Surrounded by the UNUKUPUKUPU hula halau , I was once again struck by the centrality of the native Hawaiian language to the daily life and transmission of traditional culture
A big thank you to all of the photographers and videographers who shared their work on Flickr this year!
University-based groups demonstrated not only how they draw on traditional music, but also how they help it thrive in a new generation.
I have volunteered and worked at several Smithsonian Folklife Festivals before, but I did not know what to anticipate when I went down to the Festival grounds on Sunday, July 1.
Visitors' eyes seemed to fall immediately on the Orphan Tower, a ten-foot high structure of dangling dolls, each artfully and intricately fashioned by South African bead-workers.
It’s been a pleasure seeing this year’s Festival through the eyes of our visitors, taking in countless details we might otherwise have missed.
“It all began when my uncle’s wife fell sick, but she told everyone that she had cancer. But sure enough, she passed away a few months later.”
Thank you to all the staff, interns, volunteers, organizational partners, participants, and visitors.
GRAMMY-nominated musician Christylez Bacon is well known for his imaginative blending of acoustic and hip-hop music