April 11, 2026, 11:00am-6:00pm
Crossroads Cultural Arts Center Stage, Clarksdale, Mississippi
Through a series of presentations, conversations and oral histories, we’ll explore the unacknowledged yet enduring presence of African culture in the Mississippi Delta. From the songs of the Mabo’s, Jeli’s, Jali’s or griots of west Africa and early Blues recorded by Alan Lomax to contemporary Southern Soul and new explorations of African influence in films like Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, these conversations trace an epic oral history from before the Middle Passage to today.
This program is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
