Worcester, MA
United States
I am a direct descendant of Ahosu Agassou (“Tegbesu”), the founder of Dahomey and the spiritual system of Vodoun.
As an elder in the Worcester community, I am often asked to pour libation and call upon ancestors with my drumming.
I am on the Enstoolment Committee of the National Black Council of Elders.
I was enstooled on April 7, 2017 as Queen Mother by the National Black Council of Elders
I am a US Army Disabled Veteran
I was Vice Chair on the Worcester Commission on Disability.
I am currently serving on the advisory board and the executive board of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority.
I am founder of Vélékété African Ancestral Percussion.
I’ve been an African drummer for the past 48 years.
I am a practitioner of Vodoun
I am the only member of my family that has researched, studied, documented, observed, practiced and maintained our African ancestral lineage, heritage and culture and maintained our ancestral altars in my family over the last 30 years.
I am participating because I am more than the eye can see and looks can be deceiving. When people look at me they see a short, chubby, disabled elderly grandma. They mistakenly assume they know who I am and what I'm about by my outer appearance and rarely take the time to get to know me personally inside. Sadly, rarely do they even care. This is an opportunity to tell the community who I am and what I do, I'm here and I matter.