News Release

African drummers, African American storytellers, authors, artists and others will participate in a number of programs at the San Francisco Public Library in celebration of Black History Month. Adult events will include author readings, art displays and panel discussions. Children’s events will feature stories, rhymes and rhythms presented by accomplished storytellers and musicians.

Calendar of Events:

Journeys in Black: African American Artist Celebrate Blackness:
Photographer Hopeton Stewart, mixed media artist Karen Carraway Seneferu and painters Malik Seneferu and Cedric Brown will display their artwork in this exhibit, which runs through March 30 in the African American Center at the Main Library.

Adult Progam Schedule:

The Julian Richardson Literary Festival
Feb. 8 - Mary Monroe, author of Upper Room and the award winning God Don’t Like Ugly, will talk about her life, her career and the impact reading had on her life. 6-7:30 p.m., Excelsior Branch

Feb. 15 - Beautiful Diversities will feature African American LGBT authors Jewelle Gomez and Frederick Smith. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch

Feb. 23 – African American Authors Forum: Speaking Through the Page will feature a panel discussion moderated by The Last Bad Decision author Paula Edwards with authors Renay Jackson, Toni Alexander, Mary Morrison, Curtis Alcutt and Anna Dennis. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Koret Auditorium, Main Library

Feb. 25 – African-American Authors and Writers Speak will feature authors Brenda K, Itibari Zulu, Dexter Vizinau and Larry Ukali Johnson-Redd. 2-5 p.m., Koret Auditorium, Main Library

Children’s Program Schedule:

Black History Month Celebration with African American storytellers Tureeda Mikell and Marijo and harpist Destiny Muhammad.
Feb. 11, Main Library, Fisher Children’s Center, 1 p.m.

RSK Arts and Drumming presents “Juju: the Talking Drum of Africa”
Feb. 18, Main Library, Fisher Children’s Center, 2 p.m.

Storyteller Tureeda Mikell shares African folktales, rhythm, rap and rhyme
Feb. 3, Merced Branch Library, 4 p.m.
Feb. 9, Potrero Branch Library, 10:30 a.m.; Excelsior Branch Library, 3 p.m.
Feb. 16, Ocean View Branch Library, 4 p.m.
Feb. 22, Bernal Heights Branch Library, 4 p.m.

Storyteller Marijo shares African folktales, poetry and music
Feb. 7, Golden Gate Valley Branch Library, 10:15 a.m. Space limited. Call 415-355-5666 for reservations.
Feb. 18, Ingleside Branch Library, 3 p.m.
Feb. 21, Visitacion Valley Branch Library, 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 28, Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library, 10:30 a.m

Asheba presents a musical storytime with a Caribbean flavor
Feb. 7, Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library, 10:30 a.m.

Samba Samba plays world beat rhythms and music
Feb. 15, Bernal Heights Branch Library, 4 p.m.

S. Kwaku Daddy drums the rhythms of Africa
Feb. 14, Golden Gate Valley Branch Library, 3 p m.

Destiny, Harpist from the Hood, plays music and tells stories
Feb. 7, North Beach Branch Library, 11 a.m.
Feb. 15, Parkside Branch Library, 7 p.m.

Opera Piccola performs “The Stolen Aroma,” a North African folktale set to music Feb. 25, Portola Branch Library, 2 p.m.

All programs at the Library are free and open to the public.
For more information, call (415) 557-4277.