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BLACK BANJO RECLAMATION PROJECT

Reclaiming Banjo and Black Earth-Based Connection through Self-Determination and Reparations

Our Goal, Vision & Commitment

Register & Connect

Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

We have shirts for banjo cuties 🎉
If you have to buy presents, might as well support @black.banjo.reclamation
We have a shop on etsy that you can check out
If you have cute photos of you wearing one tag us in your stories or send them to us we wanna see you model them!
Available in white and black, limited sizes
@earthwormarts @scoutthewise thank you for supporting us with your art and supplying us with this treasure that is a beautiful image and representation of our community and what we hold dear. ✊🏾🪕💕🙏🏽
Shirts by @everywhere

We have shirts for banjo cuties 🎉
If you have to buy presents, might as well support @black.banjo.reclamation
We have a shop on etsy that you can check out
If you have cute photos of you wearing one tag us in your stories or send them to us we wanna see you model them!
Available in white and black, limited sizes
@earthwormarts @scoutthewise thank you for supporting us with your art and supplying us with this treasure that is a beautiful image and representation of our community and what we hold dear. ✊🏾🪕💕🙏🏽
Shirts by @everywhere

🗽🪕Recapping some recent experiences in New York 🗽🪕

What a joy it has been to be in connection with so many amazing community members who are building and elevating their own work with the banjo in New York!

Scenes in the reel are recapping the amazing film premier last week at @docnycfest with the amazing team who created a film starring @hannah_mayree that highlights the work of the @black.banjo.reclamation project. @ebonymarieb @justinwhittinghamfilm @metamorphsound @alyssamopia all did a wonderful of portraying the work being done and making it so captivating and beautiful.

Other New York Highlights: Brooklyn Banjo Reclamation taking place once a month at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary and our new banjo brokerage repair collaboration with @brooklynlutherie!

So much connection was made, many good times were had. We talk more about this in our latest Patreon post. You can support our work by contributing on Patreon and we also have a free member tier because we wanna share this with you all, and we are doing everything we can to get as many folks to follow us off of meta so get on our newsletter and our Patreon for more expansive updates and resources we have over there! Thank you new friends and old, to everyone who has been in connection to bbrp and those of you who are holding important pieces of banjo culture and historic folk treasures, we love seeing you all thrive and we love being in community 🙏🏽🪕🫶🏽☮️🪘💜🌙

🗽🪕Recapping some recent experiences in New York 🗽🪕

What a joy it has been to be in connection with so many amazing community members who are building and elevating their own work with the banjo in New York!

Scenes in the reel are recapping the amazing film premier last week at @docnycfest with the amazing team who created a film starring @hannah_mayree that highlights the work of the @black.banjo.reclamation project. @ebonymarieb @justinwhittinghamfilm @metamorphsound @alyssamopia all did a wonderful of portraying the work being done and making it so captivating and beautiful.

Other New York Highlights: Brooklyn Banjo Reclamation taking place once a month at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary and our new banjo brokerage repair collaboration with @brooklynlutherie!

So much connection was made, many good times were had. We talk more about this in our latest Patreon post. You can support our work by contributing on Patreon and we also have a free member tier because we wanna share this with you all, and we are doing everything we can to get as many folks to follow us off of meta so get on our newsletter and our Patreon for more expansive updates and resources we have over there! Thank you new friends and old, to everyone who has been in connection to bbrp and those of you who are holding important pieces of banjo culture and historic folk treasures, we love seeing you all thrive and we love being in community 🙏🏽🪕🫶🏽☮️🪘💜🌙

Join us for the WORLD PREMIERE of “Songs of Reclamation” by Ebony Bailey at the IFC Center as a part of the DOC NYC Film Festival! 😍🪕🎥 Q and A with Ebony after the film 🎬 RSVP and purchase tickets with link in bio! Use discount code HANNAH_MAYREE_SONGS_OF_RECLAMATION-GRP. Join Hannah Mayree and BBRP after the film at Grove St Social for happy hour! 🥂 Can’t make it on 11/15? Tickets to stream the film online are also available! ✨

Join us for the WORLD PREMIERE of “Songs of Reclamation” by Ebony Bailey at the IFC Center as a part of the DOC NYC Film Festival! 😍🪕🎥 Q and A with Ebony after the film 🎬 RSVP and purchase tickets with link in bio! Use discount code HANNAH_MAYREE_SONGS_OF_RECLAMATION-GRP. Join Hannah Mayree and BBRP after the film at Grove St Social for happy hour! 🥂 Can’t make it on 11/15? Tickets to stream the film online are also available! ✨

It was entirely appropriate to spend this Halloween with banjo ancestors and banjo history makers of our current day.

There were highlights galore for any banjo enthusiast. Banjos to play, internet banjo friends becoming real life connections, so much history and information also a disruption of the white take over of the banjo which has lasted a few centuries just by us being there.

Grateful that Daniel Jatta show up at this thing 25 years ago with an Akonting and exploded everything we knew about the origins of the banjo. Grateful for scholarship in this area growing and being influenced by Black researchers and thinkers.

Grateful to share about @black.banjo.reclamation with this community and to everyone who shared in this space. @sulegreg @notsoaveragjoe Tony Thomas, Cece Conway, Chuck Levy, @isaac.mccarthy @pangeabanjo @pisgahbanjos @banjopete and many others. To all our new banjo buddies I’m so glad we met!

Thank you @thebanjogathering @kgadz @chiefzen for all you have done to make it so the banjo is seen and felt by Black people. It’s so important. We had a great time 🫶🏽🎃🪕🪦🦴💜

It was entirely appropriate to spend this Halloween with banjo ancestors and banjo history makers of our current day.

There were highlights galore for any banjo enthusiast. Banjos to play, internet banjo friends becoming real life connections, so much history and information also a disruption of the white take over of the banjo which has lasted a few centuries just by us being there.

Grateful that Daniel Jatta show up at this thing 25 years ago with an Akonting and exploded everything we knew about the origins of the banjo. Grateful for scholarship in this area growing and being influenced by Black researchers and thinkers.

Grateful to share about @black.banjo.reclamation with this community and to everyone who shared in this space. @sulegreg @notsoaveragjoe Tony Thomas, Cece Conway, Chuck Levy, @isaac.mccarthy @pangeabanjo @pisgahbanjos @banjopete and many others. To all our new banjo buddies I’m so glad we met!

Thank you @thebanjogathering @kgadz @chiefzen for all you have done to make it so the banjo is seen and felt by Black people. It’s so important. We had a great time 🫶🏽🎃🪕🪦🦴💜

We are excited about two of our banjo meet ups, both of which are happening November 8th in Seattle and in Los Angeles!

A new partnership has birthed with @black.banjo.reclamation project and @therhapsodyproject, an amazing musical institution in the Pacific Northwest that we are proud to be collaborating with! It’s taking place at the historic @wanawariseattle in the central district. We will have a link for registration in our bio. This is a banjo instructional workshop and practice space for Black people being taught by @joebanjo, one of our trusted white accomplices in banjo reclamation. A big thank you to our friend @slowcookedstew for making all these collaborations weave together so well.

Is you’re located in Southern California join @dejoireh for the outdoor nature meet ups that happens monthly at Griffith Park!

We are incredibly excited about all the banjo activity happening on the west coast! We are everywhere and we are grateful to be a resource and a grounding space for folks pursuing banjo music, craft and community all over. See you out there jamming🌙 🪕⭐️🎶

We are excited about two of our banjo meet ups, both of which are happening November 8th in Seattle and in Los Angeles!

A new partnership has birthed with @black.banjo.reclamation project and @therhapsodyproject, an amazing musical institution in the Pacific Northwest that we are proud to be collaborating with! It’s taking place at the historic @wanawariseattle in the central district. We will have a link for registration in our bio. This is a banjo instructional workshop and practice space for Black people being taught by @joebanjo, one of our trusted white accomplices in banjo reclamation. A big thank you to our friend @slowcookedstew for making all these collaborations weave together so well.

Is you’re located in Southern California join @dejoireh for the outdoor nature meet ups that happens monthly at Griffith Park!

We are incredibly excited about all the banjo activity happening on the west coast! We are everywhere and we are grateful to be a resource and a grounding space for folks pursuing banjo music, craft and community all over. See you out there jamming🌙 🪕⭐️🎶

From start to finish @blackamericanafest offered us music that was truly incredible. The artistry was stellar and it was so moving to see these artists in real time up close, I highly recommend going to this festival next year and also watch live videos on the @wwoz_neworleans YouTube channel!
Among the artists were @leylacello @domflemons Dr. Michael White and the @libertyjazzband @hannah_mayree @bassic_nelson @marcellasimienmusic @anne.harris.music @duskywaters @sunnywarmusic @thesuffers and many more.

