Tuesday nights have become increasingly creative at Sankofa, a Black-owned business comprising a bookstore and café since 1997, thanks to two Howard alumni and their movement they call Artivism.
As blue and purple lights flood the room, sound bounces off the bookshelves while a crowd of Sankofa patrons, many of them Howard students, fills the seats and gathers around. Hosts Joshua Hughes and Isaac Alicea, recent graduates and founders of Artivism, share their message through a mix of art and music. Artivism is their combination of art and activism.
“The whole point of this jam session is to create a space for that creative expression, an outlet, so that we can share as a community,” Alicea said.
Before the jam session started, the other Co-founder, Hughes, stated the four rules.
“Rule number one is to love yourself,” Hughes said. “That looks like showing up authentically as yourself, however you feel in this moment.”
Artivism was officially founded in December of 2022 with a logo that features an eye in a globe, according to Hughes. It was conceptualized by the two founders along with their visual artist.
“Everything that we do comes from a teamwork perspective and all inputs are taken into consideration,” Hughes stated.
The two leaders voiced strong encouragement to anyone who would like to join them on stage, whether it be a song or a poem. Backing them up on that claim is the band, which includes saxophonist Kai Mallette, drum/beat maker Tim Little and pianist Ebenezer Ehondor and bass player Kari Delemar.
Artivism was born from the founders feeling a need for a consistent creative hub.
“We could express ourselves and cultivate a community of people who want to do the same things,” Hughes said.
Soon after the session began, creativity flowed from the stage into the crowd. Instruments were passed around so audience members could join in, and soon, a freestyle rap broke out.
“Sankofa feels welcoming, and Artivism builds on that with support and openness,” said Caden Cannon, junior computer information systems major from O’Fallon, IL.
He’s been going to Artivism’s jam session for the past year now, and he said that “It immediately felt like a space where I belonged.”
“As a former Howard student, I’m fully aware of the talent and creativity on this campus,” Hughes said. “[Because] there’s so much to do and learn, creativity isn’t always tapped into, and people are left on their own sort of artistic island.”
Cannon freestyled for several minutes as the band backed him. Adding her vocals was Kevinah Wright, a third-year music therapy major and classical voice minor from Connecticut.
“The name ‘Sankofa’ literally means to return to or to retrieve. And in that lies an environment where one feels as though they have returned home,” Wright said. “Artivism has alchemized the beacon that is Sankofa into boundless artistic expression.”
Wright encourages students at Howard to come to the jam sessions, as it allows for “imperfections and vulnerability to be celebrated.”
As the night went on, the crowd joined in, singing songs like Erykah Badu’s “Didn’t Cha Know” and Tyler, the Creator’s “Boredom.” Joy and movement rippled through the room and out the door of Sankofa.
“The big picture for us is to make as much impact with Art as possible,” Hughes said about the impact and future of Artivism. “Art transcends time and place…while Artivism is a business, it’s also a movement, a philosophy.”
Another student who felt “instant community” is Sean Wood, a freshman music composition major from Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Wood began attending the jam sessions during the first week of classes, when he performed his poetry before an audience for the first time.
“I had never shared any poem or piece of writing I had done in front of a room of people…Sankofa’s environment helped me to feel comfortable and excited to share my work,” Wood said.
Wood continued to share how Artivism benefits students at Howard during these times.
“I think as Howard students, any way we can express ourselves in this political climate holds value,” he said.
Both founders envision their own brick-and-mortar cafes that will continue Artivism’s vision.
“We want to offer the community food and drinks, live music, events, as well as the means of producing their creative projects,” Hughes said.
“We also operate a recording studio and merchandise production, so we just want a chain of stores in major cities that can be a hub for creativity.”
As the night ended, hugs were exchanged and laughter spread throughout the room.
“Regardless of whether or not you identify as a creative individual, Artivism has a place for you,” Wright said. “Just by immersing yourself in the creative process as an observer, you will find yourself feeling uplifted.”
Hughes and Alicea continue their Artivism journey with a variety of weekly events. They host jam sessions at Sankofa on Tuesdays and “Melodic Mondays” at Aurora Market, along with other events throughout the week.
“Everyone has an inner voice that is calling to create,” Wright said. “Sankofa reminds us that we are all connected through our roots…it is a microcosm for the expansive tapestry that is the African diaspora.”
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
