Sisters Umi IMAN and Khadijah Siferllah are setting the stage for a historic celebration of culture and community through the inaugural Atlanta Afroindigenous Peoples Festival (AAPF) on June 14 and June 15.
The duo, known collectively as Al Taw’am, an Emmy-nominated dance ensemble, use dance as a medium to connect with their diverse roots as Black, Tsalagi Native American, Jamaican and Muslim women.
Born and raised in Minneapolis, IMAN has made Atlanta her home, while Siferllah resides in New York City. In 2021, the sisters founded Sequoia Ascension, an organization designed to create opportunities for Black, Native American, and Afroindigenous people in Atlanta through housing, dance, and wellness offerings.
Growing up amidst the Anishinaabe people in Minneapolis, IMAN developed an appreciation for their culture and traditions. Their artistic upbringing, fostered by parents who loved music and dance, played a crucial role in shaping their passion for movement.
“Dance was just bound to happen that it would rub off on us,” IMAN stated, highlighting the influence of their artistic household.
While their family environment celebrated dance, Islamic culture often places less emphasis on this medium. However, IMAN and Siferllah viewed this as motivation to explore and embrace Black dance styles at home.
The sisters later joined the groundbreaking movement We’re Muslim, Don’t Panic, which brought visibility to Muslim women dancers on public platforms for the first time.
As they honed their skills, IMAN and Siferllah became proficient in a variety of dance forms, such as hip-hop, poppin’, waving, house dance, waacking, Traditional West African dance, jingle dress, and fancy shawl.
Their journey has allowed them to intertwine their family’s varied cultural heritage through dance, helping them discover a sense of belonging and identity.
“We did not see ourselves in the media before us,” explained IMAN. “In that is a lot of responsibility but also a lot of joy.”
Recognizing this responsibility, the sisters aspire to forge new paths for others who share similar backgrounds.
The long-awaited Atlanta Afroindigenous Peoples Festival aims to address historical challenges faced by Afroindigenous individuals, who have often been marginalized from their cultural heritages. Siferllah expressed her excitement about the Festival, remarking, “This is a dream that we have had for years, and it’s finally coming together.”
Afroindigenous communities have consistently battled exclusion from both Black and Indigenous spaces due to anti-Blackness and colorism.
Historically, relationships between African Americans and Native American tribes have ranged from cooperation to conflict. For instance, some Native tribes supported escaped African Americans along the Underground Railroad, while others held enslaved African Americans themselves.
In the aftermath of slavery’s abolition, new treaties with the Five Civilized Tribes allowed for freedmen integration. Some Native American tribes thrived on intermarriage and cultural exchange; however, restrictive membership criteria often marginalized those with mixed heritage.
The one-drop rule and blood quantum laws have perpetuated stigma that persists in society today.
As a consequence, many Afroindigenous people face identity crises, feeling they do not fully belong to either community. IMAN and Siferllah aim to dismantle these barriers through the AAPF, fostering a sense of respite and connection for Afroindigenous individuals.
“I just really wanted to create the space for these Afroindigenous folks to feel at ease when experiencing culture,” IMAN emphasized, acknowledging the pain and trauma often interconnected with cultural reconnections.
The Festival will feature engaging workshops, performances, and thoughtful discussions surrounding Afroindigenous identities.
The weekend kicks off on Saturday with a film screening and conversation, alongside a Fancy Shawl & House Workshop and a Gullah Geechee Sweetgrass Basket Workshop at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, all of which are already sold out.
That evening, the Powwows & Ciphers: A Sacred Place To Be performance at Moving In The Spirit will showcase a variety of talented Black, Indigenous, and Afroindigenous artists and ensembles, including the sisters’ own Al Taw’am.
Sunday’s festivities culminate with an Afroindigenous powwow featuring Grammy-nominated artist Mumu Fresh at the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance from noon to 4 p.m. Other performances include dance showcases by the Lyrric Jackson Dance Company, Wontanara Percussions, Lady Krow, Jamaal-Isaac Jones, Lashay, and the Butterfly Effect Dance Group.
Siferllah described the complexities involved in organizing the Festival, expressing that acquiring resources for underserved communities can be an uphill battle. “It’s really challenging to be a Native of deeper skin complexion, to have to fight for resources and also fight to be believed that I am authentic,” she shared.
Thanks to critical grant funding from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the AAPF has gained traction, particularly for the Powwows & Ciphers event.
The Festival is further supported by Yaya Rose, the organizer and Afroindigenous powwow program manager, along with social media and public relations consultant Charlie Mitchell.
For Siferllah, dance transcends personal expression; it serves as a connection to her heritage and community. “I see it as a portal; it’s a way for me to experience the past,” she reflected.
In essence, dance embodies a responsibility she proudly bears, linking her with her ancestors and facilitating connections with her present and future kin.
For those interested in participating, the AAPF will take place on June 14 and June 15. In recognition of Pride Month, a special promo code, IndigiQueer, offers $15 tickets for the Powwows & Ciphers event on Saturday night.
To learn more about the Festival and its offerings, visit the Sequoia Ascension website.
image source from：https://www.artsatl.org/connecting-culture-through-the-art-of-dance-at-the-atlanta-afroindigenous-peoples-festival/