From start to finish @blackamericanafest offered us music that was truly incredible. The artistry was stellar and it was so moving to see these artists in real time up close, I highly recommend going to this festival next year and also watch live videos on the @wwoz_neworleans YouTube channel!
Among the artists were @leylacello @domflemons Dr. Michael White and the @libertyjazzband @hannah_mayree @bassic_nelson @marcellasimienmusic @anne.harris.music @duskywaters @sunnywarmusic @thesuffers and many more.

TODAY (9/13) begins NYC BBRP’s set of fall and winter meet ups @thefreeblackwomenslibrary ! 😍🪕🍂🎃 If you love folk and bluegrass, are folk curious, are a total beginner or have been playing banjo for years, or you just simply want to have a good time with Black banjo players, come on out! ✨🎶 There are 2 loaner banjos for people to play at the library, bring your own banjo, or another instrument! 🎻 🪘🪈

TODAY (9/13) begins NYC BBRP’s set of fall and winter meet ups @thefreeblackwomenslibrary ! 😍🪕🍂🎃 If you love folk and bluegrass, are folk curious, are a total beginner or have been playing banjo for years, or you just simply want to have a good time with Black banjo players, come on out! ✨🎶 There are 2 loaner banjos for people to play at the library, bring your own banjo, or another instrument! 🎻 🪘🪈

There’s been so much going on with BBRP across the country! 🪕✊🏾✨Last month the NYC chapter played their first live event as a part of @thefreeblackwomenslibrary’s 10 year anniversary celebration 📚🎶 We’re so proud to be a part of the ongoing legacy! Here we’re sharing a few highlights from the folks who performed and the day. In the videos you’ll hear Old Joe Clark and This Little Light of Mine 🌟🕯️The next NYC meeting is Saturday Sept 13! We have banjos that live at the library for folks to use while at the meetups if you do not have your own. See you there! (More info in next post)

There’s been so much going on with BBRP across the country! 🪕✊🏾✨Last month the NYC chapter played their first live event as a part of @thefreeblackwomenslibrary’s 10 year anniversary celebration 📚🎶 We’re so proud to be a part of the ongoing legacy! Here we’re sharing a few highlights from the folks who performed and the day. In the videos you’ll hear Old Joe Clark and This Little Light of Mine 🌟��🕯️The next NYC meeting is Saturday Sept 13! We have banjos that live at the library for folks to use while at the meetups if you do not have your own. See you there! (More info in next post)

It’s official
LA we have some meet ups on the books!

@dejoireh will be hosting this black affinity space in Griffith Park for the rest of the year and it’s exciting to be creating space in nature for our musical practice even in places that are known to be a metropolis. It is within urban centers that the Black banjo culture of today finds itself thriving so come be part of that development as we return to the banjo and string music of the African diaspora.
🎉🎉🎉💯💯💯🪕🪕🪕🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🎶🎶🎶🎶🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴

It’s official
LA we have some meet ups on the books!

@dejoireh will be hosting this black affinity space in Griffith Park for the rest of the year and it’s exciting to be creating space in nature for our musical practice even in places that are known to be a metropolis. It is within urban centers that the Black banjo culture of today finds itself thriving so come be part of that development as we return to the banjo and string music of the African diaspora.
🎉🎉🎉💯💯💯🪕🪕🪕🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🎶🎶🎶🎶🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴

Banjo Meet Ups are in Session!
Friday August 22nd from 5-7 pm at @thefreightberkeley

Last month was our biggest meet up yet and it has been a joy connecting our work of banjo building to banjo playing!

This Banjo Meet Up is a Black affinity space: meaning, it’s a affirmation space to support us engaging with the banjo and other folk practices. This type of container did not exist before @black.banjo.reclamation created and started facilitating these spaces in the Black community. Black people are coming to the banjo more than ever these days and we need a space to explore this tender connection that is free from the racial stigma that has existed under the colonization of the instrument and is attached to the legacy of slavery and minstrel music, a form of music used to demean African folks in the worst ways for over 150 years of American musical history.

Join us whether you have a banjo or not! Other instruments are welcome to jam with!

Plus we have a VERY SPECIAL GUEST joining us Friday! She’s out in California all the way from Harlem. She’s one of most prominent voices in the world of Black Americana music and sings across genres. @thisisqueenesther will be with us so you are gunna want to get over to 2020 Addison in Berkeley! It’s right off the downtown Berkeley BART. Thank you to our unofficial sponsors @arizmendilakeshore for being the best pizza ever, it’s our Friday tradition, we will see you there! 🍕🪕

PS: heading back up to Guernville after the meet up for the Golden Old Time Camp out with @californiabluegrass so let us know if you wanna come!

Banjo Meet Ups are in Session!
Friday August 22nd from 5-7 pm at @thefreightberkeley

Last month was our biggest meet up yet and it has been a joy connecting our work of banjo building to banjo playing!

This Banjo Meet Up is a Black affinity space: meaning, it’s a affirmation space to support us engaging with the banjo and other folk practices. This type of container did not exist before @black.banjo.reclamation created and started facilitating these spaces in the Black community. Black people are coming to the banjo more than ever these days and we need a space to explore this tender connection that is free from the racial stigma that has existed under the colonization of the instrument and is attached to the legacy of slavery and minstrel music, a form of music used to demean African folks in the worst ways for over 150 years of American musical history.

Join us whether you have a banjo or not! Other instruments are welcome to jam with!

Plus we have a VERY SPECIAL GUEST joining us Friday! She’s out in California all the way from Harlem. She’s one of most prominent voices in the world of Black Americana music and sings across genres. @thisisqueenesther will be with us so you are gunna want to get over to 2020 Addison in Berkeley! It’s right off the downtown Berkeley BART. Thank you to our unofficial sponsors @arizmendilakeshore for being the best pizza ever, it’s our Friday tradition, we will see you there! 🍕🪕

PS: heading back up to Guernville after the meet up for the Golden Old Time Camp out with @californiabluegrass so let us know if you wanna come!

✨✨Special Event August 24 Brooklyn✨✨

Since the beginning of this year our Banjo Meet Up has been happening in Brooklyn, NYC at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary, a very special space that commemorates legacies of Black women’s freedom through writing in this living archive that features over 5000 books in its collection. We will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of this special space with a performance by our Banjo Meet Up group happening at the block party hosted by TFBWL ! 🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶✨✨✨🎉🎉🎉🎉

Everyone is excited to share their truly amazing progress and community efforts to preserve and innovate the banjo in the hands of black communities near and far.

Come and share and support this experience later this month and join for the next meet up happening 8/9 from 1-2:30 pm
Fall dates coming soon🗽🗽🗽🗽🪕🪕🪕🌆🌆🌆🌆

✨✨Special Event August 24 Brooklyn✨✨

Since the beginning of this year our Banjo Meet Up has been happening in Brooklyn, NYC at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary, a very special space that commemorates legacies of Black women’s freedom through writing in this living archive that features over 5000 books in its collection. We will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of this special space with a performance by our Banjo Meet Up group happening at the block party hosted by TFBWL ! 🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶✨✨✨🎉🎉🎉🎉

Everyone is excited to share their truly amazing progress and community efforts to preserve and innovate the banjo in the hands of black communities near and far.

Come and share and support this experience later this month and join for the next meet up happening 8/9 from 1-2:30 pm
Fall dates coming soon🗽🗽🗽🗽🪕🪕🪕🌆🌆🌆🌆

✨Thursday August 7th
🪕4-5:30
🎵Front street between California and Sacramento Streets
🎻San Francisco

Showcase will feature
@lizlub @azerewilsonmusic @seraphimfairy @deidrahallmusic @hannah_mayree

Square Dance featuring
@8nerakkia8 @lesliekeir @katyhillharris @evieladin @hannah_mayree

Come dance with us in the streets and celebrate the Black music folk scene brewing in the Bay and traditional folk music and dance of the African diaspora, we will see you there !

✨Thursday August 7th
🪕4-5:30
🎵Front street between California and Sacramento Streets
🎻San Francisco

Showcase will feature
@lizlub @azerewilsonmusic @seraphimfairy @deidrahallmusic @hannah_mayree

Square Dance featuring
@8nerakkia8 @lesliekeir @katyhillharris @evieladin @hannah_mayree

Come dance with us in the streets and celebrate the Black music folk scene brewing in the Bay and traditional folk music and dance of the African diaspora, we will see you there !

