Annual Anacostia River Purification Procession in Photos
Procession participants at the Intersection of Good Hope RD and Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE. Photo Copyright East City Art.
June 16 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of the annual Anacostia river purification procession. The event is organized by the African Diaspora Ancestral Commemoration Institute (ADACI) in conjunction with Melvin Deal and the African Heritage Dancers & Drummers.
African spiritual traditions associate water as the source of all life, manifesting in expressions of health, fertility, cleansing and purification. The concept of water as a source of life and healing in mind, body, and soul is found in almost all religious practices, including Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá’í Faith which utilize water as an important symbol of purification.
Below are a series of photographs that follow procession participants from the African Heritage Dancers & Drummers Headquarters on Good Hope down to the Anacostia river.
Around the bend at Good Hope RD and MLK Avenue SE. Note the new 11th Street local bridge in the background. Photo Copyright East City Art.
The procession moving down Good Hope RD SE toward the river. Photo Copyright East City Art.
A parade of color down Good Hope RD. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Commemorating the passing of Chuck Brown. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Leading the procession into the Anacostia River Park. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Ceremonial dancing leads the way. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Drumming sets the tone and rhythm for the dancers. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Walking alongside the river. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Close-up of the drummers. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Participants wearing white which symbolizes purification and healing. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Walking on stilts. Photo Copyright East City Art.
The procession leads to the Anacostia river bank were prayers and offerings are made. Photo Copyright East City Art.
River close-up. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Participants line-up to make their offerings. Photo Copyright East City Art.
The purification begins. Photo Copyright East City Art.
The prayers and offerings begin. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Note the Navy Yard and Nationals Stadium in the background. Photo Copyright East City Art.
Greetings Phil: How can we link your photographs with our ADACI website? Pleaase advise. Thanking you in advance, Karla M Wynn Diouf, Director, Public Relations and Web Content Manager – ADACI- The African Diaspora Ancestral Commemoration Institute.
Please feel free to click on the photo and use the link. Simply credit the photo back to East City Art. Thanks!
As a resident of Anacostia I want to be connected to the arts and cultural scene espcially youth programming. Who are some of the major youth orgnaizations besides The Arc.
Claude, there are a number of groups in Anacostia and Congress Heights who run world class cultural programs. There is ARCH Development Corporation, Melvin Deal and the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers and TheARC on Mississippi avenue.
Also, Albus Cavus teaches a number of youth workshop programs East of the River.