Juneteenth event features Gansango Music & Dance

Teaching artists from Gansango Music & Dance Company had the audience clapping and moving along to the songs and drumming of West Africa.

The audience was invited to ‘travel to Africa’ to celebrate Juneteenth during the community-wide block party sponsored by the South Coast Equity Coalition and the Coos County Library Service District on Wednesday, June 19.

Many of those who came to the event brought a lawn chair to enjoy the outdoor show across the street from Coos Bay City Hall and in front of Black Market Gourmet. The event was one of several opportunities to take part in Juneteenth in both Coos and Curry Counties.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.

The theme of the local Juneteenth holiday this year was ‘Family Reunion,’ a celebration centering on African American resilience, storytelling, visibility and joy across Coos and Curry Counties.

Event organizers said the 2023 Juneteenth event in Coos Bay was one of the largest per capita in the state of Oregon and they wanted to keep that title going.

Those who attended the Gansango Music & Dance presentation got to witness traditional and contemporary dance and music from West Africa – drawing on the talent of multicultural dancers and musicians.

Gansango Music & Dance has provided performances and instruction in more than 100 community-focused all-age performances at Western Washington public libraries since 2005 – as well as many more throughout the country and globe.

During their time on Oregon’s South Coast, the Gansango artists also gave performances at the Bandon Performing Arts Center in Bandon and at the Chetco Public Library in Brookings.