The Berkeley Cake Walk

The “Berkeley Cake Walk” is a cultural preservation and innovation site taking place in local Berkeley communities. This one-day free event invites local bakers to compete for a cash prize winning award for the best Cake or Pie in the tradition of Southern foodways. We host this event alongside a bill of Black folk & roots artists, local and touring, who will be performing and teaching during this occasion. Remembering the domestic traditions of our close ancestors and creating joy around this sharing is the central component of the festival. Cultural knowledge sharing is woven through several other mediums that will be highlighted, such as Heritage Quilting, Storytelling, and Land Sovereignty, with Black farmers and artists all present to engage the public in these subjects. Music is the backdrop that binds this festival, as it is hosted by the locally based and internationally recognized cultural arts organization, The Black Banjo Reclamation Project, which advocates for Black folk arts in our modern time by providing instruments, lessons, and public education events. This festival highlights Berkeley as a central destination for Black cultural innovation and remembrance across the diasporas of African peoples. By bringing together church groups, schools, crafters, musicians, elders, and children, we are ensuring the transference of knowledge in a fun and engaging way. As many face urban displacement and socio-political challenges, it’s more important than ever to foster long-term cultural strategies, particularly in uplifting our elders.

Brought to you by Hush Harbor Rootworks, Combash Institute & Black Banjo Reclamation Project

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Host or Publisher Hannah Mayree Productions