This year’s festival celebrated the late Leimert Park master jeweler and business owner Sika Dwimfo.
L.A. Commons hosted its 14th annual Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks in Leimert Park on Sunday, June 30. The festival featured live musical performances, a parade procession down Leimert Blvd and more. This year’s theme was Bese Saka—Our Wealth is Our Togetherness.
“Bese Saka is an Adinkra symbol that is in the shape of cola nuts and in Ghana, traditionally, those natural elements really represented wealth and affluence and people used them actually for currency,” said Karen Mack, founder of L.A. Commons.
“Our focus at L.A. Commons is really on bringing people together.”
Founded in 2003, L.A. Commons was created with the intention of creating a place where Black culture and the surrounding communities could come together. Held in the African American cultural hub of Los Angeles, Leimert Park, the community celebrates the global African village, calling on the ancestors, and paying homage to a shared heritage through mask-making and dance.
“At this time when things are so crazy and divided, coming together means more than ever and this is such a perfect opportunity to do that and we’re more successful this year than we’ve ever been having different elements of the community like the Harmony Project Drumline, the Lula Washington dancers all of these different elements of the community coming together to celebrate these people that meant so much to them,” said Mack.
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The Leimert Park community is mourning the recent loss of master jeweler and business owner, Sika Dwimfo. He was a beloved fixture in Leimert Park and was celebrated amongst other ancestors such as John Outterbridge, Alfred and Bernice Ligon, Lady Walquer Vereen, Harold Hambrick and Snake Doctor.
“One of the most significant things that happened was Sika died last week,” said Mack. “We weren’t planning on having him be an ancestor but since he became one, we added a sixth ancestor.
“We really wanted to create space for him because he was so important to the community.”
The festival started with its traditional Yoruba blessing to cleanse the area and bring everyone together. After the blessing, the parade began with music, dancing, puppetry and beautifully handmade masks. The post parade festivities consisted of drummers and dance performances.
The festival is produced in partnership with the Leimert Park Art Walk as an effort to promote the vibrancy, culture, legacy, and economy of the historic area. It’s made possible through partnerships through Leimert Park businesses and organizations including KAOS Network, Leimert Park ArtWalk, The World Stage, Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, ECWA Empowerment Congress West Area, Leimert Park Jazz Festival, Fernando Pullum Community Arts, Lula Washington Dance Theater, Fowler Museum, Community Coalition, Wellnest LA, Urban Soul Farmer, SoLA Impact, Black Women for Wellness, Jenesse, YWCA Greater Los Angeles, Nappily Naturals, William Grant Still Art Center, Aziz Gallerie, Ackee Bamboo and ORA
“I feel overjoyed,” said Kaya D. about the Festival of Masks. “I’ve been a part of the celebration and coming to it since 2014 and it’s beautiful to be able to celebrate our ancestors.”
“I’m here to pay my respects to Sika, the master jeweler of Leimert Park,” said Miesha. “He pierced my nose the first time when I was a child and then as an adult, I got re-pierced about five years ago and I liked how spiritual the connection is when he does pierce you and the space is just amazing.
“We’re going to definitely miss him in Leimert Park.
“Rest well Sika.”
“I think this is a great way to honor our ancestors in a culturally significant way that resonates with the community,” said Brent T.
“Not only does that bring everybody in the community together after a transition but it shows you that it’s a day of celebration.”
“You know, people I think, are craving this kind of connection to both each other and the spirits and our heritage, which is so powerful,” said Mack
For more information, visit www.lacommons.org.
