TéMaTé Institute’s convening celebrates African diasporic traditions through dance and storytelling

This October, TéMaTé Institute for Black Dance & Culture will bring Detroiters and visitors together for a two-day celebration of movement, heritage, and connection. The nonprofit’s annual Convening for Dance and Culture returns Oct. 18–19 with workshops, performances, and dialogue exploring the theme Ritual: Rhythms of Life and Legacy.

Workshops will take place at Andy Art Center, followed by an evening concert at the Detroit School of Arts. The performance, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will weave together choreography, music, and projection design to honor the traditions of the African Diaspora while imagining Detroit’s cultural future.

“Ritual is more than choreography — it is memory, it is reclamation, it is community,” says Artistic Director Ajara Alghali. “At a time when our histories are being threatened and erased, we are reclaiming space for truth and connection. Detroit deserves spaces like this, where cultural equity is not just discussed, but embodied.”

The convening will feature performances by Ajara Alghali (Detroit), Idy Ciss (Chicago), and Marie Basse Wiles (New York), alongside local vocalists and percussionists. Visual design by Kennikki Jones-Jones and tech design by Lumumba Reynolds will bring the show’s themes to life through light and projection.

In addition to the performances, attendees can explore a vendor marketplace featuring local artisans and take part in post-show discussions about ritual, preservation, and shared futures.

Board President Aminata Sow says the event reflects TéMaTé’s commitment to bridging Detroit’s creative community with the global African Diaspora. “We are lifting up traditions that root us while making space for new connections across generations,” Sow says. “Cultural preservation and community investment are two sides of the same coin.”

Supported by the Gilbert Family Foundation and Michigan Arts and Culture Council, TéMaTé continues to create spaces that honor Black cultural traditions while expanding access to arts education and performance.

“Organizations like TéMaTé are critical to the cultural health of our city,” says board member Joy Mohammed, Esq. “In a moment where cultural erasure is becoming normalized, TéMaTé affirms that heritage is not just about the past — it’s about building a just and equitable future.”

Tickets are available now at tematedance.com/details-schedule.