International African American Museum shares grand opening community celebration plans
Marion Square events include Charlamagne tha God as emcee plus Patti Austin, Ranky Tanky, and DJ SCrib
Charleston, S.C. — The International African American Museum (IAAM) is getting in full swing for the community dedication ceremony celebration at Marion Square set for June 24 at 10 a.m. The event, presented by Boeing, will bring visitors, community, and celebrities together for a live simulcast of the private dedication ceremony taking place at the museum site that morning.
Charlamagne tha God, national radio host of The Breakfast and South Carolina native, will emcee the community gathering in Marion Square, which will feature remarks from Mayor John Tecklenburg and performances from local and regional talent. A genealogy marketplace to honor the longstanding connection between Barbados and South Carolina will round out the gathering.
In addition to the African American Songbook featuring a 12-piece band, a slate of performers, ranging from musicians to poets, includes:
– Amadou Kouyate, 150th generation of the Kouyate family of Manding Djeli (oral historians / musicians of West Africa)
– BeBe Winans, Gospel and R&B singer, radio host
– Candice Glover, R&B singer, actor
– DJ SCrib, Charleston-based DJ, former Charleston City Paper’s “DJ of the Year”
– Jesse Nager, Broadway actor and singer
– Markus Amaker, Charleston Poet Laureate, Academy of American Poets
– Patti Austin, R&B, pop, and jazz singer / songwriter
– Patrice Covington, background singer for Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson
– Ranky Tanky, Grammy award-winning, Charleston-based musical ensemble focused on jazz-influenced arrangements of traditional Gullah and Roots music.
Other attractions for the day include Boeing South Carolina’s DreamLearners, set to present interactive programming, while the Barbados Genealogy Marketplace will highlight the multicultural backgrounds of Barbadians by way of food, games, documentaries, and more. The Genealogy Marketplace will honor the long-established connection between Barbados and South Carolina and give guests the opportunity to research their ancestral family line.
Refreshments from Black-owned food trucks will be available onsite. Registration for the community celebration is not required.
IAAM Grand Opening Community Celebration at Marion Square
What: Presented by Boeing, the IAAM Grand Opening Community Celebration emceed by Charlamagne Tha God will include a live simulcast of the dedication ceremony at IAAM, in addition to remarks from the mayor, live performances by local musicians and artists, food trucks, and activities led by Boeing South Carolina DreamLearners.
When: Saturday, June 24, at 10:00 a.m. EDT
Where: Marion Square, 329 Meeting Street, Charleston, S.C. 29403
Who: Mayor Tecklenburg and Boeing South Carolina DreamLearners, in addition to performances by Amadou Kouyate, BeBe Winans, Candice Glover, DJ SCrib, Jesse Nager, Markus Amaker, Patti Austin, Patrice Covington, and Ranky Tanky. The event will be emceed by Charlamagne Tha God.
RSVP: The event is free and open to the public.
The International African American Museum (IAAM) explores the history, culture, and impact of the African American journey on Charleston, on the nation, and on the world, shining light and sharing stories of the diverse journeys, origin, and achievements of descendants of the African Diaspora. Across 11 galleries and a memorial garden with art, objects, artifacts, and multi-media interaction, IAAM is a champion of authentic, empathetic storytelling of American history. As a result, the museum will stand as one of the nation’s newest platforms for the disruption of institutionalized racism as it evolves today. The mission of IAAM is to honor the untold stories of the African American journey at the historically sacred site of Gadsden’s Wharf and beyond. For more information, please visit iaamuseum.org or call 843-872-5352.