✨✨✨Next weekend there are three different Banjo Meet Ups around the country! 🪕🪕🪕🎉🎉

✨Bay Area Friday July 25 from 5-7 pm facilitated by @hannah_mayree at @thefreightberkeley

✨Chicago Sunday July 27 from 12-2 pm hosted by @planet.arf with banjos provided by @musicmoveschi

✨Brooklyn Sunday July 27 from 1-2:30 pm facilitated by @sappyrock_ at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary

Excited about the summer activities and for us to keep convening in our local communities! So come out, and we do our best to provide banjos at these events so please let us know if you would like to play on one next weekend 🪕🎶✨

✨✨✨Next weekend there are three different Banjo Meet Ups around the country! 🪕🪕🪕🎉🎉

✨Bay Area Friday July 25 from 5-7 pm facilitated by @hannah_mayree at @thefreightberkeley

✨Chicago Sunday July 27 from 12-2 pm hosted by @planet.arf with banjos provided by @musicmoveschi

✨Brooklyn Sunday July 27 from 1-2:30 pm facilitated by @sappyrock_ at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary

Excited about the summer activities and for us to keep convening in our local communities! So come out, and we do our best to provide banjos at these events so please let us know if you would like to play on one next weekend 🪕🎶✨

We made a shirt! This is our first prototype so we don’t really have them on sale yet but we will! And for now we just wanted to share our excitement because we love the artists who made this possible for us! We wanted to get shirts for the staff and folks who spent the entire week making these incredible gourd banjos! 🍐🍐🍐🪕🪕🪕

@earthwormarts designed an amazing stained glass creations few years ago and contributed this gorgeous image to us so we could be represented in this beautiful and unique image of a black person playing the banjo out on a porch somewhere with a kitty for company.
@scoutthewise our friend and fellow black banjo player made a digital rendering of the design.

Thank you so much to these artists for supporting @black.banjo.reclamation and for making us look fly and spread beautiful messages throughout the lands.

People who come today will get some bbrp swag that you can’t get anywhere else so come to the showcase today at noon at @924gilmanstreet

We made a shirt! This is our first prototype so we don’t really have them on sale yet but we will! And for now we just wanted to share our excitement because we love the artists who made this possible for us! We wanted to get shirts for the staff and folks who spent the entire week making these incredible gourd banjos! 🍐🍐🍐🪕🪕🪕

@earthwormarts designed an amazing stained glass creations few years ago and contributed this gorgeous image to us so we could be represented in this beautiful and unique image of a black person playing the banjo out on a porch somewhere with a kitty for company.
@scoutthewise our friend and fellow black banjo player made a digital rendering of the design.

Thank you so much to these artists for supporting @black.banjo.reclamation and for making us look fly and spread beautiful messages throughout the lands.

People who come today will get some bbrp swag that you can’t get anywhere else so come to the showcase today at noon at @924gilmanstreet

The banjos are complete! They are gorgeous, functional, sacred objects that serve the purposes of the individual and of collective through preserving and innovating Black folk traditions, so many of which connect to the banjo, land-based stewardship, community collaboration, and music!

Come see and hear the finished instruments and celebrate Black craftsmanship and musicianship at our Banjo Reclamation Showcase!

Excited to share this joy and this huge accomplishment from this last week and from hundreds of years of the banjo, the folk knowledge of indigenous African and displaced African peoples. Get tickets now and support this incredibly important cultural work. Funded in part by the @caltradarts

The banjos are complete! They are gorgeous, functional, sacred objects that serve the purposes of the individual and of collective through preserving and innovating Black folk traditions, so many of which connect to the banjo, land-based stewardship, community collaboration, and music!

Come see and hear the finished instruments and celebrate Black craftsmanship and musicianship at our Banjo Reclamation Showcase!

Excited to share this joy and this huge accomplishment from this last week and from hundreds of years of the banjo, the folk knowledge of indigenous African and displaced African peoples. Get tickets now and support this incredibly important cultural work. Funded in part by the @caltradarts

It’s happening!

Banjos in the making
Community in the making
History in the making

Grateful for such amazing people sharing their art, skills and life experience to grow the presence and stewardship of the banjo in our Black communities.

Do you wanna check out some of the magic we’ve been making? Come to our showcase Sunday. 🪕🪕🪕✨✨✨🎶🎶🎶🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

It’s happening!

Banjos in the making
Community in the making
History in the making

Grateful for such amazing people sharing their art, skills and life experience to grow the presence and stewardship of the banjo in our Black communities.

Do you wanna check out some of the magic we’ve been making? Come to our showcase Sunday. 🪕🪕🪕✨✨✨🎶🎶🎶🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

We are a week away from our two community cultural events happening in the east Bay.

Come to our Summer celebrations, we are so excited to share magic from our time together!

Tix available now through eventbrite and linked in the bi@

We are a week away from our two community cultural events happening in the east Bay.

Come to our Summer celebrations, we are so excited to share magic from our time together!

Tix available now through eventbrite and linked in the bi@

Cultural Immersion Starts Monday!!!

We cannot wait to gather in person with all the cadre, community members and with everyone who is part of this circle to support Black craftwork and musicianship in the folk music of the banjo!

Another huge thank you to our friends at @coastukulele for allowing us to work in the shop and help us craft these pieces that will be assembled and created into banjos in the coming week! We are so glad to be in relation with them and if you’re in the market for an amazing ukulele check them out.

Get your tickets now for the Showcase 7/13 from 12-2 pm at @924gilmanstreet @thecaningshop

Cultural Immersion Starts Monday!!!

We cannot wait to gather in person with all the cadre, community members and with everyone who is part of this circle to support Black craftwork and musicianship in the folk music of the banjo!

Another huge thank you to our friends at @coastukulele for allowing us to work in the shop and help us craft these pieces that will be assembled and created into banjos in the coming week! We are so glad to be in relation with them and if you’re in the market for an amazing ukulele check them out.

Get your tickets now for the Showcase 7/13 from 12-2 pm at @924gilmanstreet @thecaningshop

✨🪕🎉We are less than a week from starting our Cultural Immersion Week in the Bay Area!

So much planning goes into projects like this and we are feeling just about ready to board this banjo train for the next week!

5 years of building banjos

5 years learning gourd cultivation through experimentation

Months of planning

Decades of research by our contemporaries

Hundreds of years or Black culture through music, land and community

Thousands of years of African peoples communing with the gourd

Its powerful to be joining with a new group of people for this purpose and we invite you all the come to our cultural events listed in the slide before this!

We will be documenting and sharing all about the build in real time, we encourage everyone following our journey to consider purchasing a ticket to our fundraising showcase event July 13th or donate to our organization through our website. We are always grateful to our donors, supporters and collaborators— the importance of their contributions is invaluable in keeping this work going into the future. Thanks to @caltradarts for granting us funding for this project in particular! BBRP is going strong and we can’t wait to create and share our work with you all 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎶🎶🎶🪕🪕

✨🪕🎉We are less than a week from starting our Cultural Immersion Week in the Bay Area!

So much planning goes into projects like this and we are feeling just about ready to board this banjo train for the next week!

5 years of building banjos

5 years learning gourd cultivation through experimentation

Months of planning

Decades of research by our contemporaries

Hundreds of years or Black culture through music, land and community

Thousands of years of African peoples communing with the gourd

Its powerful to be joining with a new group of people for this purpose and we invite you all the come to our cultural events listed in the slide before this!

We will be documenting and sharing all about the build in real time, we encourage everyone following our journey to consider purchasing a ticket to our fundraising showcase event July 13th or donate to our organization through our website. We are always grateful to our donors, supporters and collaborators— the importance of their contributions is invaluable in keeping this work going into the future. Thanks to @caltradarts for granting us funding for this project in particular! BBRP is going strong and we can’t wait to create and share our work with you all 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎶🎶🎶🪕🪕

🕸️🕸️🕸️We have two events to invite you all to next month as part of our cultural immersion week so mark your calendars now🌴🌴🌴🌴

✨Friday July 11th we are co-hosting a vinyl dinner party with our friends @couchdate with catering by @eat.drink.comfort

✨Sunday July 13th from 12-2 pm at @924gilmanstreet we are holding a showcase live performance and display of our banjo build work! Tickets are on sale now and it is a @black.banjo.reclamation project fundraising effort for the community cultural work that we commemorating of the last 5 years and the next 5 here in the Bay Area.

