Join us for a powerful and moving celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the African Burying Ground Memorial Park. This extraordinary public space honors the lives of enslaved Africans buried beneath the streets of Portsmouth.
This year's commemorative event weaves together ritual, remembrance, and resistance through the vibrant language of African drumming and dance, spoken word, and community connection. The day opens with a soul-stirring Call to Gather by the Akwaaba Ensemble, followed by a tribute to the ancestors led by Rev. Robert Thompson, Director Emeritus of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.
The ceremony continues with a rededication of the Memorial by Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley, and the unveiling of our new Sankofa Augmented Reality (AR) Outdoor Museum Experience—an immersive digital storytelling initiative that brings history to life through your smartphone.Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley rededicating the Memorial and unveiling
The celebration culminates in a Community Dance for Justice and Equity—"Boots on the Ground," an invitation for all to move together in rhythm, memory, and purpose. This is not just a ceremony but a call to presence, action, and collective healing.
Program Schedule:
11:00 AM – Call to Gather: Akwaaba Ensemble
11:05 AM – Welcome: JerriAnne Boggis
11:10 AM – Honor to the Ancestors: Rev. Robert Thompson
11:15 AM – Rededication of the Memorial: Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley
11:25 AM – Performance: Akwaaba Ensemble
noon – "Boots on the Ground" Community Dance
12:15 PM – Closing: JerriAnne Boggis
Walk with us, dance with us, and stand in solidarity as we honor the past and shape a more just and inclusive future.
This event is free and open to the public.
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