March Festival Celebrates Sacred Music
From the rhythmic, riveting sounds of the African drum to the melodic lament of cantorial music, New Orleans celebrates its spiritual legacies at the city’s first Sacred Music Festival. The festival is hosted by the New Orleans Healing Center and La Source Ancienne Ounfo.
The two-day event begins Saturday, March 24, with a silent pilgrimage starting at 6:30 pm at the historic St. Roch Cemetery.
The pilgrimage leads to the New Orleans Healing Center where, at 7 pm, invocations will be offered at Café Istanbul’s performance hall. Muezzin Nasr Nance is to give the Muslim Call to Prayer. There also will be a traditional Hindu fire sacrifice. (No audience members will be harmed!)
\indo firesacHCantor Joel Colman of Temple Sinai, a nationally known vocalist, will perform Jewish sacred music. Festival goers also will enjoy the mantra rock and funk grooves of Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band; Sufi music with Aaron Spevak; and Segueon Kone and his African jazz ensemble, Ivoire Spectacle. A Vodou Ceremony by LaSource Ancienne Ounfo, follows.
On Sunday, March 25, the festival continues, starting at 6 pm, at Café Istanbul, with an invocation from Tibetan monk Lama Lakshey, followed by African and Native American prayers. Throughout the festival, an interactive altar invites audience participation.
J.C. & Company will deliver powerful and moving Gospel music. Bodhi3 will share their improvisational world sound and Kora Konnection presents a blend of West African
Mandinka tradition and jazz improvisations. Michael Skinkus and Moyuba offer ceremonial music of Santeria from Cuba.
After the performances, there will be a Drum Circle lead by AfricaNola. At 1 a.m., behind St. Roch Market, the night closes with a prayer for peace in the neighborhood.
AfricaNola will also perform on March 18, at 5 pm, at the New Orleans Healing Center in an evening of music and film. This will also help kick off both the Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival and the First New Orleans Sacred Music Festival.
Major sponsors of the New Orleans Sacred Music Festival include La Source Ancienne Ounfo, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival. They are joined by many individuals, businesses and groups who supported the festival.
Single tickets are $15 and $25 for both evenings.
For a current list of performers and performances, call the New Orleans Healing Center at 504-940-1130 or visit www.neworleanshealingcenter for tickets, commemorative t-shirts and limited edition posters.
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