Come out and enjoy the heart of Black folk music that lives in the banjo, our hands and the music 🎶🫶🏽🪕🎉🎻✨🕸️✊🏾

🕸️🕸️🕸️We have two events to invite you all to next month as part of our cultural immersion week so mark your calendars now🌴🌴🌴🌴

✨Friday July 11th we are co-hosting a vinyl dinner party with our friends @couchdate with catering by @eat.drink.comfort

✨Sunday July 13th from 12-2 pm at @924gilmanstreet we are holding a showcase live performance and display of our banjo build work! Tickets are on sale now and it is a @black.banjo.reclamation project fundraising effort for the community cultural work that we commemorating of the last 5 years and the next 5 here in the Bay Area.

Come out and enjoy the heart of Black folk music that lives in the banjo, our hands and the music 🎶🫶🏽🪕🎉🎻✨🕸️✊🏾

New York Meet Up!!!
🍎🍎🍎🍎🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🪕🪕🪕🪕

Summer Dates, get with these banjo folks
Just show up, no experience needed, no banjo needed, just a group of Black people learning music and connecting in Brooklyn.

New York Meet Up!!!
🍎🍎🍎🍎🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🪕🪕🪕🪕

Summer Dates, get with these banjo folks
Just show up, no experience needed, no banjo needed, just a group of Black people learning music and connecting in Brooklyn.

🪕🎶 It was our first rodeo at the Grass Valley Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival and it was a special occasion this 50th anniversary occasion.

A very special thanks to all of the Black Banjo, Guitar and Fiddle players who joined us as part of our affinity group @dejoireh @nomadthedj @anitasfavpics @deidrahallmusic @danniblackmaan @missford1975 @black_fiddle_vanguard and to our white ally friends who supported this affinity group as well @rainbowglitterpaisley @community.exomusicologist @8nerakkia8

We also want to thank everyone at the @californiabluegrass for this invitation and Sponsoring our group as well as the support from the @bluegrassfoundation Arnold Schultz Fund

The space is filled with so many amazing musicians, teachers, luthiers and community members and it’s a treasure to make so many connections in the world of bluegrass and the world of our modern folk music traditions.

Old time is a big part of the music represented in the space and there are many ways the bridges are being connected and linked through the stories, repertoire and musicians who straddle the many genres that are rooted in Black string traditions. Ultimately, the missing link between the worlds is Black people and the innovation and creativity we bring as roots players. So much more to say on this topic, we will be sure to write more as we pause and take our time to reflect on this success.

Thank you to everyone who has held it down, even amidst sickness and other challenges. Here’s to our continued exploration of the banjo and Black folk music, we hope to be back next year!

🪕🎶 It was our first rodeo at the Grass Valley Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival and it was a special occasion this 50th anniversary occasion.

A very special thanks to all of the Black Banjo, Guitar and Fiddle players who joined us as part of our affinity group @dejoireh @nomadthedj @anitasfavpics @deidrahallmusic @danniblackmaan @missford1975 @black_fiddle_vanguard and to our white ally friends who supported this affinity group as well @rainbowglitterpaisley @community.exomusicologist @8nerakkia8

We also want to thank everyone at the @californiabluegrass for this invitation and Sponsoring our group as well as the support from the @bluegrassfoundation Arnold Schultz Fund

The space is filled with so many amazing musicians, teachers, luthiers and community members and it’s a treasure to make so many connections in the world of bluegrass and the world of our modern folk music traditions.

Old time is a big part of the music represented in the space and there are many ways the bridges are being connected and linked through the stories, repertoire and musicians who straddle the many genres that are rooted in Black string traditions. Ultimately, the missing link between the worlds is Black people and the innovation and creativity we bring as roots players. So much more to say on this topic, we will be sure to write more as we pause and take our time to reflect on this success.

Thank you to everyone who has held it down, even amidst sickness and other challenges. Here’s to our continued exploration of the banjo and Black folk music, we hope to be back next year!

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎶🎶🎶 It’s official 🪕🪕🪕🪕
@black.banjo.reclamation has a camp at the @californiabluegrass Father’s Day Festival and Camp!
We are enjoying learning and being with one another and after 50 years of this festival, we are glad to be some Black folks out here taking up and making space for us to continue our banjo explorations with the larger folk music community here in California. We can’t wait for the rest of our cohort to join us this weekend! Thank you to everyone at the CBA who has supported this affinity space. Come to our Artist Showcase this Saturday at 12 noon to 1:15 at the Pioneer Stage!
Our affinity space was made possible in part by contributions by the CBA and the Arnold Schultz Grant awarded by the @bluegrassfoundation we will let you all know how it goes and thank you all for rooting for us and supporting us as we continue expanding and existing in musical spaces that contribute to our success.

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎶🎶🎶 It’s official 🪕🪕🪕🪕
@black.banjo.reclamation has a camp at the @californiabluegrass Father’s Day Festival and Camp!
We are enjoying learning and being with one another and after 50 years of this festival, we are glad to be some Black folks out here taking up and making space for us to continue our banjo explorations with the larger folk music community here in California. We can’t wait for the rest of our cohort to join us this weekend! Thank you to everyone at the CBA who has supported this affinity space. Come to our Artist Showcase this Saturday at 12 noon to 1:15 at the Pioneer Stage!
Our affinity space was made possible in part by contributions by the CBA and the Arnold Schultz Grant awarded by the @bluegrassfoundation we will let you all know how it goes and thank you all for rooting for us and supporting us as we continue expanding and existing in musical spaces that contribute to our success.

Go see “Don’t Get Trouble in your Mind,” the story of the formative years of the @carolinachocolatedrops if you have the chance. It really gives background and all the musicians were so vulnerable to share such an intimate story with audiences. It’s a great film!

@domflemons @rhiannongiddens @countrygentlemancooks we admire you all so much, thank you for being our predecessors and for continuing to stand on the shoulders of giants in playing traditional music and also in going your own way. And also, thank you for showing us how to get the band back together— even for a short time, to honor the passion that brings folks together around music and community. It’s inspiring and we thank you 🙏🏽🪕✊🏾🎻

Thanks to the @californiabluegrass association for the invite out and for @dminorminor for being the knowledge holder he is about musical culture especially right here in the Bay Area. Glad to share this special experience at the @roxie_theater 🎶💜🎉

Go see “Don’t Get Trouble in your Mind,” the story of the formative years of the @carolinachocolatedrops if you have the chance. It really gives background and all the musicians were so vulnerable to share such an intimate story with audiences. It’s a great film!

@domflemons @rhiannongiddens @countrygentlemancooks we admire you all so much, thank you for being our predecessors and for continuing to stand on the shoulders of giants in playing traditional music and also in going your own way. And also, thank you for showing us how to get the band back together— even for a short time, to honor the passion that brings folks together around music and community. It’s inspiring and we thank you 🙏🏽🪕✊🏾🎻

Thanks to the @californiabluegrass association for the invite out and for @dminorminor for being the knowledge holder he is about musical culture especially right here in the Bay Area. Glad to share this special experience at the @roxie_theater 🎶💜🎉

@hannah_mayree and @black_fiddle_vanguard played on the on- air folk festival yesterday hosted by JoAnn Mar in San Francisco and it was a great broadcast! The episode will be up soon and we will keep you posted so you can hear the recording. Thanks @kalwpublicmedia @kalwmusic @black.banjo.reclamation appreciated your support and we love public radio and what you provide our communities 📡📻🫶🏽💜🙏🏽🎶🪕🎻

@hannah_mayree and @black_fiddle_vanguard played on the on- air folk festival yesterday hosted by JoAnn Mar in San Francisco and it was a great broadcast! The episode will be up soon and we will keep you posted so you can hear the recording. Thanks @kalwpublicmedia @kalwmusic @black.banjo.reclamation appreciated your support and we love public radio and what you provide our communities 📡📻🫶🏽💜🙏🏽🎶🪕🎻

Next Week Friday June 6th @hannah_mayree teaches private and small group banjo lessons at @thefreightberkeley and hosts a Black string band ensemble, which is a space for Black folks to come play music that reflects our cultural heritage!

Be part of these happenings going on in the Bay Area monthly

🪕🫶🏽✨🎶🙌🏽🌸🎻✊🏾💎🐦‍⬛🌁

Next Week Friday June 6th @hannah_mayree teaches private and small group banjo lessons at @thefreightberkeley and hosts a Black string band ensemble, which is a space for Black folks to come play music that reflects our cultural heritage!

Be part of these happenings going on in the Bay Area monthly

🪕🫶🏽✨🎶🙌🏽🌸🎻✊🏾💎🐦‍⬛🌁

Photo for the algy

Is your name Solomon, Terri or Jordan? Did you sign up for Banjo Cultural Immersion Week? I need your email please send it me!

