Givonna Joseph at The Whitney Plantation
Givonna Joseph writes:
On December 7th, OperaCréole added our
voices to a long awaited historic event! We sang for the opening of the first slavery
museum in the country The Whitney
Plantation! Dignitaries from Senegal and
around Louisiana came to the site near
Wallace, Louisiana in St. John Parish, and
spoke to a tremendous crowd!
voices to a long awaited historic event! We sang for the opening of the first slavery
museum in the country The Whitney
Plantation! Dignitaries from Senegal and
around Louisiana came to the site near
Wallace, Louisiana in St. John Parish, and
spoke to a tremendous crowd!
After the ribbon cutting, that included New
Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and
members of our French Consulate, the bells
of the old the Antioch Baptist Church were
rung to announce OperaCréole's
performance.
Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and
members of our French Consulate, the bells
of the old the Antioch Baptist Church were
rung to announce OperaCréole's
performance.
Among our musical selections were: Ise
Oluwa (God's work will never be
destroyed) a chant from the Yoruba
people of West Africa, and the Great
Creator scene from Thelma by Afro-
British composer Samuel Coleridge-
Taylor, that tells the story of a
dangerous voyage on sea. But we dedicated
it to the slaves who survived in hulls of slave
ships. To stand and sing in the midst of the
statues of child slaves (each with their own
real story) will impact us forever! Our
performance was wonderfully received, but
the honor was truly ours!!
Oluwa (God's work will never be
destroyed) a chant from the Yoruba
people of West Africa, and the Great
Creator scene from Thelma by Afro-
British composer Samuel Coleridge-
Taylor, that tells the story of a
dangerous voyage on sea. But we dedicated
it to the slaves who survived in hulls of slave
ships. To stand and sing in the midst of the
statues of child slaves (each with their own
real story) will impact us forever! Our
performance was wonderfully received, but
the honor was truly ours!!
John and Donna Cummings have invested a
lot of their time, heart, and finances to tell
the stories we have always wanted to hear!
You must visit and see the Wall of Honor
with the names of slaves engraved in black
granite, and the Field of Angels dedicated to
the children born into slavery The drive from
New Orleans is only about an hour.
lot of their time, heart, and finances to tell
the stories we have always wanted to hear!
You must visit and see the Wall of Honor
with the names of slaves engraved in black
granite, and the Field of Angels dedicated to
the children born into slavery The drive from
New Orleans is only about an hour.
Here is a picture of me from that day. I was
told by the Chargée d'Affaires de Senegal
that I look just like the Creole women in
Saint-Louis, Senegal. They share a similar
culture! I am still graciously impacted by that!
I look forward to the day when I can place my
feet on the shore of my long lost homeland!
told by the Chargée d'Affaires de Senegal
that I look just like the Creole women in
Saint-Louis, Senegal. They share a similar
culture! I am still graciously impacted by that!
I look forward to the day when I can place my
feet on the shore of my long lost homeland!
OperaCréole members who performed were:
Aria Mason, mezzo-soprano, Vickie Thomas,
soprano, Ivan Griffin, bass- baritone,
Givonna Joseph, OperaCréole founder and
mezzo-soprano. Ebonee Davis, soprano, and
Prentiss Mouton, tenor, Dr. Wilfred
Delphin, pianist.
Joyeux Noël, et Bonne fête de Hanoukka!
Thank you.
Givonna
Givonna
--
Givonna Joseph
Founder, Director, OperaCréole
Mezzo-Soprano
Comment by email:
Founder, Director, OperaCréole
Mezzo-Soprano
Comment by email:
Truly historic museum and opening
performance. I have copied my cousin
retired Catholic Bishop Dominic Carmon in
Kenner, Louisiana who has a
great
awareness and appreciation of history and
music. Thanks, John [John Malveaux]
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