“Negra, negra, negra soy,” a community performance introduced by the Kukily Afrofeminst Arts Collective, was staged at Trinity College February 9, as part of Black History Month. The collective invited community members to participate in the live performance through a collaborative creative process. The process was designed to strengthen connections, generate a greater understanding of each others’ lived experiences, and engage in art making. “Negra, negra, negra soy” translates to “Black, Black, I am a Black woman.”
Colleen Ndemeh Fitzgerald, a Connecticut artist and co-founder of Kukily, (standing at left) listens to participant Ashley Innocent. "The creative process of 'Negra, negra, negra soy' creates space for participants to get to know each other, for the audience to get to know them, and for bridges to be constructed between individuals and communities," said Fitzgerald.
Standing on the stage, left to right: Danessa Pedroso, Ashley Innocent, Terri-Ann Williams. Artists noted that the project sparks an important discussion for people of the African Diaspora: that Blackness is very diverse. Kukily emphasizes performer-collaborators of different ages, nationalities ethnic backgrounds, skin tones, languages, hair textures, professions, and religions.
Danessa Pedroso engages the audience.
Members of the Kukily Collective on stage at the Raether Library. Seated left to right: Ashley Innocent, Diane Robinson, Linda Martin, Sonetta Strickland, Kaysle Stewart, and Gail Martin.
Kukily Collective artist Sonetta Strickland shows the audience her garb.
Sonetta Strickland is one of 10 performer-collaborators of Kukily, all Black women from the Hartford area.
Sonetta Strickland engages the audience at 'Negra, negra, negra soy.'
The audience packed the Reading Room at the Raether Library for 'Negra, negra, negra soy' which translates 'Black, Black, I am a Black woman.'
Kukily is a transnational collective that has presented in government and independent spaces throughout Argentina, as well as virtually, around the globe.
The event was sponsored by the Watkinson Library; Raether Library; Trinity College Arts Initiative; Departments of Human Rights, English, and History; Center for Urban and Global Studies; Center for Hartford Engagement and Research (CHER); Office of Multicultural Affairs; Language and Cultural Studies; International Studies; Women, Gender, and Sexuality; Women & Gender Resource Action Center (WGRAC).
Kaysle Stewart at the microphone.
Kukily co-founder Colleen Ndemeh Fitzgerald noted, "creating art together is healing, especially art that uplifts the voices of Black women and folks of diverse gender expressions."