Clearly too busy fixing banjos and destroying white supremacy to remember to ASK FOR EVERYONES EMAIL CONTACT 👩🏽‍💻🫨🤫🫣🙄🫡

Just starting the busy season over here— music festivals, performances, banjo immersion, fundraising, literally just everything happening and grateful for all the growth but responses will be prolonged throughout the summer months and just wanna let folks know.

The website was down for a day or so but that has been addressed so it’s back up!

Regarding the banjo repair— still gunna work on the fretboard and replace the inlays but all rim hardware has been replaced as well as the synthetic head, thank you @brooksmasten with your material support, we are excited to get some banjos working again with these new parts from your shop!
@hannah_mayree, founder and bbrp ed
Shirt by @divideanddissolve

🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶🌸🌸🌸👩🏽‍💻👩🏽‍💻👩🏽‍💻

Photo for the algy

Is your name Solomon, Terri or Jordan? Did you sign up for Banjo Cultural Immersion Week? I need your email please send it me!

Clearly too busy fixing banjos and destroying white supremacy to remember to ASK FOR EVERYONES EMAIL CONTACT 👩🏽‍💻🫨🤫🫣🙄🫡

Just starting the busy season over here— music festivals, performances, banjo immersion, fundraising, literally just everything happening and grateful for all the growth but responses will be prolonged throughout the summer months and just wanna let folks know.

The website was down for a day or so but that has been addressed so it’s back up!

Regarding the banjo repair— still gunna work on the fretboard and replace the inlays but all rim hardware has been replaced as well as the synthetic head, thank you @brooksmasten with your material support, we are excited to get some banjos working again with these new parts from your shop!
@hannah_mayree, founder and bbrp ed
Shirt by @divideanddissolve

🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶🌸🌸🌸👩🏽‍💻👩🏽‍💻👩🏽‍💻

BTS of some of what goes into our banjo builds!

We do this work as a community. Fast alone, far together. It has taken years to acquire the skills, access knowledge and relationships to do this. Still more to go but we are really excited to get into the shop and make progress. Our team consisted of @coastukulele a local Sonoma county luthier, @hannah_mayree and BBRPs Bay Area organizational support @danniblackmaan.

Thankful to everyone witnessing this journey. It’s been a busy week so thanks everyone for your patience on email communications and for your support as we gear up for much expansion and community growth as the year continues 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶🪵🪵

BTS of some of what goes into our banjo builds!

We do this work as a community. Fast alone, far together. It has taken years to acquire the skills, access knowledge and relationships to do this. Still more to go but we are really excited to get into the shop and make progress. Our team consisted of @coastukulele a local Sonoma county luthier, @hannah_mayree and BBRPs Bay Area organizational support @danniblackmaan.

Thankful to everyone witnessing this journey. It’s been a busy week so thanks everyone for your patience on email communications and for your support as we gear up for much expansion and community growth as the year continues 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶🪵🪵

Attention Dallas 🚨🚨🚨🪕🪕🪕🤠🤠🤠
We are teaming up with our friend @jes_jess of @swanstrings to host a hybrid in-person/online banjo study group in conjunction with our online practice group! This online study has been happening since the beginning of the year and with many sessions still left to go, we are excited that Jess will be holding space in person for others to join this group with her in-person support. A music teacher of many instruments and many years as well as a performer on both the harp and the guitar, we are excited to be working with Swan Strings to assist in folks banjo journeys in the Dallas area. You just let us know if you have any questions— address and details are on the flyer, bring you banjo if you can!

Attention Dallas 🚨🚨🚨🪕🪕🪕🤠🤠🤠
We are teaming up with our friend @jes_jess of @swanstrings to host a hybrid in-person/online banjo study group in conjunction with our online practice group! This online study has been happening since the beginning of the year and with many sessions still left to go, we are excited that Jess will be holding space in person for others to join this group with her in-person support. A music teacher of many instruments and many years as well as a performer on both the harp and the guitar, we are excited to be working with Swan Strings to assist in folks banjo journeys in the Dallas area. You just let us know if you have any questions— address and details are on the flyer, bring you banjo if you can!

The moment we’ve been waiting for 🪕🪕🪕

We are hosting our 9th banjo build this summer in Berkeley California celebrating 5 years of gourd banjo building that began in 2020!

The registration is linked in our bio

12 spots are available and we have some reserved spots for local youth builders, local Bay Area cultural stewards and a few spots for whoever wants to join!

This cultural immersion week will feature some of our amazing banjo build instructor team from around the country and will be made accessible through sliding scale and scholarship payment model.

This project is made possible by a grant from the @caltradarts that we are using to produce this week long experience.

We are also asking our community to support if you feel called to contribute to the scholarship and sliding scale fund if you feel called to be a sponsor! We are looking for sponsors to contribute anywhere between $250 and $1000 to contribute to this project and the ongoing work that makes these experiences possible for Black folk artists. Contributions can be made on our website! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎶🎶🎶🎶🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

This moment is coming soon and we can hardly wait to share it with you all! If you can’t make it to the build don’t worry, we have a bunch of other community programs in the works for that week including a showcase of our banjos with musical performances on Sunday July 13th for our community! Additional programming will be announced next month.

Please pass this on to Bay Area youth who may be interested in pursuing the art of lutherie, making wooden string instruments or specifically in repairing modern banjos as well! We are continuing our work of advocating for Black folk arts stewardship by creating an apprentice program with our partners @lark.in.the.morning who we have worked with for the last year. So please help us identify youth who are interested in these trade skills who want to work with us for a time to come!

We will confirm registrants around May 15th so thank you for your patience! We can’t wait to build with you!

- the BBRP build team

The moment we’ve been waiting for 🪕🪕🪕

We are hosting our 9th banjo build this summer in Berkeley California celebrating 5 years of gourd banjo building that began in 2020!

The registration is linked in our bio

12 spots are available and we have some reserved spots for local youth builders, local Bay Area cultural stewards and a few spots for whoever wants to join!

This cultural immersion week will feature some of our amazing banjo build instructor team from around the country and will be made accessible through sliding scale and scholarship payment model.

This project is made possible by a grant from the @caltradarts that we are using to produce this week long experience.

We are also asking our community to support if you feel called to contribute to the scholarship and sliding scale fund if you feel called to be a sponsor! We are looking for sponsors to contribute anywhere between $250 and $1000 to contribute to this project and the ongoing work that makes these experiences possible for Black folk artists. Contributions can be made on our website! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎶🎶🎶🎶🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

This moment is coming soon and we can hardly wait to share it with you all! If you can’t make it to the build don’t worry, we have a bunch of other community programs in the works for that week including a showcase of our banjos with musical performances on Sunday July 13th for our community! Additional programming will be announced next month.

Please pass this on to Bay Area youth who may be interested in pursuing the art of lutherie, making wooden string instruments or specifically in repairing modern banjos as well! We are continuing our work of advocating for Black folk arts stewardship by creating an apprentice program with our partners @lark.in.the.morning who we have worked with for the last year. So please help us identify youth who are interested in these trade skills who want to work with us for a time to come!

We will confirm registrants around May 15th so thank you for your patience! We can’t wait to build with you!

- the BBRP build team

NEW DATES for New York Banjo Meet Up
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🔔🔔🔔🔔

Join the New York Branch of @black.banjo.reclamation this weekend and later this month May for some Black Banjo community practice at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary in Brooklyn
🪕🪕🪕🪕🪕🪕🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️

NEW DATES for New York Banjo Meet Up
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🔔🔔🔔🔔

Join the New York Branch of @black.banjo.reclamation this weekend and later this month May for some Black Banjo community practice at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary in Brooklyn
🪕🪕🪕🪕🪕🪕🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️

There were so many highlights from this weekend and here are just a few.

The music was inspiring, the people were insightful and the vibe was prime. Durham is a great town and North Carolina treated us real well.

I’m grateful to the folks I got to meet and see in person who I’ve only connected with online, I only wish we had more time together. I feel committed to making this happen, because quality time really helps us build the community we seek and need.

@rhiannongiddens and the whole @biscuitsandbanjosfest team you really pulled this off and I can’t wait to be part of it in the future and keep contributing to Black people owning and stewarding our traditions in order to uplift our lives now and forever 🪕🪕🪕🥰🥰🥰🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽💜💜💜🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🐂🐂🐂✨✨✨🎶🎶🎶🎶

There were so many highlights from this weekend and here are just a few.

The music was inspiring, the people were insightful and the vibe was prime. Durham is a great town and North Carolina treated us real well.

I’m grateful to the folks I got to meet and see in person who I’ve only connected with online, I only wish we had more time together. I feel committed to making this happen, because quality time really helps us build the community we seek and need.

