About Me
DJ Dandara is also an initiated priest (19 years crowned) of Sango, the west African (Yoruba) deity representing justice, fire, thunder, the powerful drum and an orisha who loves dance. So she also brings the spirit of this tremendous deity to every curated vibe experience, often energizing the space with an electric, yet grounding journey towards energetic freedom. Her name is an homage to the revolutionary maroon freedom fighter, Dandara Dos Palmares of the quilombo (maroon community) in Brazil who fought against Portuguese enslavement. DJ Dandara believes doing great work in addition to music and dance are all beautiful ways to honor and uplift our ancestors and freedom fighters.
From djing on a beach on the ocean under a full moon in Puerto Rico for a philanthropic social justice group, to djing the annual meeting for the National Black Food and Justice Alliance in a hoop house in Detroit to the annual Gelede Festival honoring women in Orisha (west African) in Atlanta to the grand opening of Beaucoup Hoodoo store in Philadelphia, DJ Dandara masterfully appeals to and brings a wide range of community (from elders to youth and all in between) together for an incredible experience and journey together. Smooth, seamless transitions into various songs and genres are important to her while she creates journeys that often include many beautiful nostalgic surprises.
Based in Atlanta and raised in Chicago (among many other places), DJ Dandara brings years of experience curating vibes for communities all over the world. An organizer and facilitator with deep roots in the food and land justice movement, she has always used music (among other sensory engagement, including and especially food) to facilitate and bring communities together from all over. An award winning activist and community builder, DJ Dandara has honed her deep love of music and the magical power of community building while uplifting our spirits through dance, movement and vibe curation. She has used music as a healing and organizing tool for decades.
About
Dandara Dos Palmares
DJ Dandara (who’s name was gifted to her by her dear comrade, Ayinde Jean-Baptiste) is an homage to the Brazilian freedom fighter Dandara dos Palmares from the quilombo (also known as palenque), established free territorial communities for Black people who escaped slavery and sustained their own free, liberated communities. Dandara was a maroon (Black people who resisted and escaped from enslavement) and a brave, fearless leader of the resistance against Portuguese enslavement and colonialism. Many stories relay her taking her own life after being captured, as she chose death over a life in bondage.
We must always remember that our people have always resisted enslavement, imperialism and colonial forces.
1. We must always continue the resistance.
2. We have powerful examples of freedom fighters who were successful in their own right. Dandara and Zumbi and the maroon freedom fighters of Palmares, were indeed successful in advancing the resistance against enslavement, regardless of the defeats endured.
3. Freedom fighters were and are not just men, but women too! And if we dig further we will see queer and trans and gender non-conforming warriors as well. Our freedom fighters are plenty diverse and expansive.
4. Ancestral reverence is important. Let us always lift up the names of our freedom fighters, those who sacrificed their lives for us to be free. Let us always lift up the names of the beautiful, powerful souls who paved the way for us to be where we are today.
5. Let us always lift up our revolutionary freedom fighters and ancestors. The more we know them, the more we know ourselves. And our expansive possibilities.
6. We can dance and celebrate as an homage to our ancestors, deities and our highest selves + greatest good. In traditional African spiritual work, one of the greatest ways to celebrate and honor our deities and spirit guides-- in addition to exhibiting good character and doing great work-- is to dance.
Resist
