their cultural heritage, develop their voices, and imagine a future they can help shape.

That is part of the work behind Camp Ascent.

Because we are not simply preparing young people for the future.

We are investing in the people who will help create it.

What is one quality you believe every young leader should develop?