@rhiannongiddens and the whole @biscuitsandbanjosfest team you really pulled this off and I can’t wait to be part of it in the future and keep contributing to Black people owning and stewarding our traditions in order to uplift our lives now and forever 🪕🪕🪕🥰🥰🥰🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽💜💜💜🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🐂🐂🐂✨✨✨🎶🎶🎶🎶

We are having a mini-fundraiser this week for our New York Chapter of @black.banjo.reclamation project through our NE fiscal sponsor @fractured.atlas starting TODAY!

Every project who receives individual one-time donations of any amount between today and this Friday, April 18 at 11:59PM ET is automatically entered into the pool to receive a $1,000 donation from Fractured Atlas. The more donations we get, the more eligible entries you will receive. 20 projects, randomly selected from the eligible pool and announced after the 18th.

We have been hosting month meet ups at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary in Brooklyn the last few months and are excited to bring more programming and opportunities to such a vibrant cultural hub for banjo activities!

If you have wanted to donate to BBRP lately, we invite you to do it this week 🪕🪕🪕🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽✨✨✨

For more info check out our April newsletter which goes out at 11 am pst today! Our donation link for fractured atlas is in our b!0

We are having a mini-fundraiser this week for our New York Chapter of @black.banjo.reclamation project through our NE fiscal sponsor @fractured.atlas starting TODAY!

Every project who receives individual one-time donations of any amount between today and this Friday, April 18 at 11:59PM ET is automatically entered into the pool to receive a $1,000 donation from Fractured Atlas. The more donations we get, the more eligible entries you will receive. 20 projects, randomly selected from the eligible pool and announced after the 18th.

We have been hosting month meet ups at @thefreeblackwomenslibrary in Brooklyn the last few months and are excited to bring more programming and opportunities to such a vibrant cultural hub for banjo activities!

If you have wanted to donate to BBRP lately, we invite you to do it this week 🪕🪕🪕🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽✨✨✨

For more info check out our April newsletter which goes out at 11 am pst today! Our donation link for fractured atlas is in our b!0

@black.banjo.reclamation is hosting a Black Affinity Space at the @baltimoreoldtime festival next weekend April 18th and 19th! We are excited about this relationship building with Baltimore Old Time and the music community there in order to support larger amounts of Black participation at this event!

Purchase a 15% off discounted ticket with code BBRP or just reach out, we are doing everything we can to create space through very limited comp tickets we received.

There are dozens of folk societies around the country and the world and even after the events of the last few years pushing boundaries to yield results of “anti-racism and representation,” @black.banjo.reclamation has always advocated for us to be in spaces that provide us access to to music that reflects our culture historically. Being a lone Black person in a white space is not fun— so we’re not doing it! We wanna explore old time music with the support of Black community backing us and we are doing that through bringing folks who will hold that space together. Hell, there need to be Black people other than the performers present when events of interest happen in Black cities. We are just doing our part to make sure that’s happening. Thank you @baltimoreoldtime for collaborating with us and we hope folks have a great time learning together and creating bonds in the DMV area! Black Affinity Space is happening Saturday evening in the Garment Room from 5-7 pm

Photo by @beau.bleau featured @wetland_maroon @hannah_mayree taken in Oakland in late 2018

@black.banjo.reclamation is hosting a Black Affinity Space at the @baltimoreoldtime festival next weekend April 18th and 19th! We are excited about this relationship building with Baltimore Old Time and the music community there in order to support larger amounts of Black participation at this event!

Purchase a 15% off discounted ticket with code BBRP or just reach out, we are doing everything we can to create space through very limited comp tickets we received.

There are dozens of folk societies around the country and the world and even after the events of the last few years pushing boundaries to yield results of “anti-racism and representation,” @black.banjo.reclamation has always advocated for us to be in spaces that provide us access to to music that reflects our culture historically. Being a lone Black person in a white space is not fun— so we’re not doing it! We wanna explore old time music with the support of Black community backing us and we are doing that through bringing folks who will hold that space together. Hell, there need to be Black people other than the performers present when events of interest happen in Black cities. We are just doing our part to make sure that’s happening. Thank you @baltimoreoldtime for collaborating with us and we hope folks have a great time learning together and creating bonds in the DMV area! Black Affinity Space is happening Saturday evening in the Garment Room from 5-7 pm

Photo by @beau.bleau featured @wetland_maroon @hannah_mayree taken in Oakland in late 2018

Hey Folks! April is a very busy month for @black.banjo.reclamation project. We won’t be able to host our monthly Bay Area Meet at the @freightandsalvage but we will be back as usual Friday May 16th for more in person lessons and our Black String Band Ensemble!

We have lots more exciting news happening in April so sign up for our news letter if you haven’t already and look out for our monthly meet ups in New York as well as new affinity spaces popping up around the country. We also can’t wait for @biscuitsandbanjosfest at the end of the month! We will see you soon! 🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶✨✨✨🥰🥰🥰🛫🛫

Hey Folks! April is a very busy month for @black.banjo.reclamation project. We won’t be able to host our monthly Bay Area Meet at the @freightandsalvage but we will be back as usual Friday May 16th for more in person lessons and our Black String Band Ensemble!

We have lots more exciting news happening in April so sign up for our news letter if you haven’t already and look out for our monthly meet ups in New York as well as new affinity spaces popping up around the country. We also can’t wait for @biscuitsandbanjosfest at the end of the month! We will see you soon! 🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶✨✨✨🥰🥰🥰🛫🛫

AZ 🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🪕🪕🪕🪕🪕✨✨✨

It’s the home of @sulegreg and @black.banjo.reclamation will be holding a small in person gathering next Sunday when @hannah_mayree is visiting!

We wanna connect with Black folks around the world and this is one place we know y’all are definitely not the majority but we see you!

We are grateful to continue bringing folks together to continue our ever-growing exploration and understanding of the banjo. Funk and lots of fun included, for good measure. We will see you there friends ✨🙏🏽🎶🌵🪕💜☀️🫶🏽

AZ 🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🪕🪕🪕🪕🪕✨✨✨

It’s the home of @sulegreg and @black.banjo.reclamation will be holding a small in person gathering next Sunday when @hannah_mayree is visiting!

We wanna connect with Black folks around the world and this is one place we know y’all are definitely not the majority but we see you!

We are grateful to continue bringing folks together to continue our ever-growing exploration and understanding of the banjo. Funk and lots of fun included, for good measure. We will see you there friends ✨🙏🏽🎶🌵🪕💜☀️🫶🏽

BAY AREA 🌉🌉🌉🌉🪕🪕🪕
Every month @hannah_mayree is hosting a Black Banjo Affinity Space at the @freightandsalvage

Come join this in-person community learning and music play space with your acoustic instruments— banjo, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, hand drums, hand percussion, cello, bass, and honestly anything else you wanna bring I feel like we can probably accommodate 🤣🩵🎶

There are genres upon genres of African rooted music, many of which is based in traditions of string instruments, singing and rhythms.

We have this space because it’s necessary. All the time, to create, express and be present to listen and respond to one another.

Please feel free to register for this event, but if you don’t get around to it just show up. Thanks so much for vibing with us out here.

#banjo #bbrp #blackbanjoreclamationproject

BAY AREA 🌉🌉🌉🌉🪕🪕🪕
Every month @hannah_mayree is hosting a Black Banjo Affinity Space at the @freightandsalvage

Come join this in-person community learning and music play space with your acoustic instruments— banjo, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, hand drums, hand percussion, cello, bass, and honestly anything else you wanna bring I feel like we can probably accommodate 🤣🩵🎶

There are genres upon genres of African rooted music, many of which is based in traditions of string instruments, singing and rhythms.

We have this space because it’s necessary. All the time, to create, express and be present to listen and respond to one another.

Please feel free to register for this event, but if you don’t get around to it just show up. Thanks so much for vibing with us out here.

#banjo #bbrp #blackbanjoreclamationproject

We are thrilled to be honored by @rhiannongiddens and her excellent team @redlightmgmt by being invited to participate in this historic event in American history. @biscuitsandbanjosfest is a continuation of decades and centuries of cultural heritage music being passed and created through time. We can’t wait to be in community with the many great artists of our time who will be joining, teaching and performing in North Carolina in April. 🙏🏽🪕🙌🏽💜🎶✊🏾🎻🔥🌍⭐️

We are thrilled to be honored by @rhiannongiddens and her excellent team @redlightmgmt by being invited to participate in this historic event in American history. @biscuitsandbanjosfest is a continuation of decades and centuries of cultural heritage music being passed and created through time. We can’t wait to be in community with the many great artists of our time who will be joining, teaching and performing in North Carolina in April. 🙏🏽🪕🙌🏽💜🎶✊🏾🎻🔥🌍⭐️

🎉🎉🎉🪕🪕🪕Let’s GO! Mark your calendars!

