Night of Sacred Sounds: An Evening of Jazz + The Spoken Word

In celebration of UNESCO’s International Jazz Day, the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum invites you to Night of Sacred Sounds: An Evening of Jazz + The Spoken Word—a soulful celebration of rhythm, inspiration, and cultural heritage. Featuring electrifying performances by The Kweku Sumbry Quartet and Wesley "Panama" Watkins, Jr. and the Count the Cost Band, this special fundraiser supports the museum’s upcoming programming while honoring the enduring legacy of jazz and poetry, two art forms deeply rooted in the African Diaspora.

Set against the backdrop of the museum’s Sacred Spaces exhibition, this event will delve into the profound connections between spirituality, artistry, and the African diasporic experience, offering an evening of reflection, joy, and community connection.

Bonus: Between performances, join us for a community-led poetry jam session! Are you a poet or spoken word artist eager to share your talent with the BDTM community? Sign up now to participate—space is limited. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of music, poetry, and cultural celebration. See you at the museum!

Grounded in the traditions of the Djembe Orchestra, Kweku Sumbry is a multi-percussionist from Washington, DC. With the djembe, drumset, and a multitude of West African Percussion instruments, Kweku is bringing forth a new sound to the music world.

Music has allowed Kweku to travel to Ghana, New Zealand, Brazil And France to name a few countries. At the age of 27, Kweku has already graced the stage with Ambrose Akinmusire, Yosvany Terry, Cyrus Chestnut, Meshell Ndegeocello, Shabaka Hutchings and Reggie Workman. A true global citizen, Kweku continues to travel the world, building upon his knowledge of world musical traditions and cultures.

Kweku Sumbry presents WAR TRIO: Elijah Easton: Tenor Saxophone | Obasi Akoto: Bass | Kweku Sumbry: Drums | Special Guest vocalist

Host or Publisher MD Comm on African American History and Culture