Telfair Museums is pleased to announce its annual Juneteenth Jubilee, a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, on Saturday, June 13 for a Free Family Day from 1-4 pm at the Jepson Center for the Arts.

Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of its kind, and this year marks the ninth presentation of Juneteenth events at Telfair Museums. Free Family Day celebrates Juneteenth with performances by featured storytellers, hands-on activities, music concerts, and art demonstrations by local artists honoring the Gullah Geechee culture of the Savannah and coastal region. This year’s Juneteenth program host is Jim Bacote from Geechee Kunda, the African-American cultural education facility. Additionally, Telfair Museums’ Friends of African American Arts (FAAA) will give a special “Juneteenth Artist of the Year” presentation to one of Savannah’s most esteemed elders, artist Luther Vann. Guests are welcome from 1-4 pm, and all Juneteenth events are free and open to the public thanks to funding provided by the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Georgia Power Foundation, Inc.

The programs include:

Gullah Geechee performances

Telfair Museums welcomes Dr. Amir Jamal Toure, Queen Quet of the Gullah Geechee Nation and Mitch Capel as its featured performers and storytellers for this year’s Juneteenth celebration.

Dr. Toure begins with an opening ceremony and performance, bringing Gullah Geechee heritage alive through the stories of Day Clean and the African Soul. Dr. Toure is a local historian and owns and operates Day Clean Journey Tours in Savannah.

Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine, Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation, is a published author, academic, preservationist, environmental justice advocate and performance artist. She founded the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, an organization advocating for the continuation and preservation of Gullah Geechee culture. In 2009 Queen Quet was invited to speak before the United Nations on behalf of the Gullah Geechee Nation and the International Human Rights Association for American Minorities. She has received countless awards for her writings, activism and performances, and continues to share the stories of the people of the Georgia and South Carolina coasts.

North Carolina-based storyteller Mr. Mitch Capel, better known as “Gran’Daddy Junebug,” will share his interpretation of the stories of African-American poet and novelist Paul Laurence Dunbar. Mr. Capel, also a recording artist, actor and author, has been bringing Dunbar’s stories to life and enchanting audiences with his unique storytelling style since 1985.

Activities

Guests can make traditional music instruments and watch special demonstrations by Amiri Farris and Gregory Grant. Farris will demonstrate his colorful painting capturing Sea Island Gullah culture and Grant will show off traditional Gullah Geechee basket weaving techniques.

Additionally, Juneteenth will feature traditional drumming and DJ Curtis Victor Cooper to close the event.

Juneteenth schedule:

1 pm - Libations on the front steps of the Jepson Center

1:15 pm - Introduction by Vaughnette Goode-Walker and a special presentation of the “Juneteenth Artist of the Year” by Telfair Museums’ Friends of African American Arts (FAAA).

1:30 pm - African Spirit by Dr. Amir Jamal Toure

2 pm - Performance by Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine, Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation

3 pm – Storytelling with Mr. Mitch Capel (Gran’Daddy Junebug)