We are hosting a very special night of music Saturday March 15th in Oakland with some of our collaborators and friends @singingthebones and We are the Manifestors!

Join us for a community party celebrating folk music diasporas around world played with the intention of bringing insights and enjoyment to people around their own ancestral music and appreciating those of many other cultures than our own.

BBRP has and continues to center Black folks in our world of music advocacy, education and performance. This event is open for all to join and come together over the years of foundational work bbrp has done in the bay area and around the country.

Live music performances, potluck dinner, folk music dance party followed by a DJ set is all included in this night of singing, dancing and improvising.

Singing the Bones is a new musical project and these three amazing musicians @kelenitoto, @lydiavioletmusic and @mgilvryallen are raising funds to record an album together! Please come come out to this event as well as their all acoustic song circle happening at @ashkenazberkeley Sunday March 16th

We look forward to being with you all, but we encourage you to stay home at any sign of fever or sickness. Covid tests and masks available and encouraged.

🎉🎉🎉🪕🪕🪕Let’s GO! Mark your calendars!

We are hosting a very special night of music Saturday March 15th in Oakland with some of our collaborators and friends @singingthebones and We are the Manifestors!

Join us for a community party celebrating folk music diasporas around world played with the intention of bringing insights and enjoyment to people around their own ancestral music and appreciating those of many other cultures than our own.

BBRP has and continues to center Black folks in our world of music advocacy, education and performance. This event is open for all to join and come together over the years of foundational work bbrp has done in the bay area and around the country.

Live music performances, potluck dinner, folk music dance party followed by a DJ set is all included in this night of singing, dancing and improvising.

Singing the Bones is a new musical project and these three amazing musicians @kelenitoto, @lydiavioletmusic and @mgilvryallen are raising funds to record an album together! Please come come out to this event as well as their all acoustic song circle happening at @ashkenazberkeley Sunday March 16th

We look forward to being with you all, but we encourage you to stay home at any sign of fever or sickness. Covid tests and masks available and encouraged.

It’s hard putting the experience of music into words. ✨✨✨✨
Finding and creating community together is the miraculous thing that the banjo has offered to many of us and @black.banjo.reclamation has been such an amazing vehicle to make this happen. Our Black String Band Ensemble Group met yesterday as we do every month at @freightandsalvage and it was a really special occasion! Thank you everyone who is bringing out those instruments into the community and using that power of sound to create more cohesion in our lives! Can’t wait to do it again!

So grateful that our friends in other cities will be meeting up this weekend as well and we have many other plans in the works for this to happen all over the country over the next year and beyond. 🪕🪕🪕🪕✨✨✨✨🎶🎶🎶🎶

It’s hard putting the experience of music into words. ✨✨✨✨
Finding and creating community together is the miraculous thing that the banjo has offered to many of us and @black.banjo.reclamation has been such an amazing vehicle to make this happen. Our Black String Band Ensemble Group met yesterday as we do every month at @freightandsalvage and it was a really special occasion! Thank you everyone who is bringing out those instruments into the community and using that power of sound to create more cohesion in our lives! Can’t wait to do it again!

So grateful that our friends in other cities will be meeting up this weekend as well and we have many other plans in the works for this to happen all over the country over the next year and beyond. 🪕🪕🪕🪕✨✨✨✨🎶🎶🎶🎶

This year some folks from @black.banjo.reclamation will be in the streets for the Oakland @blackjoyparade next Sunday February 23rd! We are teaming up with one of the Black Burning Man Groups, We are the Manifestors, to curate some live music performances by Black Folk and Roots musicians in the Bay Area!

If you would like to be part of the mobile Juke Joint that will be rolling through the parade, if you are interested in playing a simple performance, walking beside or on the vehicle or holding a banner, we encourage you to sign up to be part of this event with us!

Emerging post-slavery in the 1860s, Southern juke joints served as vital Black spaces for community, music, and liberation. The Juke Joint art car reimagines this legacy as a mobile stage celebrating Black joy through art, music, and fellowship - a safe haven for Black Americans to rest, connect, and reclaim freedom.

Register to be part of this event with the link in our b!0 and read the details— you will be communicated with directly through email leading up the event and other logistical details. We hope this is an opportunity to meet and connect with more Bay Area artists and keep spreading the word about our work locally in the Bay! ❤️💚🖤

This year some folks from @black.banjo.reclamation will be in the streets for the Oakland @blackjoyparade next Sunday February 23rd! We are teaming up with one of the Black Burning Man Groups, We are the Manifestors, to curate some live music performances by Black Folk and Roots musicians in the Bay Area!

If you would like to be part of the mobile Juke Joint that will be rolling through the parade, if you are interested in playing a simple performance, walking beside or on the vehicle or holding a banner, we encourage you to sign up to be part of this event with us!

Emerging post-slavery in the 1860s, Southern juke joints served as vital Black spaces for community, music, and liberation. The Juke Joint art car reimagines this legacy as a mobile stage celebrating Black joy through art, music, and fellowship - a safe haven for Black Americans to rest, connect, and reclaim freedom.

Register to be part of this event with the link in our b!0 and read the details— you will be communicated with directly through email leading up the event and other logistical details. We hope this is an opportunity to meet and connect with more Bay Area artists and keep spreading the word about our work locally in the Bay! ❤️💚🖤

🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🍎🍎🍎🍎🪕🪕🪕🪕✨✨
New York Banjo Meet Up!
A Black Affinity Space for Banjo Practice & Exploration

Calling out to Black Banjo players and learners in New York!

We are extremely excited to announce that New York is officially the first of our new and growing regional chapters that will be holding monthly in-person gatherings this season ✨

Held at the historic Free Black Women’s Library in Brooklyn, we encourage folks to register for this free event, bring your banjo and get connected with others on their banjo journey. All levels welcome!

Gatherings will include, sharing, practicing exercises, songs and cohesion and inclusion within the group.

Dates: 2/22, 3/22, 4/26
Registration is free but required.

🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🍎🍎🍎🍎🪕🪕🪕🪕✨✨
New York Banjo Meet Up!
A Black Affinity Space for Banjo Practice & Exploration

Calling out to Black Banjo players and learners in New York!

We are extremely excited to announce that New York is officially the first of our new and growing regional chapters that will be holding monthly in-person gatherings this season ✨

Held at the historic Free Black Women’s Library in Brooklyn, we encourage folks to register for this free event, bring your banjo and get connected with others on their banjo journey. All levels welcome!

Gatherings will include, sharing, practicing exercises, songs and cohesion and inclusion within the group.

Dates: 2/22, 3/22, 4/26
Registration is free but required.

The Time is NOW to register for @sulegreg s class at the @johnccampbellfolkschool !!

It’s a special opportunity to play music, dance and learn from Sulé Greg Wilson. This is your chance to spend a week doing just that!

African American & Appalachian Music Connections is take place the week of March 23rd-29th

Stream his latest releases, The Ballad of Mr Plessy & Jump Jim Crow, these are historic African American tunes that tell the story of Black liberation through the ages. We need these lessons now more than ever, register today!

The Time is NOW to register for @sulegreg s class at the @johnccampbellfolkschool !!

It’s a special opportunity to play music, dance and learn from Sulé Greg Wilson. This is your chance to spend a week doing just that!

African American & Appalachian Music Connections is take place the week of March 23rd-29th

Stream his latest releases, The Ballad of Mr Plessy & Jump Jim Crow, these are historic African American tunes that tell the story of Black liberation through the ages. We need these lessons now more than ever, register today!

So now that all these apps are officially bunk the best way to really connect is in person!

Sulé will be teaching at the @johnccampbellfolkschool for a week starting March 23rd!

Checkout their extensive catalog and sign up for the Appalachian Studies class @sulegreg !

So now that all these apps are officially bunk the best way to really connect is in person!

Sulé will be teaching at the @johnccampbellfolkschool for a week starting March 23rd!

Checkout their extensive catalog and sign up for the Appalachian Studies class @sulegreg !

We are keeping it pushin today and keeping it positive.

We are thrilled about the opportunity to support and sponsor 2 legendary Black women in their quest to continue the legacy of Black Banjo lutherie through the hands of Black people. This is happening through the relationship building between BBRP and the John C Campbell Folk School @johnccampbellfolkschool located in Western North Carolina. The school is a treasure trove of knowledge located in rural Appalachia and this class is one of the most popular— building an open back banjo by Lindsey Linden. @mulheron_banjos

Amanda N. Ewing is the first known Black female violin maker in the United States, a trailblazer in a field where representation has historically been limited. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Amanda’s passion for craftsmanship drives her to create exquisite string instruments in the violin family and beyond, while her dedication to diversity fuels her commitment to supporting others who share her journey.

