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| A Pinkster Player represents Sojourner Truth as the 2022 Pinkster Walk winds through the historic neighborhood. |
Last Sunday was the celebration of the First Annual Pinkster Festival, organized in Kington NY on June 5 by TransArt Inc., and featuring musicians, historical players, and others in a multi-faceted event whose theme was "Joy is an Act of Resistance."
Link: 2022 June 5 Pinkster Walk with "Dancing the Plank" The Pinkster Festival began with a worship service in the Old Dutch Church, Kingston, NY. It consisted of songs, stories from the Bible about Pentecost, that was celebrated by Dutch settlers, and stories performed by the Pinkster Players about Pinkster as a 200-year tradition among Africans enslaved in the Hudson Valley. Then everyone went outside for the Pinkster Walk, accompanied by elaborate drum rhythms, to the church Sojourner Truth attended, and then on the the "Assembly Green for the festival itself.
The festival offered booths that had, for example, samples of Dutch-African foodways, African games, as well as things for sale. One booth, representing a local vegetable farm was giving away salad makings, greens, and flowers - for free! The Players entertained the festival with interactive demonstrations of body percussion and drumming.
Link: 2022 June 5 Pinkster Festival Players Engage Audience in "Hambone" Chief Baba Neil Clarke introduces the idea of "Polyrhythm". A Pinkster Player (whose name I missed) tells the audience that enslaved Africans had not been able to bring their musical instruments, so they invented ways to make familiar sounds and rhythms with their bodies. To a simple stomping rhythm he adds more complex rhythms until the audience can play along with him in a call and response song.
Next year, watch for the second annual Pinkster Festival in early June, about 5 weeks after Easter, the approximate time of Pentecost. Be prepared participate in African traditional rhythms, dance, games, foods, and joy.
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