Originally posted on Feb 10, 2017.

The 1970s brought chants of “Black Love” and a greater understanding and appreciation of Africa and African culture.

Washington, D.C. native Melvin Deal, the founder of the Heritage Drummers & Dancers, is one African dance pioneer who brought this appreciation.  A Howard University alumnus, Deal began his dance career at the Northeast Academy of Dance in 1959. Melvin devoted his time and talents to the positive development of youth in the community. He founded the African Heritage Center in 1973. His company Heritage Drummers & Dances trained many city youth and adults through their classes and provides them with performance opportunity.

The late Baba Diali Djimo Kouyate and his wife Akua Kouyate created their African organization Memory of African Culture in 1983.