A Look Back at Returns & Remembrance:

Diaspora Homecoming

B4 Youth Theatre (Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges) would like to thank everyone who attended our 'Returns & Remembrance: Diaspora Homecoming event on Tuesday, July 26 (Liberian Independence Day).

This year is extra special because it has been 200 years since Liberia was established as a space of refuge for the African diaspora. We hope that you were able to takeaway knowledge of the Liberian African history. 

Special thanks to our partnership with inheritance Baltimore: B4 Youth Theatre African Diaspora Alliance, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Johns Hopkins University Center for Africana Studies, Billie Holiday Center for Liberation Arts, Slavery & Justice Conference, Program in Racism, Immigration, and Citizenship, Johns Hopkins University Museums.

Such an incredible honor to share history with you!

About '200 Years of Returns'

“200 Years of Returns” is a collaboration between Burning Barriers Building Bridges (more commonly known as B4 Youth Theatre in Liberia) and the Museum Theatre Department of Colonial Williamsburg (CW) in Virginia, United States. This interactive performance juxtaposes past and present "returns" to Liberia since 1822 when Black American settlers first arrived encountering various African ethnic groups.

A team of five actors from B4 Youth Theatre in Liberia have shared the stage with actors from CW Virginia at Hennage Auditorium in the Colonial Williamsburg Arts Museum to commemorate the “200 Years of Returns” anniversary (Learn more about '200 Years of Returns').

Translation into Spanish

Gracias por asistir a nuestro evento 'Returns & Remembrance: Diaspora Homecoming' el martes 26 de julio (Día de la Independencia de Liberia).

Este año mas especial porque se conmemora que han pasado 200 años desde que Liberia se estableció como un espacio de refugio para la Diáspora Africana.

Muchas gracias a nuestros invitados especiales "Kombilesa Mi", a nuestros socios de Inheritance Baltimore : Centro de Estudios Africanos de la Universidad Johns Hopkins, Centro de Artes de Liberación Billie Holiday y Programa en Racismo, Inmigración y Ciudadanía. Además, agradecemos a los socios: Slavery & Justice Conference, Johns Hopkins University Museums y Waxing Moon Masks. Por ultimo, no podríamos haber hecho esto sin nuestros coanfitriones African Diaspora Alliance, Just One Spirit y Angels of Praise dance, y el Departamento de Teatro del Museo de la Fundación Colonial Williamsburg. "

“200 Years of Returns” “ 200 años de Regresos” es una obra interactiva que yuxtapone "regresos" pasados ​​y presentes a Liberia desde 1822, cuando los afroamericanos llegaron por primera vez y se encontraron con diversos grupos étnicos africanos.

A few photos from Returns & Remembrance: Diaspora Homecoming

B4 actors: Christophus, Silas, Hannah, and Cecelia

Special guests Kombilesa Mi from Colombia

Palenquero translator Dayra Gonzalias Gomez of Identidad Afro Sankofa in Colombia with B4 Liberia National Director, Silas N. Juaquellie

Moriah Ray from The African Diaspora Alliance with B4 Executive Director & Founder, Jasmine Blanks Jones

Colonial Williamsburg actors, B4 actors and Angel of Praise dancers

Upcoming Shows

July 29th: A Mask Birth presented by Waxing Moon Masks

Please see flyer below for more details:

Kindly donate to support the B4YT Liberia team with the activities in the United States. Every member of the team is confident about the upcoming events. Each person is looking forward to the lessons and experience to share with their colleagues upon return to Liberia, West Africa.