In addition to her work as a luthier, Amanda is deeply invested in creating safe, inclusive spaces for aspiring makers. She actively mentors individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, encouraging them to pursue their craft with confidence and resilience. Amanda’s legacy is not only one of artistic excellence but also of fostering a community where future artisans can grow, thrive, and reach their fullest potential.

@thelutherielounge | @blackinlutherie

We are keeping it pushin today and keeping it positive.

We are thrilled about the opportunity to support and sponsor 2 legendary Black women in their quest to continue the legacy of Black Banjo lutherie through the hands of Black people. This is happening through the relationship building between BBRP and the John C Campbell Folk School @johnccampbellfolkschool located in Western North Carolina. The school is a treasure trove of knowledge located in rural Appalachia and this class is one of the most popular— building an open back banjo by Lindsey Linden. @mulheron_banjos

Amanda N. Ewing is the first known Black female violin maker in the United States, a trailblazer in a field where representation has historically been limited. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Amanda’s passion for craftsmanship drives her to create exquisite string instruments in the violin family and beyond, while her dedication to diversity fuels her commitment to supporting others who share her journey.

In addition to her work as a luthier, Amanda is deeply invested in creating safe, inclusive spaces for aspiring makers. She actively mentors individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, encouraging them to pursue their craft with confidence and resilience. Amanda’s legacy is not only one of artistic excellence but also of fostering a community where future artisans can grow, thrive, and reach their fullest potential.

@thelutherielounge | @blackinlutherie

One of the things we are really excited about this year is our growing collaborations with artists and organizations!

We are excited to announce some of the ways we will be collaborating with the @johnccampbellfolkschool to enhance access to banjo building knowledge and work experience in our beloved Black community. The folk school is the oldest in the country and is truly a treasure trove of information and living folk traditions.

@mira_dee1234 will be joining the open back banjo building workshop this month and we are celebrating her work in banjo lutherie as a friend and contributor of the @black.banjo.reclamation project!

Miranda Dozier is a Black banjo player and aspiring banjo luthier from St. Louis, MO. She specializes in using the banjo and other musical modalities as a method of healing. Miranda feels that music is the key to awakening the spirit and connecting to something deeper inside ourselves. She feels that music, (especially when played/sang from the heart,) connects us to the spirit of life and of our ancestors.

One of the things we are really excited about this year is our growing collaborations with artists and organizations!

We are excited to announce some of the ways we will be collaborating with the @johnccampbellfolkschool to enhance access to banjo building knowledge and work experience in our beloved Black community. The folk school is the oldest in the country and is truly a treasure trove of information and living folk traditions.

@mira_dee1234 will be joining the open back banjo building workshop this month and we are celebrating her work in banjo lutherie as a friend and contributor of the @black.banjo.reclamation project!

Miranda Dozier is a Black banjo player and aspiring banjo luthier from St. Louis, MO. She specializes in using the banjo and other musical modalities as a method of healing. Miranda feels that music is the key to awakening the spirit and connecting to something deeper inside ourselves. She feels that music, (especially when played/sang from the heart,) connects us to the spirit of life and of our ancestors.

Moments from January so far…✨✨✨✨

Online and in person music practice sessions have commenced! We had a great time at all of the sessions creating Black affinity spaces to support our banjo journeys, learning music together!

We got together with our friends at @lark.in.the.morning to do some banjo repairs, in this case, we learned about fret work on banjos that have some out of alignment. It was really practical repair to learn and we are so glad to have another great functioning banjo available through the banjo brokerage.

Also was able to get a head start on milling wood in preparation for our Summer banjo build that we will be hosting in Oakland! We have some locally harvested wood gifted to us by North Coast Milling, California Nutmeg, it will be awesome to explore using native plants together in our next workshop. Thank you Charles for lending your luthier expertise and getting this wood ready for banjo making for the @black.banjo.reclamation project!

Details are still getting worked out for summer building so stayed tuned for updates coming for that 🌕🪐⭐️🌈🪕🎶🩵

Moments from January so far…✨✨✨✨

Online and in person music practice sessions have commenced! We had a great time at all of the sessions creating Black affinity spaces to support our banjo journeys, learning music together!

We got together with our friends at @lark.in.the.morning to do some banjo repairs, in this case, we learned about fret work on banjos that have some out of alignment. It was really practical repair to learn and we are so glad to have another great functioning banjo available through the banjo brokerage.

Also was able to get a head start on milling wood in preparation for our Summer banjo build that we will be hosting in Oakland! We have some locally harvested wood gifted to us by North Coast Milling, California Nutmeg, it will be awesome to explore using native plants together in our next workshop. Thank you Charles for lending your luthier expertise and getting this wood ready for banjo making for the @black.banjo.reclamation project!

Details are still getting worked out for summer building so stayed tuned for updates coming for that 🌕🪐⭐️🌈🪕🎶🩵

Along with hosting an online space this year for learning and practicing banjo, I’ll be at the @freightandsalvage once a month in person to give in person lessons as well as facilitate a Black String Band Ensemble! This space honors the folk traditions that we carry with string instruments and way we can join together in community to create music!

This is happening each month so if you’d like to sign up for a lesson, guidance or support or wanna come to the practice group the dates for the year are all listed. Lessons are open to everyone. Looking forward to our first session of the year today! 🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶✨✨✨🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎻🎻🎻🎉🎉🎉

Along with hosting an online space this year for learning and practicing banjo, I’ll be at the @freightandsalvage once a month in person to give in person lessons as well as facilitate a Black String Band Ensemble! This space honors the folk traditions that we carry with string instruments and way we can join together in community to create music!

This is happening each month so if you’d like to sign up for a lesson, guidance or support or wanna come to the practice group the dates for the year are all listed. Lessons are open to everyone. Looking forward to our first session of the year today! 🪕🪕🪕🎶🎶🎶✨✨✨🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🎻🎻🎻🎉🎉🎉

🪕✨🙏🏽 Feeling FULL and grateful for these last 2 days of music at the #defordbaileylegacyfestival @freightandsalvage!

These are some clips from the performances of day 2 and 3 of this inaugural event which include all the wonderful performers @guitar.yaz @leylacello @bobbyrushbluesman @not_michaelstrahan @domflemons @fantasticnegrito

Sadly, I was not able to make it for the first day but I heard amazing things about @nattyworks @cedric.watson_bijou.creole @mikomarks2u 🙌🏽.

The work of these artists is truly inspiring and it’s truly an honor to be part of and witness Black Excellence and musical heritage up close and right here in the Bay. Looking forward to all the continued connections with you all
💛💙🧡🩷💚❤️🩵

🪕✨🙏🏽 Feeling FULL and grateful for these last 2 days of music at the #defordbaileylegacyfestival @freightandsalvage!

These are some clips from the performances of day 2 and 3 of this inaugural event which include all the wonderful performers @guitar.yaz @leylacello @bobbyrushbluesman @not_michaelstrahan @domflemons @fantasticnegrito

Sadly, I was not able to make it for the first day but I heard amazing things about @nattyworks @cedric.watson_bijou.creole @mikomarks2u 🙌🏽.

The work of these artists is truly inspiring and it’s truly an honor to be part of and witness Black Excellence and musical heritage up close and right here in the Bay. Looking forward to all the continued connections with you all
💛💙🧡🩷💚❤️🩵

We wanna take a moment to share our excitement about the DeFord Bailey Legacy Festival that is happening at the @freightandsalvage this weekend! This is a great opportunity to learn about this musician who has gone down in history as carving space for himself and other African- Americans in the world of country music and in the Nashville music scene.

It includes many of our favorite roots and folk artists of today including @nattyworks @guitar.yaz @leylacello @fantasticnegrito and @mikomarks2u !

A big thank you to @domflemons and @vaniakinard for curating this wonderful experience here in the Bay Area and I hope many of you can make it out to witness this incredible music this weekend.

We wanna take a moment to share our excitement about the DeFord Bailey Legacy Festival that is happening at the @freightandsalvage this weekend! This is a great opportunity to learn about this musician who has gone down in history as carving space for himself and other African- Americans in the world of country music and in the Nashville music scene.

It includes many of our favorite roots and folk artists of today including @nattyworks @guitar.yaz @leylacello @fantasticnegrito and @mikomarks2u !

A big thank you to @domflemons and @vaniakinard for curating this wonderful experience here in the Bay Area and I hope many of you can make it out to witness this incredible music this weekend.

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