Wednesday's meeting was a display of strength, happiness, education, and togetherness. It was a mix of African history, presentation, music, and dance. History was strung together in stories of warrior women, language, root music, and dances of peace. Wednesday, the Congo Square Preservation Society (referred to as the ‘Society’ for the remainder of this article) gifted us with their presence, performing multiple dances and songs. Luther Gray, a leading percussionist and co-founder of the Society, played the drums, while two of his counterparts danced and sang, describing origin histories and stories of people and places that came before. The trio was joined by members of the audience throughout the performance. One of the first songs to be sung was called Funga Alafia, sung together with the whole room. Translated, we sang, “Welcome, welcome. We bid you peace. So it is, we’re glad you’re here!”

In 1993, the Congo Square Foundation, later renamed to the above Society, was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Society does have a program for local school children to visit. Children are brought out, taught the history of the peoples responsible for it’s creation, given a chance to experience original song and dance, and are introduced to various musicians that have impacted the city of New Orleans, such as Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong. 

Sadly, the meeting did come to an end, but not without celebration and enjoyment! A final song was sung in the Mandiga language. A song of peace and happiness, explaining, when our elders are cared for, our village is happy. When our children can play safely in the street, our village is happy.