Nzinga’s Daughters
Nzinga’s Daughters is a seven-woman performance ensemble that fosters appreciation of a multicultural society and deepens public understanding of the history and cultural achievements of Africa and the African Diaspora.
The Daughters perform for private and public schools, universities, senior citizen centers, festivals, community events, and major arts and cultural venues in New England. Their program includes a variety of African, Caribbean, and African-American music, drumming, storytelling and poetry.
Nzinga's Daughters are best known for their “Underground Railroad” performance. The program invites the audience to experience the creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance of African-American slaves in their efforts to shepherd runaway slaves to safety. Because slaves were prohibited from learning to read or write, they developed an elaborate system of communication which included embedding coded messages into the verses of Negro spirituals.
The “Underground Railroad” can be adapted for both youth and adult audiences. Children and family versions engage with sing-a-longs and dynamic storytelling about relevant historic figures and events. Adult performances use more poignant vignettes of struggle and oppression to inspire dialogue and action in reaching a more just and equitable society.