FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Erica Glenn
Chief Experience Officer/Marketing Director
Ashé Cultural Arts Center
ericag@ashenola.org
www.ashenola.org
ASHÉ CULTURALARTS CENTER TO HOST 26TH ANNUAL MAAFA COMMEMORATION
Dr. Leona Tate and Ron Bechet Named 2026 Grand Griots
NEW ORLEANS, LA — Ashé Cultural Arts Center invites the community to participate in the 26th Annual
MAAFA Commemoration on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
MAAFA, a Kiswahili word meaning "great tragedy," is an annual sacred procession and remembrance ceremony
honoring the millions of African men, women, and children who suffered and perished during the Transatlantic
Slave Trade. For more than two decades, this powerful community observance has united participants in a
collective act of remembrance, healing, education, and cultural affirmation.
This year’s theme is Anchored by the Ancestors; Holding Sacred Ground Through Memory and Resistance.
As part of this year's commemoration, Ashé Cultural Arts Center will honor Dr. Leona Tate and Ron Bechet as its
2026 Grand Griots. The Grand Griot designation recognizes individuals whose lives and work embody the
preservation, protection, and transmission of African and African American history, culture, and collective
memory for future generations.
The procession will begin at Congo Square and travel through significant sites connected to the history of
enslavement and resistance in New Orleans, including the Tomb of the Unknown Slave and the Domestic Slave
Trade marker at the French Market. Through prayer, drumming, song, storytelling, and ritual, participants honor
the resilience of their ancestors while reflecting on the enduring impact of this history on contemporary
communities.
The commemoration will conclude at Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park with the traditional offering to the
Mississippi River, a sacred act of remembrance honoring the countless African ancestors whose lives were forever
impacted by the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This culminating ceremony invites participants to reflect, heal, and
reaffirm their commitment to preserving the stories and legacies of those who came before us.
Community members are encouraged to wear white and prepare for a meaningful experience of remembrance,
reflection, and connection.
EVENT DETAILS
26th Annual MAAFA Commemoration
Saturday, July 4, 2026
7:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Starting Location:
Congo Square
701 N. Rampart Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
Ending Location:
Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park
Admission is free and open to the public.
Maafa merch available for purchase.
Website: www.ashenola.org
Facebook: ashe.cac
Instagram: ashe_ca