Join the Franklin Institute for a day of celebration and exploration during Black History Month, as local organizations share their story and expertise with you.

The Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble is a Philadelphia based, internationally renowned performing arts company. For more than 50 years, Kulu Mele has preserved and perpetuated the cultural traditions of West Africa and the African Diaspora, including Afro-Cuban arts and contemporary hip-hop. Performances will include both traditional and hip-hop works and audiences are invited to dance to learn about the integral relationship between the music and movement (“two sides of a coin”), and the geographical and cultural origins of the dances, as well as important insights into the African drums and costumes.