“All praise to our freedom,” Liza Zayas said during the opening invocations for Boston artist Ifé Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae” on June 19, 2021. “All praise to our power. All praise to our beloved ones—their voices had to be whispered.”
There were blessings and history lessons. Then Franklin introduced the ring shout, explaining that history books say it’s the oldest African American dance, but “It’s not just a dance, it’s a way to communicate with God.”
Ife invited people to join the dance: “This is how you conjure. This is how you stir it up.”
(All photos ©Greg Cook 2021)
Previously: On Juneteenth, Ifé Franklin Debuts ‘Slave Narrative’ Film Ife Franklin’s Ancestor Slave Cabin and Ring Shout
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Ife Franklin at her Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ring shout at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ring shout at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Mini Ancestor Slave Cabin building workshop at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ife Franklin at her Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ife Franklin at her Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ring shout at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ife Franklin at her Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ring shout at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ring shout at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Poet Didi Delgado speaks at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ring shout at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) Ring shout at Ife Franklin’s Juneteenth Celebration at Black Market Nubian Square as part of the premiere of her film “The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae,” June 19, 2021. (©Greg Cook photo) 
