LEAF Celebrates Black History, by Staying the Course

With Pan-African programming spanning from Africa to WNC, honoring and reflecting Blackness is business as usual.

LEAF is known for our world music festival, cultural arts education, and preservation work in 11 countries. But this month, we’re focused on Black history and looking at Black History Month through a new lens. After a year of social uprisings and a global pandemic, our 25 year organization is focused less on remembering history and more on building a legacy for the community we serve.

Through collaborations in Africa, Haiti, the Caribbean, and arts education in New Orleans, and across Western North Carolina, LEAF aims to preserve the global Black culture and equip their predominantly Black youth with the 6 assets that arts education and exposure help develop: Community Values Youth, Adult Role Models, Creative Activities, Cultural Competence, Personal Power, & Self-Esteem.

“The youth of the LEAF International program are the leaders of the global citizenship movement – finding creative ways to produce and create despite the challenges at hand. Culture in their community comes first and it’s used to affirm the community, communicate values, enhance cultural sensitivity, and inspire meaningful dialogue. Their greatest display of preservation is seen and felt through their traditional drum and dance styles.” – Schree Chavdarov, LEAF Global Engagement Director

February 14th also marks the 1 year anniversary of the opening of the LEAF Global Arts center – located in downtown Asheville, NC in the historic Del Cardo building. 

The immersive 3,300 sq ft. space – which played host to Nina Simone, Al Green, and more, in its past life –  was historically a safe space for Blackness and a hub for Black culture in Asheville’s historically White, privileged town. Now, with exhibitions featuring New Orlean’s Black Masking Indian, Shaka Zulu, a room dedicated to Nelson “Madiba” Mandela, a music trail map that traces the origins of Black music throughout the South, and more, LEAF aims to keep that same tradition alive while expanding its reach.

 

AN URGENT LETTER FROM THE LEAF BOARD:

For nearly 30 years, LEAF Global Arts has connected people through the power of art, music, and culture. Every shared moment has been made possible because of you – our community.

The LEAF Festival is critical to funding LEAF’s larger work: providing global cultural arts programming for thousands of local youth and preserving cultures and traditions around the world.

This year, we are facing a financial crossroads: between the loss of last fall’s Festival, losing a majority of our arts education funding in 2025, and not fully recovering from COVID, the future is bleak. The upcoming LEAF Festival could be our last if we don’t come together to sustain the heart of LEAF’s mission – but we have seen what this community can do when united for a cause greater than itself.

To open the Festival experience to as many people as possible, and to rally the full spirit of LEAF, we are offering a limited number of LEAF LOVE Tickets at a significant discount.

These special tickets, offered at 30% off (our highest discount, even more so than our Early Bird pricing) are our way of ensuring everyone has a place in this story. Full-priced tickets also remain available for those with the means to give a little more to help support LEAF’s vital work.

Your presence, your voice, and your support matter more than ever right now. Join us in making this LEAF Festival one that the world will never forget and ensuring the music continues for generations to come. 

Mayani is a Maasai boy from longido Arusha. He went to boarding school at 6 years old and lost his Maasai language and tradition. Since joining the LEAF program, he has learned to sing Maasai songs, practiced the ‘jump’ tradition and wear Maasai shukas (traditional clothing). Mayani is extremely happy and is currently teaching other youth the culture.