Sankofa Play (2022)

A Story of Embracing Black Identity and African Heritage for the Whole Family

“Sankofa”, a new play based on the Award-Winning children's book to a workshop in April of 2022. The Culture C.O-O.P. and Bike City Theater Company partnered to present Sankofa, a new play adapted from Sandy Lynne Holman’s award-winning children’s book Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad? This workshop presentation marks the next step in bringing this family-friendly story to the Northern California region. It explores African diasporic history and identity set in an uplifting family drama.

Montsho does not like his Black skin. Head hung low, he and his parents arrive at Grandpa's house for their first Kwanzaa celebration. Grandpa sizes up the situation in an instant and turns to the family Sankofa book. Black historical figures leap off the page as they “go back and fetch the past'' telling remarkable stories of ancient Kemet, barnstormers, Black Wall Street, and more. Aunties and cousins help bring the principles of Kwanzaa to life as Montsho journeys from the gumbo pot in the kitchen to the backyard barbecue. Together they strengthen family bonds and rediscover the rich heritage that comes with being Black.

The Culture C.O-.O.P. believes that in order to plant seeds for systemic change, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency, we must study and examine oppressive historical structures which negatively impact people today. This lays the foundation for creating new ways for people to view and engage with one another. The play serves as another entry point to encourage people to explore their Paradigm for transforming Individuals, communities, systems, and beyond while addressing anti-blackness.

This collaboration began when Bike City core member J.R. Yancher attended a 2019 screening of The Cost of Darkness. Made by the Culture C.O.-O.P., the documentary deals with the history of race-based policies and their systemic effects. Learning of Yancher’s interests, Sandy Holman invited him and Joseph Fletcher to intern with the C.O-O.P. during their graduate studies at U.C. Davis. Taking what they learned about cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion, they assisted in the development of this live performance piece as the focus of their theses. Created in codesign with the Culture C.O.-O.P. it was written by Sandy Lynne Holman, Jordan Brownlee, and J.R. Yancher.

Winner of the 2002 Blackboard African American Children’s Book of the Year Award. This workshop production is made possible thanks to the generous support of Yolo Arts, UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance, The City of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs Fund, and Yolo Federal Credit Union.